And they shall eat up thine harvest, and thy bread, [which] thy sons and thy daughters should eat: they shall eat up thy flocks and thine herds: they shall eat up thy vines and thy fig trees: they shall impoverish thy fenced cities, wherein thou trustedst, with the sword.
And they shall eat up {H398} thine harvest {H7105}, and thy bread {H3899}, which thy sons {H1121} and thy daughters {H1323} should eat {H398}: they shall eat up {H398} thy flocks {H6629} and thine herds {H1241}: they shall eat up {H398} thy vines {H1612} and thy fig trees {H8384}: they shall impoverish {H7567} thy fenced {H4013} cities {H5892}, wherein thou {H2007} trustedst {H982}, with the sword {H2719}.
They will eat up your harvest and your bread, they will eat up your sons and your daughters, they will eat up your flocks and your herds, they will eat up your vines and your fig trees; with the sword they will beat down your fortified cities, in which you trust.
They will devour your harvest and food; they will consume your sons and daughters; they will eat up your flocks and herds; they will feed on your vines and fig trees. With the sword they will destroy the fortified cities in which you trust.”
And they shall eat up thy harvest, and thy bread, which thy sons and thy daughters should eat; they shall eat up thy flocks and thy herds; they shall eat up thy vines and thy fig-trees; they shall beat down thy fortified cities, wherein thou trustest, with the sword.
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Leviticus 26:16
I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. -
Deuteronomy 28:33
The fruit of thy land, and all thy labours, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway: -
Lamentations 2:2
The Lord hath swallowed up all the habitations of Jacob, and hath not pitied: he hath thrown down in his wrath the strong holds of the daughter of Judah; he hath brought [them] down to the ground: he hath polluted the kingdom and the princes thereof. -
Jeremiah 50:17
Israel [is] a scattered sheep; the lions have driven [him] away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones. -
Jeremiah 8:16
The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan: the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones; for they are come, and have devoured the land, and all that is in it; the city, and those that dwell therein. -
Jeremiah 50:7
All that found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, We offend not, because they have sinned against the LORD, the habitation of justice, even the LORD, the hope of their fathers. -
Deuteronomy 28:30
Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: thou shalt build an house, and thou shalt not dwell therein: thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not gather the grapes thereof.
Jeremiah 5:17 KJV vividly describes the devastating consequences of God's judgment upon Judah for their pervasive unfaithfulness and idolatry. This verse paints a stark picture of total economic and military ruin at the hands of an invading enemy.
Context
The prophet Jeremiah, often called the "weeping prophet," delivered stern warnings to the kingdom of Judah just before its fall to Babylon. Chapter 5 details Judah's profound moral corruption, their refusal to repent, and their widespread turning away from the Lord to worship false gods. God, in His righteousness, declares that He will bring a powerful, distant nation against them (Jeremiah 5:15) as a divine instrument of chastisement. Verse 17 specifies the comprehensive nature of this impending destruction, impacting every aspect of their livelihood and security.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word for "eat up," akal (אָכַל), is used repeatedly, signifying not just consumption but a voracious, destructive devouring. It conveys the idea of an enemy utterly consuming and leaving nothing behind. The term "impoverish" (Hebrew yarash, יָרַשׁ) implies dispossessing them of their wealth and inheritance, making them destitute and vulnerable.
Practical Application
Jeremiah 5:17 serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of spiritual complacency and disobedience. It challenges us to examine where we place our trust. Do we rely on our financial security, our possessions, or our perceived strengths, or do we ultimately trust in God's provision and protection? The verse underscores that true security is found not in worldly defenses but in a right relationship with the Almighty. It calls believers to genuine repentance and to place their unwavering faith in the Lord, who alone is a true refuge (Psalm 91:2).