Jeremiah 30:16

Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey.

Therefore all they that devour {H398} thee shall be devoured {H398}; and all thine adversaries {H6862}, every one of them, shall go {H3212} into captivity {H7628}; and they that spoil {H7601}{H8154} thee shall be a spoil {H4933}, and all that prey {H962} upon thee will I give {H5414} for a prey {H957}.

"But all who devour you will be devoured, all your enemies will go into exile, those who plunder you will be plundered, those who pillage you will be pillaged.

Nevertheless, all who devour you will be devoured, and all your adversaries—every one of them— will go off into exile. Those who plundered you will be plundered, and all who raided you will be raided.

Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that despoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey.

Context

Jeremiah 30:16 is a pivotal verse within the "Book of Consolation" (Jeremiah chapters 30-33), where the prophet Jeremiah shifts from pronouncements of judgment against Judah to promises of future restoration and hope. At this time, Judah was facing or had already entered the Babylonian exile, a period of immense suffering and national humiliation. This verse, therefore, serves as a powerful assurance to the exiled Israelites that their suffering was not unnoticed by God and that their oppressors would face divine recompense. It speaks to God's unwavering commitment to His covenant people, even when they were disciplined.

Key Themes

  • Divine Retribution and Justice: The central message is God's promise of perfect justice. Those nations or entities that "devoured," "spoiled," and "preyed" upon Judah would themselves be subjected to the same fate. This highlights God's absolute sovereignty and His commitment to righteous judgment, ensuring that no injustice goes unaddressed in His economy.
  • Protection of God's People: Despite Israel's unfaithfulness and subsequent judgment, God demonstrates His enduring love and protective hand over His chosen nation. He actively declares, "will I give for a prey," asserting His direct involvement in the downfall of their enemies. This speaks to God's faithfulness even when His people falter.
  • Reversal of Fortunes: For a people in captivity and distress, this prophecy offered immense hope. It foretold a dramatic reversal of their circumstances, where the victims would see their oppressors become the victims. This theme of God turning sorrow into joy and defeat into victory is common in prophetic literature.

Linguistic Insights

The power of this verse lies in its striking parallelism and repetition. Phrases like "devour... shall be devoured," "go into captivity," "spoil... shall be a spoil," and "prey upon thee will I give for a prey" emphasize a direct, reciprocal justice. This reflects the principle of lex talionis, or "an eye for an eye," not as a human legal code for vengeance, but as a divine decree of inescapable consequence for actions against God's people. The Hebrew verbs used convey a strong sense of inevitability and a complete reversal of roles.

Practical Application

While specifically addressed to ancient Israel, Jeremiah 30:16 offers timeless principles for believers today. It assures us that God is a God of justice who sees and knows every act of oppression and injustice. It encourages us to trust in God's ultimate vindication, even when immediate justice is not apparent. We are reminded that God will ultimately set all things right, and vengeance belongs to Him. This verse also serves as a solemn warning against harming others, especially the vulnerable, as God is a defender of the weak and will hold oppressors accountable. It reinforces the hope that God's plans for His people include not only restoration but also justice against those who have caused harm.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jeremiah 10:25

    Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.

  • Exodus 23:22

    But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.

  • Isaiah 33:1

    ¶ Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou [wast] not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; [and] when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.

  • Zechariah 2:8

    For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.

  • Revelation 13:10

    He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

  • Isaiah 14:2

    And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place: and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the LORD for servants and handmaids: and they shall take them captives, whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors.

  • Zechariah 12:2

    Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah [and] against Jerusalem.

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