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.

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}.

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

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.

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

Jeremiah 7:33 delivers a chilling prophecy of divine judgment against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. It graphically describes the complete devastation that will befall the people due to their persistent idolatry and rebellion against God, specifically stating that their unburied bodies will become food for scavengers, with no one left to ward them off.

Context

This verse is part of Jeremiah’s powerful "Temple Sermon" (Jeremiah 7:1-15), delivered at the gate of the Lord's house. The people of Judah had developed a false sense of security, believing that merely possessing the Temple guaranteed God's protection, regardless of their sinful practices. Jeremiah confronts their hypocrisy, detailing their abominations: theft, murder, adultery, perjury, burning incense to Baal, and worshipping other gods (Jeremiah 7:9). Despite these grave sins, they would still enter the Temple, declaring, "We are delivered!" (Jeremiah 7:10). This prophecy is God's stark warning that their ritualistic adherence without genuine repentance would lead to utter destruction, a fate worse than that of Shiloh (Jeremiah 7:12-14).

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Wrath: The verse powerfully illustrates the severity of God's wrath when His people persistently refuse to heed His warnings and turn from their sin. This is not arbitrary cruelty but a just consequence for their deep-seated rebellion.
  • Desecration of the Dead: For ancient cultures, proper burial was profoundly important, signifying respect, peace, and honor. The prophecy that bodies would be left unburied and consumed by animals was a horrific curse, symbolizing ultimate disgrace, utter defeat, and the complete absence of survivors to perform burial rites. This extreme form of judgment is also seen in Deuteronomy 28:26 as a consequence of disobedience.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: Jeremiah 7:33 serves as a stark reminder that persistent sin, especially idolatry and rejection of God's law, carries devastating consequences, both individually and nationally.

Linguistic Insight

The King James Version uses the word "fray" in the phrase "none shall fray [them] away." The word fray here means to scare away or frighten off. This emphasizes the completeness of the desolation: not only would there be countless dead bodies, but there would be no one left alive, or no one able, to even perform the basic act of scaring away the carrion-eating birds and beasts. It paints a picture of total abandonment and utter destruction.

Significance and Application

Jeremiah 7:33, while a prophecy of historical judgment, carries profound timeless lessons. It underscores God's absolute holiness and His intolerance for sin, particularly when His grace is presumed upon. For us today, it serves as a powerful warning against:

  • Superficial Faith: Relying on religious rituals, church attendance, or external forms of worship without genuine heart transformation and obedience to God's commands. God desires truth in the inward parts, not mere outward show (Psalm 51:6).
  • Ignoring God's Warnings: Just as Judah ignored Jeremiah's consistent call to amend their ways, we must not dismiss the clear instructions and warnings found in Scripture. God's patience is immense (2 Peter 3:9), but His justice is also certain.
  • The Gravity of Sin: The horrific imagery reminds us of the serious consequences of sin, not only on a personal level but also on a societal one when wickedness becomes pervasive. It calls us to consider the ultimate cost of rebellion against a holy God.

Ultimately, this verse calls for genuine repentance, a turning away from sin, and a heartfelt commitment to God's ways, recognizing that true security lies in obedience and not in empty religious forms.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 28:26 (5 votes)

    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 (5 votes)

    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 (3 votes)

    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 (3 votes)

    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 (2 votes)

    ¶ 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 (2 votes)

    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 (2 votes)

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