Jeremiah 22:26

Authorized King James Version

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And I will cast thee out, and thy mother that bare thee, into another country, where ye were not born; and there shall ye die.

Original Language Analysis

וְהֵֽטַלְתִּ֣י And I will cast thee out H2904
וְהֵֽטַלְתִּ֣י And I will cast thee out
Strong's: H2904
Word #: 1 of 15
to pitch over or reel; hence (transitively) to cast down or out
אֹתְךָ֗ H853
אֹתְךָ֗
Strong's: H853
Word #: 2 of 15
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וְאֶֽת H853
וְאֶֽת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 3 of 15
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
אִמְּךָ֙ and thy mother H517
אִמְּךָ֙ and thy mother
Strong's: H517
Word #: 4 of 15
a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively [like father])
אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 5 of 15
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יֻלַּדְתֶּ֖ם that bare H3205
יֻלַּדְתֶּ֖ם that bare
Strong's: H3205
Word #: 6 of 15
to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage
עַ֚ל H5921
עַ֚ל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 7 of 15
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הָאָ֣רֶץ country H776
הָאָ֣רֶץ country
Strong's: H776
Word #: 8 of 15
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
אַחֶ֔רֶת thee into another H312
אַחֶ֔רֶת thee into another
Strong's: H312
Word #: 9 of 15
properly, hinder; generally, next, other, etc
אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 10 of 15
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
לֹֽא H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 11 of 15
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יֻלַּדְתֶּ֖ם that bare H3205
יֻלַּדְתֶּ֖ם that bare
Strong's: H3205
Word #: 12 of 15
to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage
שָׁ֑ם H8033
שָׁ֑ם
Strong's: H8033
Word #: 13 of 15
there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence
וְשָׁ֖ם H8033
וְשָׁ֖ם
Strong's: H8033
Word #: 14 of 15
there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence
תָּמֽוּתוּ׃ and there shall ye die H4191
תָּמֽוּתוּ׃ and there shall ye die
Strong's: H4191
Word #: 15 of 15
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill

Analysis & Commentary

And I will cast thee out, and thy mother that bare thee, into another country—the Hebrew שָׁלַךְ (shalakh, 'to cast/hurl') conveys violent ejection, not gentle relocation. Both king and queen mother would be expelled where ye were not born; and there shall ye die. The queen mother (גְּבִירָה, gebirah) held significant political power in Judah's court, making her inclusion in judgment noteworthy. To die in foreign land meant exclusion from ancestral burial plots and community—a devastating fate in ancient Near Eastern culture.

This curse fulfills Deuteronomy's covenant warnings: 'The LORD shall bring thee...unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known' (Deuteronomy 28:36). Exile represented covenant divorce—God removing His people from His land. The specific mention of the mother recalls the generational nature of sin and judgment (Exodus 20:5), yet also God's justice in holding accountable those who wielded power. Even royal birth and privilege cannot shield from divine wrath.

Historical Context

Nehushta, Jehoiachin's mother, is specifically mentioned in 2 Kings 24:8, 15 as being deported with her son to Babylon in 597 BC. As queen mother, she would have held considerable influence during his brief reign. Both died in Babylon, never returning to Judah. This fulfilled the prophetic word exactly—they died in the land where they were not born.

Questions for Reflection

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