Jeremiah 13:18
Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory.
Original Language Analysis
הַשְׁפִּ֣ילוּ
Humble
H8213
הַשְׁפִּ֣ילוּ
Humble
Strong's:
H8213
Word #:
4 of 10
to depress or sink (especially figuratively, to humiliate, intransitive or transitive)
שֵׁ֑בוּ
yourselves sit down
H3427
שֵׁ֑בוּ
yourselves sit down
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
5 of 10
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
כִּ֤י
H3588
כִּ֤י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
6 of 10
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
יָרַד֙
shall come down
H3381
יָרַד֙
shall come down
Strong's:
H3381
Word #:
7 of 10
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau
Cross References
Jeremiah 22:26And I will cast thee out, and thy mother that bare thee, into another country, where ye were not born; and there shall ye die.2 Kings 24:12And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign.2 Kings 24:15And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.2 Chronicles 33:19His prayer also, and how God was intreated of him, and all his sin, and his trespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up groves and graven images, before he was humbled: behold, they are written among the sayings of the seers.Isaiah 47:1Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate.2 Chronicles 33:12And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,Isaiah 3:26And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground.Exodus 10:3And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.Matthew 18:4Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.Jonah 3:6For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.
Historical Context
The 'queen' (gebirah) in Judah was typically the queen mother, who held formal court position and influence (1 Kings 15:13, 2 Kings 10:13). This oracle may date to Jehoiachin's reign, when his mother Nehushta was deported with him (2 Kings 24:8, 12, 15). The royal house's humiliation in exile fulfilled this prophecy precisely—stripped of crowns, led captive to Babylon.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does Jeremiah specifically address both king and queen mother?
- What does the command to 'humble yourselves' indicate about the source of coming humiliation?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
This verse addresses the royal house: 'Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory.' 'King and queen' (melek vegebirah) are the ruling monarch and queen mother (who held significant power). 'Humble yourselves' (hashpilu) means to bring low, descend. 'Sit down' (shevu) from exalted position to low status. 'Crown of your glory' (atereth tiph'artekhem) will 'come down'—royal dignity stripped away. The royal family, the nation's highest status, will be humiliated. Pride in political position will be broken.