Jeremiah 19:9
And I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they shall eat every one the flesh of his friend in the siege and straitness, wherewith their enemies, and they that seek their lives, shall straiten them.
Original Language Analysis
יֹאכֵ֑לוּ
And I will cause them to eat
H398
יֹאכֵ֑לוּ
And I will cause them to eat
Strong's:
H398
Word #:
1 of 19
to eat (literally or figuratively)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
2 of 19
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
בְּשַׂר
and the flesh
H1320
בְּשַׂר
and the flesh
Strong's:
H1320
Word #:
3 of 19
flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of a man
בְּנֵיהֶ֗ם
of their sons
H1121
בְּנֵיהֶ֗ם
of their sons
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
4 of 19
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
וְאֵת֙
H853
וְאֵת֙
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
5 of 19
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
בְּשַׂר
and the flesh
H1320
בְּשַׂר
and the flesh
Strong's:
H1320
Word #:
6 of 19
flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of a man
בְּנֹתֵיהֶ֔ם
of their daughters
H1323
בְּנֹתֵיהֶ֔ם
of their daughters
Strong's:
H1323
Word #:
7 of 19
a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
וְאִ֥ישׁ
every one
H376
וְאִ֥ישׁ
every one
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
8 of 19
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)
בְּשַׂר
and the flesh
H1320
בְּשַׂר
and the flesh
Strong's:
H1320
Word #:
9 of 19
flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of a man
יֹאכֵ֑לוּ
And I will cause them to eat
H398
יֹאכֵ֑לוּ
And I will cause them to eat
Strong's:
H398
Word #:
11 of 19
to eat (literally or figuratively)
בְּמָצוֹר֙
in the siege
H4692
בְּמָצוֹר֙
in the siege
Strong's:
H4692
Word #:
12 of 19
something hemming in, i.e., (objectively) a mound (of besiegers), (abstractly) a siege, (figuratively) distress; or (subjectively) a fastness
וּבְמָצ֔וֹק
and straitness
H4689
וּבְמָצ֔וֹק
and straitness
Strong's:
H4689
Word #:
13 of 19
a narrow place, i.e., (abstractly and figuratively) confinement or disability
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
14 of 19
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יָצִ֧יקוּ
shall straiten
H6693
יָצִ֧יקוּ
shall straiten
Strong's:
H6693
Word #:
15 of 19
to compress, i.e., (figuratively) oppress, distress
Cross References
Isaiah 9:20And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:Leviticus 26:29And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.Lamentations 4:10The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.Ezekiel 5:10Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee, and the sons shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments in thee, and the whole remnant of thee will I scatter into all the winds.Lamentations 2:20Behold, O LORD, and consider to whom thou hast done this. Shall the women eat their fruit, and children of a span long? shall the priest and the prophet be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord?
Historical Context
Siege-induced cannibalism occurred during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem (Lam 2:20, 4:10) and again during the Roman siege in AD 70 (Josephus, Wars 6.3.4). Archaeological evidence from besieged ancient cities sometimes reveals evidence of desperate survival practices. These horrific historical realities validate biblical prophecy's accuracy and demonstrate human depravity's depths when societal structures collapse under judgment. The warnings stand as eternal testimony to sin's consequences.
Questions for Reflection
- How does this extreme judgment reveal both the seriousness of sin and the depth of Christ's saving work?
- What does the progression from idolatry to this horror teach about sin's escalating nature?
- How should awareness of the covenant curses Christ bore motivate gratitude and obedience?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The most horrific judgment: "And I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they shall eat every one the flesh of his friend in the siege and straitness, wherewith their enemies, and they that seek their lives, shall straiten them." This describes siege-induced cannibalism—starvation so severe that covenant curses are literally fulfilled (Lev 26:29, Deut 28:53-57). Parents eating their own children represents the absolute depths of human degradation.
This wasn't hyperbole but literal prophecy, fulfilled during the Babylonian siege (Lam 2:20, 4:10, Ezek 5:10). The horror demonstrates how completely sin unravels civilization and humanity. What began with sacrificing children to Molech ends with desperate parents eating their starved children for survival. Sin always escalates, destroying what it initially claimed to preserve. The progression from idolatry to injustice to cannibalism shows rebellion's logical end.
This passage's horror should drive us to Christ, who endured God's wrath so we would never face such judgment. The depths of covenant curse reveal the magnitude of Christ's saving work—He bore infinite wrath to deliver us from these horrors. Reformed theology emphasizes penal substitutionary atonement—Christ suffered the covenant curses we deserved (Gal 3:13), including God-forsakenness (Matt 27:46), so believers inherit covenant blessings through faith.