Jeremiah 18:21
Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their blood by the force of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and be widows; and let their men be put to death; let their young men be slain by the sword in battle.
Original Language Analysis
לָכֵן֩
H3651
לָכֵן֩
Strong's:
H3651
Word #:
1 of 21
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
תֵּ֨ן
Therefore deliver up
H5414
תֵּ֨ן
Therefore deliver up
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
2 of 21
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
3 of 21
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
בְּנֵיהֶ֜ם
their children
H1121
בְּנֵיהֶ֜ם
their children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
4 of 21
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
וְהַגִּרֵם֮
and pour out
H5064
וְהַגִּרֵם֮
and pour out
Strong's:
H5064
Word #:
6 of 21
to flow; figuratively, to stretch out; causatively, to pour out or down; figuratively, to deliver over
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
7 of 21
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
יְדֵי
their blood by the force
H3027
יְדֵי
their blood by the force
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
8 of 21
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
חֶ֖רֶב
by the sword
H2719
חֶ֖רֶב
by the sword
Strong's:
H2719
Word #:
9 of 21
drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement
וְתִֽהְיֶ֨נָה
H1961
וְתִֽהְיֶ֨נָה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
10 of 21
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
וְאַלְמָנ֔וֹת
of their children and be widows
H490
וְאַלְמָנ֔וֹת
of their children and be widows
Strong's:
H490
Word #:
13 of 21
a widow; also a desolate place
וְאַ֨נְשֵׁיהֶ֔ם
H376
וְאַ֨נְשֵׁיהֶ֔ם
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
14 of 21
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)
יִֽהְי֖וּ
H1961
יִֽהְי֖וּ
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
15 of 21
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
מָ֑וֶת
to death
H4194
מָ֑וֶת
to death
Strong's:
H4194
Word #:
17 of 21
death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin
בַּח֣וּרֵיהֶ֔ם
let their young men
H970
בַּח֣וּרֵיהֶ֔ם
let their young men
Strong's:
H970
Word #:
18 of 21
properly, selected, i.e., a youth (often collective)
מֻכֵּי
be slain
H5221
מֻכֵּי
be slain
Strong's:
H5221
Word #:
19 of 21
to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)
Cross References
Jeremiah 9:21For death is come up into our windows, and is entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from without, and the young men from the streets.Jeremiah 15:8Their widows are increased to me above the sand of the seas: I have brought upon them against the mother of the young men a spoiler at noonday: I have caused him to fall upon it suddenly, and terrors upon the city.Exodus 22:24And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.Deuteronomy 32:25The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling also with the man of gray hairs.Amos 4:10I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses; and I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.Lamentations 5:3We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers are as widows.
Historical Context
Covenant curses in Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26 included precisely these judgments—famine, sword, bereavement, widowhood. Jeremiah's imprecation aligns with revealed divine will for covenant-breakers. The Babylonian invasion fulfilled these curses literally (Lam 2:20-21, 4:10, 5:3, 11). Ancient Near Eastern treaty curses similarly invoked comprehensive disaster on covenant violators, demonstrating the cultural context of such language.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you balance desire for God's justice with Christ's command to love enemies?
- What role do imprecatory prayers have in Christian spirituality when directed against spiritual enemies (sin, Satan)?
- How does recognizing that you deserved the judgment Christ bore affect your prayers regarding others' judgment?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Jeremiah's imprecatory prayer: "Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their blood by the force of the sword." This harsh petition asks God to execute the judgment Jeremiah has prophesied. The comprehensive curse—"let their wives be bereaved of their children, and be widows; and let their men be put to death; let their young men be slain by the sword in battle"—encompasses all ages and both genders, matching the totality of threatened covenant curses (Deut 28:15-68).
Such imprecatory prayers trouble modern readers but reflect:
Jeremiah doesn't take personal vengeance but asks God to fulfill His own word. These are covenant curses for covenant violation, not personal spite.
Under the new covenant, Christ taught loving enemies and praying for persecutors (Matt 5:44), yet also pronounced woes on hypocrites (Matt 23) and will execute final judgment (Rev 19:11-16). The tension: God's people long for justice while extending mercy, knowing all deserve judgment but some receive grace. Imprecatory psalms can be prayed against spiritual enemies (Satan, demons, sin) while we show mercy to human opponents, recognizing that we too were once enemies whom God reconciled (Rom 5:10).