Jeremiah 21:10
For I have set my face against this city for evil, and not for good, saith the LORD: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.
Original Language Analysis
כִּ֣י
H3588
כִּ֣י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 16
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
שַׂ֣מְתִּי
For I have set
H7760
שַׂ֣מְתִּי
For I have set
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
2 of 16
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
פָ֠נַי
my face
H6440
פָ֠נַי
my face
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
3 of 16
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
בָּעִ֨יר
against this city
H5892
בָּעִ֨יר
against this city
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
4 of 16
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
וְלֹ֥א
H3808
וְלֹ֥א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
7 of 16
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
לְטוֹבָ֖ה
and not for good
H2896
לְטוֹבָ֖ה
and not for good
Strong's:
H2896
Word #:
8 of 16
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good
יְהוָ֑ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֑ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
10 of 16
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
בְּיַד
into the hand
H3027
בְּיַד
into the hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
11 of 16
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
בָּבֶל֙
of Babylon
H894
בָּבֶל֙
of Babylon
Strong's:
H894
Word #:
13 of 16
babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire
תִּנָּתֵ֔ן
it shall be given
H5414
תִּנָּתֵ֔ן
it shall be given
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
14 of 16
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
Cross References
Jeremiah 44:11Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will set my face against you for evil, and to cut off all Judah.Jeremiah 44:27Behold, I will watch over them for evil, and not for good: and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them.Amos 9:4And though they go into captivity before their enemies, thence will I command the sword, and it shall slay them: and I will set mine eyes upon them for evil, and not for good.Jeremiah 52:13And burned the house of the LORD, and the king's house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, and all the houses of the great men, burned he with fire:Ezekiel 15:7And I will set my face against them; they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them.Jeremiah 38:3Thus saith the LORD, This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, which shall take it.Jeremiah 34:2Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Go and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire:Jeremiah 39:8And the Chaldeans burned the king's house, and the houses of the people, with fire, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem.Jeremiah 38:18But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon's princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand.2 Chronicles 36:19And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof.
Historical Context
This pronouncement came during the final siege of Jerusalem. Zedekiah's inquiry hoped for miraculous deliverance like in Hezekiah's day (Isa 37), but God's decree was fixed.
Questions for Reflection
- What does it mean when God 'sets His face' for evil rather than good?
- How do you recognize when God's patience has given way to active judgment?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
God declares He has 'set my face against this city for evil, and not for good.' The phrase 'set my face' indicates determined purpose - God's active opposition rather than passive withdrawal. This city will be given into Babylon's hand to be burned with fire. When God's patience exhausts, His opposition to sin becomes active judgment. There is no neutrality with God - blessing or curse, life or death (Deut 30:19).