Jeremiah 21:4
Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans, which besiege you without the walls, and I will assemble them into the midst of this city.
Original Language Analysis
כֹּֽה
H3541
כֹּֽה
Strong's:
H3541
Word #:
1 of 31
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
יְהוָ֜ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֜ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 31
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֵ֣י
God
H430
אֱלֹהֵ֣י
God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
4 of 31
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
5 of 31
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
מֵסֵב֮
Behold I will turn back
H5437
מֵסֵב֮
Behold I will turn back
Strong's:
H5437
Word #:
7 of 31
to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
8 of 31
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
כְּלֵ֣י
the weapons
H3627
כְּלֵ֣י
the weapons
Strong's:
H3627
Word #:
9 of 31
something prepared, i.e., any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon)
הַמִּלְחָמָה֮
of war
H4421
הַמִּלְחָמָה֮
of war
Strong's:
H4421
Word #:
10 of 31
a battle (i.e., the engagement); generally, war (i.e., war-fare)
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
11 of 31
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
בְּיֶדְכֶם֒
that are in your hands
H3027
בְּיֶדְכֶם֒
that are in your hands
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
12 of 31
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
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
13 of 31
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
נִלְחָמִ֣ים
wherewith ye fight
H3898
נִלְחָמִ֣ים
wherewith ye fight
Strong's:
H3898
Word #:
15 of 31
to feed on; figuratively, to consume
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
17 of 31
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
בָּבֶל֙
of Babylon
H894
בָּבֶל֙
of Babylon
Strong's:
H894
Word #:
19 of 31
babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
20 of 31
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים
and against the Chaldeans
H3778
הַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים
and against the Chaldeans
Strong's:
H3778
Word #:
21 of 31
a kasdite, or descendant of kesed; by implication, a chaldaean (as if so descended); also an astrologer (as if proverbial of that people
הַצָּרִ֣ים
which besiege
H6696
הַצָּרִ֣ים
which besiege
Strong's:
H6696
Word #:
22 of 31
to cramp, i.e., confine (in many applications, literally and figuratively, formative or hostile)
עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם
H5921
עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
23 of 31
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
מִח֖וּץ
you without
H2351
מִח֖וּץ
you without
Strong's:
H2351
Word #:
24 of 31
properly, separate by a wall, i.e., outside, outdoors
וְאָסַפְתִּ֣י
and I will assemble
H622
וְאָסַפְתִּ֣י
and I will assemble
Strong's:
H622
Word #:
26 of 31
to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e., remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.)
אוֹתָ֔ם
H853
אוֹתָ֔ם
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
27 of 31
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
תּ֖וֹךְ
them into the midst
H8432
תּ֖וֹךְ
them into the midst
Strong's:
H8432
Word #:
29 of 31
a bisection, i.e., (by implication) the center
Cross References
Isaiah 13:4The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth the host of the battle.Isaiah 5:5And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:Jeremiah 32:5And he shall lead Zedekiah to Babylon, and there shall he be until I visit him, saith the LORD: though ye fight with the Chaldeans, ye shall not prosper.Jeremiah 33:5They come to fight with the Chaldeans, but it is to fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have slain in mine anger and in my fury, and for all whose wickedness I have hid my face from this city.Zechariah 14:2For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.Jeremiah 39:3And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, even Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim, Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer, Rab-mag, with all the residue of the princes of the king of Babylon.Lamentations 2:5The Lord was as an enemy: he hath swallowed up Israel, he hath swallowed up all her palaces: he hath destroyed his strong holds, and hath increased in the daughter of Judah mourning and lamentation.Lamentations 2:7The Lord hath cast off his altar, he hath abhorred his sanctuary, he hath given up into the hand of the enemy the walls of her palaces; they have made a noise in the house of the LORD, as in the day of a solemn feast.
Historical Context
This prophecy was fulfilled precisely during Jerusalem's fall in 586 BC. Despite having fortified walls, Jerusalem's defenders were gradually pushed back by relentless Babylonian siege tactics including siege towers, battering rams, and earthworks. Second Kings 25:4 records that when the city wall was breached, 'all the men of war fled by night'—showing complete military collapse. Archaeological excavations in Jerusalem's City of David reveal arrowheads, burnt layers, and destroyed buildings from this period, confirming the intensity of the fighting and Jerusalem's conquest. The prophecy's shocking element was God's declaration that He personally engineered Jerusalem's defeat. Ancient Near Eastern peoples expected their gods to defend their cities; Israel had experienced this in the past (2 Kings 19:35). Jeremiah's prophecy declared that Israel's God would instead fight for the enemy—a concept nearly unthinkable in ancient religious thought but consistent with covenant theology where God's blessing depended on obedience, not national loyalty.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's declaration that He would turn Israel's weapons against them illustrate the principle that covenant blessings become covenant curses through disobedience?
- What does it mean for God to become His own people's enemy, and how should this warn us about presuming upon relationship with God while living in rebellion?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands—God's answer begins with the covenant formula identifying Yahweh as 'the LORD God of Israel,' emphasizing His covenant relationship even as He pronounces judgment. The phrase hineni mesev (הִנְנִי מֵסֵב, 'Behold, I will turn back') uses savav (סָבַב), meaning to turn around, reverse direction, or cause to return. God declares He will make Jerusalem's weapons turn against them—their own military equipment will become useless or counterproductive.
Wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans, which besiege you without the walls—the description 'without the walls' (michutz lechomah, מִחוּץ לְחוֹמָה) indicates Babylon's army surrounds Jerusalem completely. And I will assemble them into the midst of this city—asaphti otam (אָסַפְתִּי אֹתָם, 'I will gather them') reveals God's active role: He will drive Jerusalem's defenders back from the walls, collapsing their defensive perimeter until the enemy occupies Jerusalem's heart. This reverses holy war theology where God fought for Israel. Now God fights against His own city, making defense impossible. This fulfills covenant curses of Leviticus 26:17, 25: 'I will set my face against you... I will bring a sword upon you.' The tragedy is complete: Israel's covenant God becomes their enemy because they broke covenant.