Jeremiah 32:36

And now therefore thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning this city, whereof ye say, It shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence;

And now therefore thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068}, the God {H430} of Israel {H3478}, concerning this city {H5892}, whereof ye say {H559}, It shall be delivered {H5414} into the hand {H3027} of the king {H4428} of Babylon {H894} by the sword {H2719}, and by the famine {H7458}, and by the pestilence {H1698};

"Therefore, thus says ADONAI the God of Isra'el concerning this city, of which you say that it is handed over to the king of Bavel by sword, famine and plague:

Now therefore, about this city of which you say, ‘It will be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon by sword and famine and plague,’ this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says:

And now therefore thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, concerning this city, whereof ye say, It is given into the hand of the king of Babylon by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence:

Commentary

Jeremiah 32:36 (KJV) captures the grim reality facing Jerusalem according to the people and officials during the Babylonian siege, before God reveals His larger plan.

Context

This verse is spoken by the LORD within a passage where the prophet Jeremiah is imprisoned while the Babylonians are besieging Jerusalem. Despite the dire circumstances and the widespread belief that the city is doomed, God instructs Jeremiah to buy a field as a sign of future restoration. Verse 36 articulates the common, despairing view held by the people and leadership: that the city is certainly going to fall to the king of Babylon, destroyed by the three terrible scourges of war, starvation, and disease.

Key Themes

  • Impending Judgment: The verse highlights the undeniable reality of the judgment about to fall upon Jerusalem, a consequence of the people's persistent sin and rebellion against God.
  • Human Despair: It reflects the accurate, though hopeless, assessment of the situation by those trapped within the city walls who saw no way out.
  • Contrast with Divine Promise: By stating the overwhelming despair and perceived finality of the destruction, this verse starkly contrasts with the incredible promises of future restoration and hope that God immediately provides in the subsequent verses of the chapter.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence" translates the Hebrew words cherev (sword), ra'av (famine), and dever (pestilence). This specific combination is a frequent prophetic motif used throughout the Old Testament to describe the primary instruments of divine judgment and the devastating consequences of war and disobedience. Ezekiel also lists these as God's 'four sore judgments' (adding wild beasts).

Reflection and Application

Jeremiah 32:36 reminds us that sometimes the consequences of our actions or societal choices are real and severe. The people's assessment of their immediate future was based on the visible evidence, and they were correct about the coming destruction. However, the power of this verse lies in its position: it is the prelude to God's profound promises of future hope and restoration. It teaches us that even when facing seemingly insurmountable difficulties or the consequences of past failures, God's perspective is often larger than our present despair, offering the possibility of future restoration and renewal beyond what we can see.

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

  • Jeremiah 32:24 (4 votes)

    Behold the mounts, they are come unto the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans, that fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence: and what thou hast spoken is come to pass; and, behold, thou seest [it].

  • Jeremiah 32:3 (4 votes)

    For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, Wherefore dost thou prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it;

  • Jeremiah 32:28 (3 votes)

    Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the Chaldeans, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and he shall take it:

  • Ezekiel 36:31 (2 votes)

    Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that [were] not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.

  • Ezekiel 36:32 (2 votes)

    Not for your sakes do I [this], saith the Lord GOD, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel.

  • Hosea 2:14 (2 votes)

    ¶ Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.

  • Romans 5:20 (2 votes)

    Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: