Jeremiah 21:7
And afterward, saith the LORD, I 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 21:7 · King James Version
Meaning
This verse from the book of Jeremiah chapter 21, verse 7, portrays a grim prophecy of the impending destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians under the rule of King Nebuchadnezzar. The Lord forewarns King Zedekiah of Judah that he, along with his servants and the people of Judah, will be delivered into the hands of their enemies. Despite the pleas for mercy, the Babylonian king will show no pity or compassion. The city will face pestilence, sword, and famine, and those who survive will still be subjected to the merciless wrath of the Babylonians. This serves as a reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the price to be paid for turning away from the Lord's commands. It emphasizes the importance of faithfulness and loyalty to God's word to avoid the devastating consequences of sin.
Theological Overview
Here, the prophet Jeremiah conveys the message from the Lord regarding the fate of Zedekiah king of Judah and his people. The theological interpretation of this verse reveals the theme of divine judgment for the disobedience of the people. Despite the impending doom brought by Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, who represents the instrument of God's wrath, there is a sense of justice being carried out. The word "pestilence," "sword," and "famine" symbolize the various forms of suffering that the people will endure as a result of their actions. The repetition of "he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy" emphasizes the severity of the punishment that awaits them. This verse serves as a cautionary tale of the consequences of turning away from God and the importance of obedience to His will.
Jeremiah 21:7 in other translations
American Standard Version
And afterward, saith Jehovah, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, even 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.
World English Bible
Afterward, says Yahweh, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, even such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those who seek their life: and he shall strike them with the edge of the sword; he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy.
Douay-Rheims
And after this, saith the Lord, I will give Sedecias the king of Juda, and his servants, and his people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence, and the sword, and the famine, into the hand of Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life, and he shall strike them with the edge of the sword, and he shall not be moved to pity, nor spare them, nor shew mercy to them.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And after this, sayeth the Lord, I will deliuer Zedekiah the King of Iudah, and his seruants, and the people, and such as are left in this citie, from the pestilence, from the sworde and from the famine into the hande of Nebuchad-nezzar King of Babel, and into the hande of their enemies, and into the hande of those that seeke their liues, and he shall smite them with the edge of the sworde: he shall not spare them, neither haue pitie nor compassion.