Jeremiah 27:13

Authorized King James Version

Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the LORD hath spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
לָ֤מָּה
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
#2
תָמ֙וּתוּ֙
Why will ye die
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
#3
אַתָּ֣ה
thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you
#4
וְעַמֶּ֔ךָ
thou and thy people
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
#5
בַּחֶ֖רֶב
by the sword
drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement
#6
בָּרָעָ֣ב
by the famine
hunger (more or less extensive)
#7
וּבַדָּ֑בֶר֙
and by the pestilence
a pestilence
#8
כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#9
דִּבֶּ֣ר
hath spoken
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
#10
יְהוָ֔ה
as the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#11
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#12
הַגּ֕וֹי
against the nation
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
#13
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#14
לֹֽא
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
#15
יַעֲבֹ֖ד
that will not serve
to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc
#16
אֶת
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#17
מֶ֥לֶךְ
the king
a king
#18
בָּבֶֽל׃
of Babylon
babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Jeremiah Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine sovereignty in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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