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Jeremiah 15:2

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And it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith the LORD; Such as [are] for death, to death; and such as [are] for the sword, to the sword; and such as [are] for the famine, to the famine; and such as [are] for the captivity, to the captivity.

And it shall come to pass, if they say {H559} unto thee, Whither shall we go forth {H3318}? then thou shalt tell {H559} them, Thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068}; Such as are for death {H4194}, to death {H4194}; and such as are for the sword {H2719}, to the sword {H2719}; and such as are for the famine {H7458}, to the famine {H7458}; and such as are for the captivity {H7628}, to the captivity {H7628}.

And when they ask you where they should go, tell them that this is what ADONAI says: 'Those destined for death - to death! Those destined for the sword - to the sword! Those destined for famine - to famine! Those destined for captivity - to captivity!'

If they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ you are to tell them that this is what the LORD says: ‘Those destined for death, to death; those destined for the sword, to the sword; those destined for famine, to famine; and those destined for captivity, to captivity.’

And it shall come to pass, when they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith Jehovah: Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for captivity, to captivity.

Commentary

Context of Jeremiah 15:2

Jeremiah 15:2 is a stark and somber prophetic declaration from the LORD through His prophet, Jeremiah. This verse comes at a point in Jeremiah's ministry where God expresses His finality concerning judgment on Judah. Despite Jeremiah's fervent intercession (see Jeremiah 14:7-9, 19-22), God's patience with His rebellious people had reached its limit. The nation of Judah had consistently rejected God's warnings and pursued idolatry and sin, as detailed in earlier chapters (e.g., Jeremiah 7:24). When the people inquire about their fate or "whither shall we go forth?", this verse provides the grim, inescapable answer: they are appointed to various forms of destruction.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment and Consequences: This verse powerfully illustrates the severe and unavoidable consequences of persistent sin and unrepentance. God, in His justice, decrees specific forms of calamity for Judah, reflecting the gravity of their rebellion against His covenant.
  • Sovereignty of God in Judgment: The LORD is presented as the ultimate arbiter of destiny. He determines who will face death, who will fall by the sword, who will perish by famine, and who will be led into captivity. This underscores God's absolute control and authority, even over the most dire circumstances.
  • Inevitability of Punishment: The rhetorical question posed by the people is met with an answer that offers no escape. The four categories of judgment signify a comprehensive and inescapable doom, highlighting that once God's decree is set due to prolonged disobedience, there is no avoiding the appointed fate. This reflects the warnings given in Deuteronomy 28 regarding covenant disobedience.

Linguistic Insights

The repeated phrase "Such as [are] for..." (Hebrew: *asher l'*) emphasizes a divine appointment or destiny. It indicates that these fates are not random occurrences but are specifically assigned by God. It implies a sense of being "designated for" or "allotted to" a particular end, reinforcing the idea of God's sovereign hand in the unfolding judgments upon Judah.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 15:2 serves as a timeless reminder of the serious consequences of rejecting God's warnings and commands. While God is abundant in mercy and slow to anger, His patience is not limitless. This verse underscores the importance of heeding divine warnings and pursuing genuine repentance before the door of opportunity closes. For believers today, it highlights the seriousness of sin and the ultimate justice of God, encouraging a life of obedience and faithfulness. The ultimate fulfillment of these judgments is tragically depicted in the book of Lamentations, which describes the desolation of Jerusalem and the suffering of its people during the Babylonian exile, serving as a powerful historical testament to the truth of God's pronouncements.

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 (May 20, 2025) 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

  • Jeremiah 43:11 (10 votes)

    And when he cometh, he shall smite the land of Egypt, [and deliver] such [as are] for death to death; and such [as are] for captivity to captivity; and such [as are] for the sword to the sword.

  • Zechariah 11:9 (8 votes)

    Then said I, I will not feed you: that that dieth, let it die; and that that is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let the rest eat every one the flesh of another.

  • Ezekiel 5:2 (6 votes)

    Thou shalt burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled: and thou shalt take a third part, [and] smite about it with a knife: and a third part thou shalt scatter in the wind; and I will draw out a sword after them.

  • Revelation 6:3 (6 votes)

    ¶ And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.

  • Revelation 6:8 (6 votes)

    And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

  • Revelation 13:10 (6 votes)

    He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

  • Jeremiah 14:12 (5 votes)

    When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.