Jeremiah 13:14

Authorized King James Version

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And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, saith the LORD: I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy them.

Original Language Analysis

וְנִפַּצְתִּים֩ And I will dash H5310
וְנִפַּצְתִּים֩ And I will dash
Strong's: H5310
Word #: 1 of 16
to dash to pieces, or scatter
אִ֨ישׁ them one H376
אִ֨ישׁ them one
Strong's: H376
Word #: 2 of 16
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
אֶל H413
אֶל
Strong's: H413
Word #: 3 of 16
near, with or among; often in general, to
אָחִ֜יו against another H251
אָחִ֜יו against another
Strong's: H251
Word #: 4 of 16
a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like h0001])
וְהָאָב֧וֹת even the fathers H1
וְהָאָב֧וֹת even the fathers
Strong's: H1
Word #: 5 of 16
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
וְהַבָּנִ֛ים and the sons H1121
וְהַבָּנִ֛ים and the sons
Strong's: H1121
Word #: 6 of 16
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יַחְדָּ֖ו together H3162
יַחְדָּ֖ו together
Strong's: H3162
Word #: 7 of 16
properly, a unit, i.e., (adverb) unitedly
נְאֻם saith H5002
נְאֻם saith
Strong's: H5002
Word #: 8 of 16
an oracle
יְהוָ֑ה the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֑ה the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 9 of 16
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
לֹֽא H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 10 of 16
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
אֶחְמ֧וֹל I will not pity H2550
אֶחְמ֧וֹל I will not pity
Strong's: H2550
Word #: 11 of 16
to commiserate; by implication, to spare
וְלֹֽא H3808
וְלֹֽא
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 12 of 16
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
אָח֛וּס nor spare H2347
אָח֛וּס nor spare
Strong's: H2347
Word #: 13 of 16
properly, to cover, i.e., (figuratively) to compassionate
וְלֹ֥א H3808
וְלֹ֥א
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 14 of 16
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
אֲרַחֵ֖ם nor have mercy H7355
אֲרַחֵ֖ם nor have mercy
Strong's: H7355
Word #: 15 of 16
to fondle; by implication, to love, especially to compassionate
מֵהַשְׁחִיתָֽם׃ but destroy H7843
מֵהַשְׁחִיתָֽם׃ but destroy
Strong's: H7843
Word #: 16 of 16
to decay, i.e., (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively)

Analysis & Commentary

This verse intensifies judgment: 'And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, saith the LORD.' The Hebrew naphats (נָפַץ, dash, shatter) applies to pottery broken by smashing against surfaces or each other. Filled vessels dashed together produce mutual destruction. 'Fathers and sons together' (avoth ubanim yachdav) indicates generational destruction without mercy. 'I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy them.' Three negations (lo, lo, lo) emphasize no reprieve: no pity (chamal), no sparing (chus), no mercy (racham). Complete, pitiless destruction. The verse reveals judgment's comprehensive finality.

Historical Context

The siege of Jerusalem (588-586 BC) produced exactly this: fathers and sons dying together, families destroyed, comprehensive devastation without mercy. Lamentations describes the horrors: starvation, violence, death across all ages. The warning of pitiless destruction, given decades before fulfillment, emphasizes that judgment wasn't arbitrary but announced in advance.

Questions for Reflection

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