Jeremiah 29:18
And I will persecute them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, and an astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them:
Original Language Analysis
וְרָֽדַפְתִּי֙
And I will persecute
H7291
וְרָֽדַפְתִּי֙
And I will persecute
Strong's:
H7291
Word #:
1 of 19
to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively [of time] gone by)
אַֽחֲרֵיהֶ֔ם
them
H310
אַֽחֲרֵיהֶ֔ם
them
Strong's:
H310
Word #:
2 of 19
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
בַּחֶ֖רֶב
with the sword
H2719
בַּחֶ֖רֶב
with the sword
Strong's:
H2719
Word #:
3 of 19
drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement
וּנְתַתִּ֨ים
and will deliver
H5414
וּנְתַתִּ֨ים
and will deliver
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
6 of 19
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
לְכֹ֣ל׀
H3605
לְכֹ֣ל׀
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
8 of 19
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
מַמְלְכ֣וֹת
to all the kingdoms
H4467
מַמְלְכ֣וֹת
to all the kingdoms
Strong's:
H4467
Word #:
9 of 19
dominion, i.e., (abstractly) the estate (rule) or (concretely) the country (realm)
וּלְשַׁמָּה֙
and an astonishment
H8047
וּלְשַׁמָּה֙
and an astonishment
Strong's:
H8047
Word #:
12 of 19
ruin; by implication, consternation
בְּכָל
H3605
בְּכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
15 of 19
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הַגּוֹיִ֖ם
among all the nations
H1471
הַגּוֹיִ֖ם
among all the nations
Strong's:
H1471
Word #:
16 of 19
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
17 of 19
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
Cross References
Jeremiah 42:18For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As mine anger and my fury hath been poured forth upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem; so shall my fury be poured forth upon you, when ye shall enter into Egypt: and ye shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach; and ye shall see this place no more.Jeremiah 15:4And I will cause them to be removed into all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem.2 Chronicles 29:8Wherefore the wrath of the LORD was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as ye see with your eyes.Jeremiah 34:17Therefore thus saith the LORD; Ye have not hearkened unto me, in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbour: behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the LORD, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.Jeremiah 24:9And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.Deuteronomy 28:25The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.Isaiah 65:15And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name:Jeremiah 25:9Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.Ezekiel 12:15And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall scatter them among the nations, and disperse them in the countries.Luke 21:24And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Historical Context
This prophecy was fulfilled when Jerusalem fell in 586 BC and survivors scattered to Egypt, Babylon, and beyond. The Diaspora became proverbial (Deut 28:37), yet paradoxically, this dispersion planted seeds for the gospel's global spread (Acts 2:5-11). God's judgments serve His redemptive purposes.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's active pursuit of rebels unto judgment reveal His holiness and covenant faithfulness?
- When Israel became a 'hissing and reproach,' how did this prepare the way for Christ to bear that shame on the cross (Isa 53:3)?
- How can divine judgment serve redemptive purposes? What seeds of gospel were planted through Israel's dispersion?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And I will persecute them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence—The verb רָדַף (radaf, persecute/pursue) portrays God as relentless hunter, not passive observer. The same triad repeats for emphasis: judgment is certain, comprehensive, and covenant-based. God doesn't merely allow consequences—He actively pursues those who persist in covenant rebellion.
And will deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, and an astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach—This fourfold description of exile's horror (לְזַעֲוָה לְשַׁמָּה לִשְׁרֵקָה וּלְחֶרְפָּה, leza'avah leshamah lishreqah ulecherpah) fulfills Deuteronomy 28:25, 37. They become not merely exiled but bywords of divine wrath—living cautionary tales among the nations. Yet remarkably, later prophets transform these same terms: Isaiah 60-62 reverses the curse, and the nations eventually bless themselves by Abraham's seed (Gen 22:18).