Jeremiah 7:33

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the carcases {H5038} of this people {H5971} shall be meat {H3978} for the fowls {H5775} of the heaven {H8064}, and for the beasts {H929} of the earth {H776}; and none shall fray them away {H2729}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The corpses of this people will become food for the birds in the air and the wild animals; no one will frighten them away.

Berean Standard Bible

The corpses of this people will become food for the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and there will be no one to scare them away.

American Standard Version

And the dead bodies of this people shall be food for the birds of the heavens, and for the beasts of the earth; and none shall frighten them away.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 7:33 delivers a chilling prophecy of severe divine judgment against the unrepentant people of Judah and Jerusalem. It graphically depicts the utter devastation that will befall them due to their persistent idolatry and rebellion against God, foretelling that their unburied bodies will become carrion for birds of prey and wild beasts, with no survivors or compassionate individuals left to perform the customary rites of burial or even to scare away the scavengers. This vivid imagery underscores the completeness of their disgrace and the finality of God's wrath, serving as a stark warning of the consequences of covenant unfaithfulness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 7:33 stands as a climactic and horrifying pronouncement within Jeremiah's "Temple Sermon" (Jeremiah 7:1-15), a pivotal message delivered at the gate of the Lord's house. The verses immediately preceding this prophecy detail Judah's egregious sins: their false sense of security in the Temple's presence, their empty ritualism, and their widespread idolatry, including the abhorrent practice of burning their children as offerings in the Valley of Ben Hinnom ([Jeremiah 7:31](/jeremiah/7-31 "Jeremiah 7:31 - The Abomination of Topheth")). Jeremiah's message is a direct confrontation of their hypocrisy, arguing that their physical presence in the Temple, while engaging in abominable practices like theft, murder, adultery, perjury, and Baal worship ([Jeremiah 7:9](/jeremiah/7-9 "Jeremiah 7:9 - Judah's Abominations")), was an affront to God. The prophecy of unburied bodies serves as the ultimate, gruesome consequence for their refusal to "amend their ways and their deeds" ([Jeremiah 7:3](/jeremiah/7-3 "Jeremiah 7:3 - Call to Amendment")). This verse, therefore, marks the grim culmination of God's patience and the inevitable outcome of their persistent rebellion against His covenant.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophecy in Jeremiah 7:33 is set against the tumultuous backdrop of the late 7th and early 6th centuries BCE, a period leading up to the devastating Babylonian exile. Judah, despite witnessing the fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel due to similar sins, continued in idolatry and moral decline. For ancient Near Eastern cultures, proper burial was a sacred and essential rite, signifying respect for the deceased, a peaceful transition, and the honor of the family and community. To be left unburied was considered the ultimate disgrace, a curse worse than death itself, stripping the deceased of dignity and preventing their spirit from resting. This cultural understanding amplifies the horror of Jeremiah's prophecy: it implies not only widespread death but also a complete societal collapse where no one remains to perform these fundamental duties, leaving the dead exposed to the indignity of being consumed by scavengers. Such a fate was a common motif in ancient Near Eastern curses and served as a powerful deterrent, highlighting the complete abandonment by both divine and human compassion.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 7:33 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Jeremiah. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Divine Judgment and Wrath**, demonstrating the severe and inevitable consequences of persistent disobedience and idolatry against a holy God. God's patience has limits, and His justice is absolute, particularly when His covenant people repeatedly violate His commands. Secondly, it underscores the **Desecration of the Dead** as a specific and profound form of judgment, emphasizing the deep shame and dishonor inflicted upon a people who have utterly rejected their covenant Lord. This imagery is a vivid portrayal of complete societal breakdown and the absence of human compassion or survival. This form of curse is also found in other prophetic warnings, such as [Deuteronomy 28:26](/deuteronomy/28-26 "Deuteronomy 28:26 - Curses for Disobedience") and [Isaiah 34:3](/isaiah/34-3 "Isaiah 34:3 - Judgment on Edom"). Thirdly, the verse reinforces the theme of **Consequences of Disobedience**, serving as a stark reminder that ritualistic adherence without genuine repentance and obedience to God's law leads to devastating national and individual ruin, contrasting sharply with the false security Judah placed in the Temple itself ([Jeremiah 7:4](/jeremiah/7-4 "Jeremiah 7:4 - False Security in the Temple")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **carcases (Hebrew, _nᵉbêlâh'_):** This word (H5038) refers to a "flabby thing," specifically a dead body or carrion, whether human or animal, often used collectively. Its use here emphasizes the utter lack of dignity and respect that will be afforded to the deceased. The people will be reduced to mere decaying flesh, indistinguishable from animal carcasses, a stark contrast to the sacredness of human life and burial customs in ancient Israel. It underscores the severity of the judgment, where even the basic human right to a proper burial is denied, signifying total dishonor.
* **meat (Hebrew, _maʼăkâl'_):** Derived from the root "to eat," this term (H3978) denotes "eatable" things, including food, provisions, flesh, or fruit. In this context, it chillingly describes the bodies of the people as becoming literal sustenance for scavengers. It highlights the complete reversal of natural order and human dignity, where the very people who once offered sacrifices and feasted in God's presence will become the 'food' for wild creatures, symbolizing their utter abandonment and the desolation of the land.
* **fray away (Hebrew, _chârad'_):** This verb (H2729) is a primitive root meaning "to shudder with terror," "to fear," or "to hasten (with anxiety)." In its Hiphil stem, as used here, it means "to cause to tremble" or "to scare away." The phrase "none shall fray them away" signifies the absolute absence of any survivors, or indeed, any human presence capable or willing to perform the basic act of scaring off the birds and beasts from the dead bodies. This paints a picture of complete and utter desolation, where the land is depopulated and abandoned, leaving the dead exposed without any human intervention or compassion.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the carcases of this people shall be meat for the fowls of the heaven,"**: This clause delivers the core of the prophecy: the dead bodies of the inhabitants of Judah will not receive proper burial. Instead, they will be left exposed, becoming a food source for birds of the sky. This is a profound curse in ancient cultures, symbolizing utter disgrace, divine abandonment, and the complete collapse of social order and human dignity. The imagery is visceral and designed to evoke horror, highlighting the reversal of God's covenant blessings.
* **"and for the beasts of the earth;"**: This expands the scope of the scavengers to include wild animals on the ground. The combined mention of "fowls of the heaven" and "beasts of the earth" emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the judgment – the dead will be consumed by every kind of carrion-eater, leaving nothing untouched. It reinforces the idea of total desolation and the absence of human intervention to prevent such a gruesome fate, indicating a land utterly consumed by chaos and death.
* **"and none shall fray [them] away."**: This final phrase intensifies the horror and confirms the totality of the disaster. "Fray away" means to scare off or drive away. The declaration that "none shall fray them away" signifies that there will be no one left alive, or no one able or willing, to perform even this most basic act of preventing the desecration of the dead. This implies not only widespread death but also the complete absence of survivors, compassion, or the social structures necessary to perform burial rites, leaving the land utterly desolate and abandoned, a testament to God's complete withdrawal of protection.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 7:33 employs powerful **Imagery** to convey the horrific nature of God's judgment. The vivid depiction of unburied bodies becoming food for "fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth" creates a visceral and disturbing mental picture, designed to shock the audience into recognizing the severity of their sin and the impending doom. This imagery functions as a form of **Hyperbole** or **Exaggeration** to underscore the extreme nature of the impending judgment, emphasizing the complete societal collapse and the utter lack of human dignity that will result from their rebellion. The phrase "none shall fray them away" serves as a form of **Litotes** (a deliberate understatement) to amplify the sense of abandonment and desolation; it's not just that no one *will* scare them away, but that there *will be no one* left to do so, highlighting the comprehensive nature of the destruction. The entire verse functions as a **Prophetic Curse**, a direct pronouncement of divine judgment that reverses the blessings of the covenant and brings about the ultimate shame and dishonor upon the disobedient people.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 7:33 serves as a stark theological declaration of God's unwavering holiness and His righteous judgment against persistent sin, particularly idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness. It reveals that God's patience, though immense, is not infinite, and His justice will ultimately prevail when His people obstinately refuse to repent. The desecration of the dead, a profound cultural curse, underscores the depth of God's displeasure and the complete reversal of the covenant blessings promised for obedience. It illustrates that true security lies not in religious rituals or physical structures like the Temple, but in genuine obedience and a transformed heart. This verse stands as a powerful testament to the gravity of rebellion against the living God and the devastating consequences that follow when His warnings are ignored, emphasizing the principle that "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23).

* [Deuteronomy 28:26](/deuteronomy/28-26 "Deuteronomy 28:26 - Curses for Disobedience")
* [Psalm 79:2](/psalm/79-2 "Psalm 79:2 - Desecration of God's Servants")
* [Revelation 19:17-18](/revelation/19-17-18 "Revelation 19:17-18 - The Great Supper of God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 7:33, while rooted in a specific historical context, carries profound and timeless lessons for all who seek to live faithfully before God. It serves as a sobering reminder that a superficial faith, one that relies on outward religious observance without genuine heart transformation and obedience, is an affront to a holy God. We are called to examine our own lives, ensuring that our worship is not merely ritualistic but flows from a sincere desire to honor God in all our ways, in spirit and in truth. The horrific imagery of this verse compels us to take the gravity of sin seriously, recognizing its devastating consequences not only on a personal level but also on a societal one. It challenges us to heed God's warnings found in Scripture, understanding that His patience, while vast, is accompanied by His unwavering justice. Ultimately, this passage calls for authentic repentance, a turning away from anything that dishonors God, and a wholehearted commitment to His commands, for true security and blessing are found only in Him, not in false assurances or empty traditions.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I be tempted to rely on outward religious practices or affiliations rather than genuine, heart-level obedience to God?**
* **What warnings from Scripture might I be prone to dismiss or rationalize in my own life, and what are the potential consequences of such dismissal?**
* **How does the graphic nature of this judgment impress upon me the holiness of God and the seriousness of sin?**
* **What specific areas of my life need to be brought into fuller alignment with God's will, demonstrating true repentance and faith?**

### FAQ
**What was the "Temple Sermon" and why was it significant?**

Answer: The "Temple Sermon" (Jeremiah 7:1-15) was a powerful and confrontational message delivered by the prophet Jeremiah at the gate of the Jerusalem Temple. Its significance lay in its direct challenge to the people of Judah's false sense of security. They believed that merely possessing the Temple guaranteed God's protection, regardless of their sinful behavior. Jeremiah exposed their hypocrisy, detailing their abominations (theft, murder, adultery, idolatry, child sacrifice) and declaring that God would not protect a people who defiled His house and broke His covenant. The sermon served as a final, urgent call to repentance, warning that continued disobedience would lead to the Temple's destruction and their exile, just as God had abandoned Shiloh ([Jeremiah 7:12-14](/jeremiah/7-12-14 "Jeremiah 7:12-14 - The Example of Shiloh")).

**Why was being left unburied considered such a severe punishment in ancient times?**

Answer: In ancient Near Eastern cultures, proper burial was profoundly important, carrying deep religious, social, and cultural significance. It was an act of honor and respect for the deceased, a means of ensuring peace for the departed, and a fundamental duty of the living. To be left unburied and exposed to scavengers was considered the ultimate disgrace, a horrific curse worse than death itself. It signified complete dishonor, utter defeat, and the absence of any survivors or compassionate individuals to perform the necessary rites. This punishment was often associated with divine judgment and was a powerful symbol of a people's complete abandonment by both God and humanity, as seen in other prophetic warnings like [Deuteronomy 28:26](/deuteronomy/28-26 "Deuteronomy 28:26 - Curses for Disobedience").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Jeremiah 7:33 pronounces a terrifying judgment upon unrepentant Judah, its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment lies in the profound contrast it presents to the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The verse vividly portrays the consequences of humanity's rebellion against a holy God: death, shame, and utter abandonment. Yet, the New Testament reveals that God, in His infinite mercy, provided a solution to this inescapable judgment through His Son. Jesus Christ, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), willingly bore the full weight of humanity's sin and the divine wrath it deserved. He experienced a death that was, in a sense, a public humiliation and abandonment by man, though not ultimately by God, for He cried out, "[My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")" as He bore the sin of the world. His body, though taken down from the cross, was laid in a tomb, not left for scavengers, and crucially, He conquered death through His glorious resurrection on the third day ([1_corinthians/15-3-4](/1-corinthians/15-3-4 "1 Corinthians 15:3-4 - Christ's Death and Resurrection")). Through faith in Him, believers are spared the ultimate judgment of eternal separation from God and are promised not a desecrated carcass but a glorious resurrection body ([philippians/3-20-21](/philippians/3-20-21 "Philippians 3:20-21 - Our Citizenship in Heaven")). Thus, Jeremiah 7:33 underscores the terrifying reality of sin's wages, while Christ's sacrifice and resurrection offer the glorious hope of life and reconciliation, transforming the curse of unburied bodies into the promise of eternal life and a glorious future with God ([romans/6-23](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The Wages of Sin and the Gift of God")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Deuteronomy 28:26

And thy carcase shall be meat unto all fowls of the air, and unto the beasts of the earth, and no man shall fray [them] away.

Jeremiah 12:9

Mine heritage [is] unto me [as] a speckled bird, the birds round about [are] against her; come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, come to devour.

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 19:18

That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all [men, both] free and bond, both small and great.

Jeremiah 8:1

¶ At that time, saith the LORD, they shall bring out the bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of his princes, and the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves:

Jeremiah 8:2

And they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and whom they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried; they shall be for dung upon the face of the earth.

Jeremiah 22:19

He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem.