Jeremiah 30:16
Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey.
Original Language Analysis
לָכֵ֞ן
H3651
לָכֵ֞ן
Strong's:
H3651
Word #:
1 of 16
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
2 of 16
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
יֵאָכֵ֔לוּ
Therefore all they that devour
H398
יֵאָכֵ֔לוּ
Therefore all they that devour
Strong's:
H398
Word #:
3 of 16
to eat (literally or figuratively)
יֵאָכֵ֔לוּ
Therefore all they that devour
H398
יֵאָכֵ֔לוּ
Therefore all they that devour
Strong's:
H398
Word #:
4 of 16
to eat (literally or figuratively)
וְכָל
H3605
וְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
5 of 16
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
כֻּלָּ֖ם
H3605
כֻּלָּ֖ם
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
7 of 16
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
בַּשְּׁבִ֣י
into captivity
H7628
בַּשְּׁבִ֣י
into captivity
Strong's:
H7628
Word #:
8 of 16
exiled; captured; as noun, exile (abstractly or concretely and collectively); by extension, booty
יֵלֵ֑כוּ
H1980
יֵלֵ֑כוּ
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
9 of 16
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
וְהָי֤וּ
H1961
וְהָי֤וּ
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
10 of 16
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
וְכָל
H3605
וְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
13 of 16
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
Cross References
Jeremiah 10:25Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.Isaiah 33:1Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.Exodus 23:22But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.Zechariah 2:8For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.Revelation 13:10He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.Isaiah 14:2And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place: and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the LORD for servants and handmaids: and they shall take them captives, whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors.Psalms 129:5Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.Zechariah 12:2Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.Joel 3:8And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the LORD hath spoken it.Isaiah 54:17No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
Historical Context
Within 50 years of destroying Jerusalem, Babylon fell to Cyrus the Persian. Each empire that oppressed Israel—Assyria, Babylon, Greece, Rome—eventually crumbled, while Israel survived against all historical odds.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's promise to judge Israel's oppressors bring comfort during persecution?
- What does this verse teach about God's commitment to covenant justice?
- How should Christians balance trust in God's justice with the call to love enemies?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured—divine reversal begins with this 'therefore' (לָכֵן, 'lakhen'). The Hebrew uses poetic justice: devourers devoured (אָכַל/אָכַל, 'akhal'/'akhal'), spoilers spoiled (שָׁסָה/שָׁסָה, 'shasah'/'shasah'). This lex talionis (law of retaliation) demonstrates God's justice for His covenant people.
While Israel suffered for her sin, Babylon would suffer for her cruelty. History confirms this: Babylon fell to Persia (539 BC), then all Israel's oppressors throughout history faced judgment. Eschatologically, this points to final judgment when all who persecuted God's people face divine retribution (Rev 18-19).