Jeremiah 27:8
And it shall come to pass, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I punish, saith the LORD, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand.
Original Language Analysis
וְהָיָ֨ה
H1961
וְהָיָ֨ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 33
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
הַגּ֤וֹי
And it shall come to pass that the nation
H1471
הַגּ֤וֹי
And it shall come to pass that the nation
Strong's:
H1471
Word #:
2 of 33
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
וְהַמַּמְלָכָ֗ה
and kingdom
H4467
וְהַמַּמְלָכָ֗ה
and kingdom
Strong's:
H4467
Word #:
3 of 33
dominion, i.e., (abstractly) the estate (rule) or (concretely) the country (realm)
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
4 of 33
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 #:
5 of 33
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יַעַבְד֤וּ
which will not serve
H5647
יַעַבְד֤וּ
which will not serve
Strong's:
H5647
Word #:
6 of 33
to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc
אֹתוֹ֙
H853
אֹתוֹ֙
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
7 of 33
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
8 of 33
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּ֣ר
the same Nebuchadnezzar
H5019
נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּ֣ר
the same Nebuchadnezzar
Strong's:
H5019
Word #:
9 of 33
nebukadnetstsar (or nebukadretsts(-ar, or)), king of babylon
בָּבֶ֑ל
of Babylon
H894
בָּבֶ֑ל
of Babylon
Strong's:
H894
Word #:
11 of 33
babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire
וְאֵ֨ת
H853
וְאֵ֨ת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
12 of 33
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
13 of 33
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 #:
14 of 33
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יִתֵּן֙
and that will not put
H5414
יִתֵּן֙
and that will not put
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
15 of 33
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
16 of 33
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
צַוָּאר֔וֹ
their neck
H6677
צַוָּאר֔וֹ
their neck
Strong's:
H6677
Word #:
17 of 33
the back of the neck (as that on which burdens are bound)
בְּעֹ֖ל
under the yoke
H5923
בְּעֹ֖ל
under the yoke
Strong's:
H5923
Word #:
18 of 33
a yoke (as imposed on the neck), literally or figuratively
בָּבֶ֑ל
of Babylon
H894
בָּבֶ֑ל
of Babylon
Strong's:
H894
Word #:
20 of 33
babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire
בַּחֶרֶב֩
with the sword
H2719
בַּחֶרֶב֩
with the sword
Strong's:
H2719
Word #:
21 of 33
drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement
אֶפְקֹ֨ד
will I punish
H6485
אֶפְקֹ֨ד
will I punish
Strong's:
H6485
Word #:
24 of 33
to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
25 of 33
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הַגּ֤וֹי
And it shall come to pass that the nation
H1471
הַגּ֤וֹי
And it shall come to pass that the nation
Strong's:
H1471
Word #:
26 of 33
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
הַהוּא֙
H1931
הַהוּא֙
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
27 of 33
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
יְהוָ֔ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֔ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
29 of 33
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
עַד
H5704
עַד
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
30 of 33
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
תֻּמִּ֥י
until I have consumed
H8552
תֻּמִּ֥י
until I have consumed
Strong's:
H8552
Word #:
31 of 33
to complete, in a good or a bad sense, literal, or figurative, transitive or intransitive
Cross References
Jeremiah 24:10And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers.Ezekiel 14:21For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?
Historical Context
This was controversial teaching - appearing to support the enemy. Yet it was God's word for that time. Judah's role was to submit to discipline, not resist it.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you discern when to resist evil and when to submit to God's disciplinary purposes?
- What does this teach about God's sovereignty over historical circumstances?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
God declares judgment on any nation that refuses to serve Babylon: sword, famine, and pestilence until consumed. This seems to reward submission to evil, but it recognizes God's sovereign appointment of Nebuchadnezzar for that historical moment. Wisdom discerns God's will in specific circumstances rather than applying general principles inappropriately. Resistance to God's appointed instrument brings judgment.