Jeremiah Chapter 15 · Verse 2

Authorized King James Version

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And it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith the LORD; Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity.

Original Language Analysis

וְהָיָ֛ה H1961
וְהָיָ֛ה
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 1 of 23
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
כִּֽי H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 2 of 23
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
אָמַ֣ר And it shall come to pass if they say H559
אָמַ֣ר And it shall come to pass if they say
Strong's: H559
Word #: 3 of 23
to say (used with great latitude)
אֵלֶ֖יךָ H413
אֵלֶ֖יךָ
Strong's: H413
Word #: 4 of 23
near, with or among; often in general, to
אָ֣נָה H575
אָ֣נָה
Strong's: H575
Word #: 5 of 23
where?; hence, whither?, when?; also hither and thither
נֵצֵ֑א unto thee Whither shall we go forth H3318
נֵצֵ֑א unto thee Whither shall we go forth
Strong's: H3318
Word #: 6 of 23
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
אָמַ֣ר And it shall come to pass if they say H559
אָמַ֣ר And it shall come to pass if they say
Strong's: H559
Word #: 7 of 23
to say (used with great latitude)
אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם H413
אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם
Strong's: H413
Word #: 8 of 23
near, with or among; often in general, to
כֹּֽה H3541
כֹּֽה
Strong's: H3541
Word #: 9 of 23
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
אָמַ֣ר And it shall come to pass if they say H559
אָמַ֣ר And it shall come to pass if they say
Strong's: H559
Word #: 10 of 23
to say (used with great latitude)
יְהוָ֗ה the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֗ה the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 11 of 23
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 12 of 23
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
לַמָּ֙וֶת֙ Such as are for death H4194
לַמָּ֙וֶת֙ Such as are for death
Strong's: H4194
Word #: 13 of 23
death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin
לַמָּ֙וֶת֙ Such as are for death H4194
לַמָּ֙וֶת֙ Such as are for death
Strong's: H4194
Word #: 14 of 23
death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin
וַאֲשֶׁ֤ר H834
וַאֲשֶׁ֤ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 15 of 23
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
לַחֶ֔רֶב and such as are for the sword H2719
לַחֶ֔רֶב and such as are for the sword
Strong's: H2719
Word #: 16 of 23
drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement
לַחֶ֔רֶב and such as are for the sword H2719
לַחֶ֔רֶב and such as are for the sword
Strong's: H2719
Word #: 17 of 23
drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement
וַאֲשֶׁ֤ר H834
וַאֲשֶׁ֤ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 18 of 23
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
לָֽרָעָ֔ב and such as are for the famine H7458
לָֽרָעָ֔ב and such as are for the famine
Strong's: H7458
Word #: 19 of 23
hunger (more or less extensive)
לָֽרָעָ֔ב and such as are for the famine H7458
לָֽרָעָ֔ב and such as are for the famine
Strong's: H7458
Word #: 20 of 23
hunger (more or less extensive)
וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר H834
וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 21 of 23
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
לַשֶּֽׁבִי׃ and such as are for the captivity H7628
לַשֶּֽׁבִי׃ and such as are for the captivity
Strong's: H7628
Word #: 22 of 23
exiled; captured; as noun, exile (abstractly or concretely and collectively); by extension, booty
לַשֶּֽׁבִי׃ and such as are for the captivity H7628
לַשֶּֽׁבִי׃ and such as are for the captivity
Strong's: H7628
Word #: 23 of 23
exiled; captured; as noun, exile (abstractly or concretely and collectively); by extension, booty

Cross References

Jeremiah 43:11And when he cometh, he shall smite the land of Egypt, and deliver such as are for death to death; and such as are for captivity to captivity; and such as are for the sword to the sword.Zechariah 11:9Then said I, I will not feed you: that that dieth, let it die; and that that is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let the rest eat every one the flesh of another.Revelation 13:10He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.Ezekiel 5:2Thou shalt burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled: and thou shalt take a third part, and smite about it with a knife: and a third part thou shalt scatter in the wind; and I will draw out a sword after them.Isaiah 24:18And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake.Jeremiah 14:12When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.Ezekiel 5:12A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee: and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee; and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them.Amos 5:19As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.Daniel 9:12And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.

Analysis & Commentary

This verse specifies judgment's forms: 'And it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith the LORD; Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity.' Four destinies await: death (by disease), sword (military violence), famine (siege starvation), and captivity (exile). The rhetorical question 'where shall we go?' receives devastating answer—every direction leads to judgment. The repetitive structure emphasizes inevitability: those destined for each fate will receive it. No escape exists.

Historical Context

This fourfold judgment appears throughout Jeremiah (14:12, 21:7-9, 24:10, 27:8, 13, 29:17-18, 32:24, 36, 34:17, 38:2, 42:17, 22, 44:13). The Babylonian siege produced exactly these conditions: disease from crowded, unsanitary conditions; death in combat; starvation during the siege; and exile for survivors. Archaeological and ancient Near Eastern records confirm these as standard siege warfare outcomes.

Questions for Reflection