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Jeremiah 21:9

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He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth out, and falleth to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey.

He that abideth {H3427} in this city {H5892} shall die {H4191} by the sword {H2719}, and by the famine {H7458}, and by the pestilence {H1698}: but he that goeth out {H3318}, and falleth {H5307} to the Chaldeans {H3778} that besiege {H6696} you, he shall live {H2421}{H2421}, and his life {H5315} shall be unto him for a prey {H7998}.

Anyone who stays in this city will die by sword, famine and plague. But he who leaves and surrenders to the Kasdim besieging you will stay alive; his own life will be his only 'spoils of war.'

Whoever stays in this city will die by sword and famine and plague, but whoever goes out and surrenders to the Chaldeans who besiege you will live; he will retain his life like a spoil of war.

He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence; but he that goeth out, and passeth over to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey.

Commentary

Jeremiah 21:9 delivers a stark and sobering prophecy from the Lord through the prophet Jeremiah to the inhabitants of Jerusalem during its final siege by the Babylonians. This verse provides a clear, divine ultimatum, revealing God's judgment and His unexpected path to survival for those willing to heed His word.

Context

This verse is part of a direct message from God to King Zedekiah and the people of Jerusalem, who were under intense siege by Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian army. King Zedekiah had sent Pashhur and Zephaniah to Jeremiah, asking him to inquire of the Lord if God would intervene and save Jerusalem from the Chaldeans (Jeremiah 21:1-2). In response, God declares that He Himself will fight against Jerusalem (Jeremiah 21:5) and offers a grim choice: stay in the city and face certain death, or surrender to the Babylonians and live. Jeremiah 21:9 elaborates on the consequences of these two paths, emphasizing the severity of the impending divine judgment on Jerusalem.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Warning: The verse vividly describes the three instruments of God's judgment against Jerusalem: the sword (war), famine (starvation due to siege), and pestilence (disease). These were common consequences of prolonged sieges and were specifically ordained by God as punishment for the nation's persistent sin and rebellion against Him.
  • The Paradoxical Path to Survival: God commands an unthinkable act for a proud nation: surrender to the enemy. For those who "goeth out, and falleth to the Chaldeans," life is promised. This highlights Jeremiah's consistent, unpopular message that submission to God's ordained judgment (even through an invading army) was the only way to preserve life.
  • Life as a "Prey": The promise of life is not one of comfort or prosperity. "His life shall be unto him for a prey" means that life would be snatched like plunder from destruction, a bare escape. It emphasizes survival by the skin of one's teeth, a life preserved from utter annihilation, but not one of ease or victory.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "his life shall be unto him for a prey" is crucial. The Hebrew word for "prey" or "spoil" is shalal (שָׁלָל). It refers to plunder or spoils taken from an enemy. In this context, it signifies that one's life would be rescued or preserved as if it were a valuable item snatched from destruction. It's a stark image of barely escaping with one's life, emphasizing that survival would be a mercy, not a triumph, and would come at a great cost of freedom and possessions.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 21:9 offers timeless spiritual lessons beyond its historical context:

  • Obeying Difficult Truths: Sometimes, God's path to true life requires surrendering what seems like security, pride, or worldly wisdom. Just as the Israelites were called to surrender to an enemy, believers today might be called to surrender personal desires, control, or worldly comforts for the sake of God's greater purpose and spiritual life.
  • The Choice for Life: The verse underscores a principle seen throughout Scripture: God always provides a way to choose life, even in the direst circumstances. While the immediate context is physical survival, it points to the broader spiritual truth that obedience to God's word, even when it seems counter-intuitive or costly, is the path to true life, both temporal and eternal.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: The dire fate of those who remained in Jerusalem serves as a potent reminder that ignoring God's warnings and resisting His will leads to severe consequences.
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 38:2 (9 votes)

    Thus saith the LORD, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live.

  • Jeremiah 45:5 (7 votes)

    And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek [them] not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.

  • Jeremiah 39:18 (7 votes)

    For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD.

  • Jeremiah 38:17 (4 votes)

    Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon's princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house:

  • Jeremiah 38:23 (4 votes)

    So they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans: and thou shalt not escape out of their hand, but shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon: and thou shalt cause this city to be burned with fire.

  • Jeremiah 14:12 (4 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.

  • Jeremiah 27:13 (3 votes)

    Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the LORD hath spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?