Jeremiah 38:2

Thus saith the LORD, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live.

Thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068}, He that remaineth {H3427} in this city {H5892} shall die {H4191} by the sword {H2719}, by the famine {H7458}, and by the pestilence {H1698}: but he that goeth forth {H3318} to the Chaldeans {H3778} shall live {H2421}; for he shall have his life {H5315} for a prey {H7998}, and shall live {H2421}{H2425}.

"Here is what ADONAI says: whoever remains in this city will die by sword, famine and plague; but whoever leaves and surrenders to the Kasdim will stay alive; his own life will be his only 'spoils of war,' but he will stay alive.

“This is what the LORD says: Whoever stays in this city will die by sword and famine and plague, but whoever surrenders to the Chaldeans will live; he will retain his life like a spoil of war, and he will live.

Thus saith Jehovah, He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence; but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey, and he shall live.

Context

The prophet Jeremiah delivered God's challenging messages to the kingdom of Judah during its final, turbulent days. This verse is spoken during the intense siege of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans (Babylonians), a period of immense suffering and political turmoil under King Zedekiah. Jeremiah's prophecy was deeply unpopular, as it advocated surrender to the invading force, which was considered treasonous by many in the city.

Key Themes

  • Divine Authority and Judgment: The phrase "Thus saith the LORD" immediately establishes the absolute authority behind this grim prophecy. It's not Jeremiah's opinion but God's direct decree, highlighting His sovereignty over the fate of nations and individuals. God’s judgment was a consequence of Judah's persistent sin and rebellion, despite repeated warnings (Jeremiah 7:13).
  • A Stark Choice: The verse presents a clear, life-or-death ultimatum for the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Remaining in the city meant facing the devastating trifecta of the "sword, famine, and pestilence," common scourges of ancient sieges and often seen as instruments of divine judgment. This dire warning is consistent with other prophecies of judgment (Jeremiah 14:12).
  • A Path to Preservation: Conversely, surrendering to the Chaldeans was presented as the divinely appointed way to survive. This was a scandalous and treasonous message in the eyes of many, yet it was God's merciful provision for those who would obey, offering them "life for a prey."

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "he shall have his life for a prey" is a vivid Hebrew idiom (often translated as "his life shall be as a spoil" or "he shall escape with his life"). It signifies snatching one's life from imminent danger, like a soldier seizing plunder from a defeated enemy. It implies a narrow, perhaps unexpected, escape from certain destruction, emphasizing that survival itself would be a divine gift, rescued from the jaws of death.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 38:2 offers a profound spiritual lesson. Sometimes, God's path to preservation or blessing requires us to surrender to circumstances or commands that seem counter-intuitive, unpopular, or even humiliating in the eyes of the world. True deliverance often comes not through defiant resistance against God's revealed will, but through humble submission to His wisdom. This verse reminds us that God's ultimate desire is for life (Ezekiel 33:11), and He often provides a way of escape even amidst severe judgment, if we are willing to follow His difficult but true counsel. It challenges us to discern God's voice and obey, even when it means going against popular opinion or our own natural inclinations.

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 39:18

    For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD.

  • Jeremiah 34:17

    Therefore thus saith the LORD; Ye have not hearkened unto me, in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbour: behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the LORD, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.

  • Jeremiah 45:5

    And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek [them] not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.

  • Ezekiel 14:21

    For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?

  • Jeremiah 42:17

    So shall it be with all the men that set their faces to go into Egypt to sojourn there; they shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: and none of them shall remain or escape from the evil that I will bring upon them.

  • Ezekiel 6:11

    ¶ Thus saith the Lord GOD; Smite with thine hand, and stamp with thy foot, and say, Alas for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel! for they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.

  • Jeremiah 21:8

    ¶ And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.

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