Jeremiah 34:20

I will even give them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life: and their dead bodies shall be for meat unto the fowls of the heaven, and to the beasts of the earth.

I will even give {H5414} them into the hand {H3027} of their enemies {H341}, and into the hand {H3027} of them that seek {H1245} their life {H5315}: and their dead bodies {H5038} shall be for meat {H3978} unto the fowls {H5775} of the heaven {H8064}, and to the beasts {H929} of the earth {H776}.

I will hand them over to their enemies, hand them over to those who seek their lives; and their corpses will become food for birds in the air and wild animals.

I will deliver into the hands of their enemies who seek their lives. Their corpses will become food for the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth.

I will even give them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life; and their dead bodies shall be for food unto the birds of the heavens, and to the beasts of the earth.

Jeremiah 34:20 delivers a stark and severe prophecy of divine judgment against the people of Judah, specifically targeting those who broke a solemn covenant with God. This verse underscores the dire consequences of disobedience and treachery.

Context

This verse is part of a larger prophecy delivered by Jeremiah during the final siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians under King Nebuchadnezzar. Earlier in the chapter, King Zedekiah and the princes of Judah had made a covenant, in the presence of God, to release their Hebrew slaves, in accordance with the Law of Moses concerning the seventh year of release (Deuteronomy 15:12). However, after a temporary lifting of the siege, they shamelessly reneged on their promise and re-enslaved those they had freed (Jeremiah 34:11). God, through Jeremiah, condemns this profound breach of covenant and their disrespect for His name, declaring that He will "proclaim liberty" to the sword, pestilence, and famine against them. Verse 20 specifies the gruesome outcome of this judgment.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Consequences of Covenant Breaking: The verse vividly illustrates the severe repercussions for breaking a sacred oath made before God. Their actions demonstrated a profound lack of integrity and reverence.
  • Divine Judgment and Wrath: God's declaration, "I will even give them into the hand of their enemies," highlights His active role in bringing judgment upon those who defy His commands and violate justice. This is not a passive consequence but a direct act of divine retribution.
  • Dishonor in Death: The gruesome image of bodies left as "meat unto the fowls of the heaven, and to the beasts of the earth" signifies the ultimate dishonor and disgrace. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, a proper burial was paramount; to be unburied was a sign of utter defeat, abandonment, and divine curse, denying the deceased any dignity even in death. This was a common prophetic warning for severe judgment, as seen in other passages like Jeremiah 7:33.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "fowls of the heaven, and to the beasts of the earth" is a powerful and frequently used prophetic idiom in the Old Testament to describe utter desolation and the complete lack of proper burial. It emphasizes the severity of the judgment, where even the basic human right to burial is denied, and the deceased are left to be scavenged. This imagery would have evoked profound dread and shame in the ancient Israelite mind, serving as a stark warning of the consequences of their disobedience during the Babylonian siege.

Practical Application

While the immediate context is specific to ancient Judah's covenant breaking, the principles resonate today:

  • Integrity and Keeping Promises: The passage serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of keeping one's word, especially promises made before God. Disregarding solemn commitments can lead to severe consequences, both spiritual and practical.
  • The Seriousness of Sin: God takes sin, particularly rebellion and injustice, very seriously. This verse underscores that there are real, often painful, consequences for persistent disobedience to God's revealed will.
  • Justice Prevails: Even when human systems fail or injustice seems to triumph temporarily, this verse affirms that God is the ultimate judge who will ensure that justice is served, even if it means delivering people into the hands of their enemies. It reminds us of God's unwavering standard of righteousness.
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 7:33

    And the carcases of this people shall be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth; and none shall fray [them] away.

  • Jeremiah 16:4

    They shall die of grievous deaths; they shall not be lamented; neither shall they be buried; [but] they shall be as dung upon the face of the earth: and they shall be consumed by the sword, and by famine; and their carcases shall be meat for the fowls of heaven, and for the beasts of the earth.

  • Jeremiah 19:7

    And I will make void the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem in this place; and I will cause them to fall by the sword before their enemies, and by the hands of them that seek their lives: and their carcases will I give to be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth.

  • Revelation 19:17

    And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;

  • Revelation 19:21

    And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which [sword] proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

  • 1 Kings 16:4

    Him that dieth of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth of his in the fields shall the fowls of the air eat.

  • Jeremiah 11:21

    Therefore thus saith the LORD of the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying, Prophesy not in the name of the LORD, that thou die not by our hand:

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