Jeremiah — Chapter 21

📖 Jeremiah — Chapter 21 (KJV)

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Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.

Jeremiah 21:1 The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, ^Rwhen king Zedekiah sent unto him Pashur the son of Melchiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, saying,

Jeremiah 21:2 ^REnquire, I pray thee, of the LORD for us; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon maketh war against us; if so be that the LORD will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he may go up from us.

Jeremiah 21:3 Then said Jeremiah unto them, Thus shall ye say to Zedekiah:

Jeremiah 21:4 Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; ^RBehold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans, which besiege you without the walls, and I will assemble them into the midst of this city.

Jeremiah 21:5 And I myself will fight against you ^Rwith an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath.

Jeremiah 21:6 And ^RI will smite the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast: they shall die of a great pestilence.

Jeremiah 21:7 And afterward, saith the LORD, ^RI will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life: and he shall smite them with the edge of the sword; he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy.

Jeremiah 21:8 And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, ^RI set before you the way of life, and the way of death.

Jeremiah 21:9 He ^Rthat 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.

Jeremiah 21:10 For ^RI have set my face against this city for evil, and not for good, saith the LORD: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.

Jeremiah 21:11 And touching the house of the king of Judah, say, Hear ye the word of the LORD;

Jeremiah 21:12 O ^Rhouse of David, thus saith the LORD; ^TExecute judgment in the morning, and deliver him that is spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor, lest my fury go out like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.

Jeremiah 21:13 Behold, ^RI am against thee, O ^Tinhabitant of the valley, and rock of the plain, saith the LORD; which say, Who shall come down against us? or who shall enter into our habitations?

Jeremiah 21:14 But I will ^RTpunish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the LORD: and I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof, and it shall devour all things round about it.

📚 Study This Chapter

📖 What We’re Reading

Jeremiah 21:1–5 — Zedekiah asks for help during siege

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Royal messengers seek a favorable answer while Babylon attacks. Jeremiah’s reply announces that the Lord will oppose Jerusalem rather than repeat the deliverance the king hopes for.

Key Truth: Hear the answer rather than assuming it.

Check What You Remember

📖 What We’re Reading

Jeremiah 21:6–10 — Life and death set before the city

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Pestilence, sword, and famine frame the warning. In this particular siege, surrender to the Chaldeans is announced as the way to preserve life, while the city will be burned.

Key Truth: Read the commanded response within its historical crisis.

Check What You Remember

📖 What We’re Reading

Jeremiah 21:11–14 — The royal house must execute justice

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

David’s house is called to rescue the oppressed and judge rightly. Confidence in the city’s protected position cannot cancel accountability for the fruit of its deeds.

Key Truth: Use authority to deliver people from oppression.

Check What You Remember

Related Scripture (KJV)

Jeremiah 7:5 — The temple message also calls for amended ways and judgment.

Jeremiah 7:5 (KJV) For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour;

This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.

Reflect and Apply

Where should your influence protect someone from oppression?

Notes

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