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Jeremiah 20:5

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Moreover I will deliver all the strength of this city, and all the labours thereof, and all the precious things thereof, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah will I give into the hand of their enemies, which shall spoil them, and take them, and carry them to Babylon.

Moreover I will deliver {H5414} all the strength {H2633} of this city {H5892}, and all the labours {H3018} thereof, and all the precious things {H3366} thereof, and all the treasures {H214} of the kings {H4428} of Judah {H3063} will I give {H5414} into the hand {H3027} of their enemies {H341}, which shall spoil {H962} them, and take {H3947} them, and carry {H935} them to Babylon {H894}.

Moreover, I will hand over everything stored in this city, all its valuables, all its wealth, indeed all the treasures of the kings of Y'hudah, to their enemies, who will plunder them, take them and carry them to Bavel.

I will give away all the wealth of this city—all its products and valuables, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah—to their enemies. They will plunder them, seize them, and carry them off to Babylon.

Moreover I will give all the riches of this city, and all the gains thereof, and all the precious things thereof, yea, all the treasures of the kings of Judah will I give into the hand of their enemies; and they shall make them a prey, and take them, and carry them to Babylon.

Commentary

Context of Jeremiah 20:5

Jeremiah 20:5 is part of a series of prophecies delivered by the prophet Jeremiah concerning the impending judgment on Judah and Jerusalem. This particular verse comes immediately after Jeremiah's confrontation with Pashur, the chief officer of the temple, who had beaten and imprisoned Jeremiah for his prophetic declarations (see Jeremiah 20:2). In response to Pashur's actions and the people's stubborn refusal to repent, God reveals through Jeremiah the complete and devastating nature of the coming destruction. This prophecy underscores the certainty of the Babylonian invasion, which would lead to the fall of Jerusalem and the exile of its inhabitants.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment: The verse highlights God's active role in bringing judgment upon Judah. It is not merely a political or military consequence, but a direct act of God's will ("Moreover I will deliver..."). This emphasizes God's sovereignty over nations and historical events.
  • Total Devastation: The language used—"all the strength of this city," "all the labours thereof," "all the precious things thereof," and "all the treasures of the kings of Judah"—paints a picture of comprehensive loss. Nothing valuable, whether military power, accumulated wealth from hard work, or royal riches, would be spared from the invaders.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: This prophecy serves as a stark warning about the severe consequences of persistent rebellion against God's commands and rejection of His prophets. The people's idolatry and injustice led directly to this national catastrophe, a fulfillment of earlier covenant warnings found in texts like Deuteronomy 28.
  • Babylonian Exile: The specific mention of "Babylon" as the destination for the spoil and the captives confirms the precise nature of the impending judgment. This was a key element of Jeremiah's message, which often conflicted with false prophets who promised peace (e.g., Jeremiah 14:13).

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew terms used in this verse emphasize the totality of the loss:

  • "Strength" (חֵילָהּ - cheilah): Can refer to military might, physical fortifications, or even the general wealth and substance of a nation. Here, it encompasses the city's defenses and resources.
  • "Labours thereof" (יְגִיעָהּ - yegi'ah): Denotes the accumulated fruits of their toil and industry, everything they had worked hard to achieve.
  • "Precious things" (יְקָרָהּ - yeqarah) and "treasures" (אוֹצְרוֹת - 'otsrot): These terms specifically highlight the valuable possessions, including the royal treasury, indicating the complete stripping of national and royal wealth.
The verbs "spoil them, and take them, and carry them to Babylon" (וְשָׁלְלוּם וְלָקְחוּם וִיבִאוּם בָּבֶלָה) are active and forceful, depicting the ruthless efficiency of the invaders in seizing and transporting the wealth.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 20:5 serves as a powerful reminder of several timeless truths:

  1. God's Justice is Real: While God is merciful and long-suffering, He is also just. Persistent sin and rebellion, especially against His clear warnings, will eventually lead to consequences.
  2. Warnings Must Be Heeded: The people of Judah repeatedly ignored Jeremiah's warnings, leading to the fulfillment of these dire prophecies. This underscores the importance of listening to and acting upon divine guidance, even when it is uncomfortable or unpopular.
  3. Material Security is Fleeting: The verse illustrates that even great national wealth and strength can be stripped away. True security is found not in earthly possessions or power, but in a right relationship with God.
  4. God's Word Will Be Fulfilled: Despite opposition and disbelief, God's prophecies through Jeremiah were meticulously fulfilled, including the seventy years of Babylonian captivity. This strengthens faith in the reliability and ultimate authority of God's word.

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 15:13 (4 votes)

    Thy substance and thy treasures will I give to the spoil without price, and [that] for all thy sins, even in all thy borders.

  • Ezekiel 22:25 (4 votes)

    [There is] a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof.

  • 2 Kings 25:13 (3 votes)

    And the pillars of brass that [were] in the house of the LORD, and the bases, and the brasen sea that [was] in the house of the LORD, did the Chaldees break in pieces, and carried the brass of them to Babylon.

  • 2 Kings 25:17 (3 votes)

    The height of the one pillar [was] eighteen cubits, and the chapiter upon it [was] brass: and the height of the chapiter three cubits; and the wreathen work, and pomegranates upon the chapiter round about, all of brass: and like unto these had the second pillar with wreathen work.

  • Lamentations 1:10 (3 votes)

    The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen [that] the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command [that] they should not enter into thy congregation.

  • 2 Chronicles 36:10 (3 votes)

    And when the year was expired, king Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly vessels of the house of the LORD, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem.

  • 2 Kings 20:17 (3 votes)

    Behold, the days come, that all that [is] in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.