Jeremiah 43:11
And when he cometh, he shall smite the land of Egypt, and deliver such as are for death to death; and such as are for captivity to captivity; and such as are for the sword to the sword.
Original Language Analysis
וּבָ֕אה
And when he cometh
H935
וּבָ֕אה
And when he cometh
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
1 of 14
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
וְהִכָּ֖ה
he shall smite
H5221
וְהִכָּ֖ה
he shall smite
Strong's:
H5221
Word #:
2 of 14
to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
3 of 14
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
אֲשֶׁ֧ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֧ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
6 of 14
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
לַמָּ֗וֶת
and deliver such as are for death
H4194
לַמָּ֗וֶת
and deliver such as are for death
Strong's:
H4194
Word #:
7 of 14
death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin
לַמָּ֗וֶת
and deliver such as are for death
H4194
לַמָּ֗וֶת
and deliver such as are for death
Strong's:
H4194
Word #:
8 of 14
death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin
וַאֲשֶׁ֤ר
H834
וַאֲשֶׁ֤ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
9 of 14
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
לַשֶּׁ֔בִי
and such as are for captivity
H7628
לַשֶּׁ֔בִי
and such as are for captivity
Strong's:
H7628
Word #:
10 of 14
exiled; captured; as noun, exile (abstractly or concretely and collectively); by extension, booty
לַשֶּׁ֔בִי
and such as are for captivity
H7628
לַשֶּׁ֔בִי
and such as are for captivity
Strong's:
H7628
Word #:
11 of 14
exiled; captured; as noun, exile (abstractly or concretely and collectively); by extension, booty
וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
12 of 14
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
Cross References
Jeremiah 44:13For I will punish them that dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have punished Jerusalem, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence:Jeremiah 15:2And it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith the LORD; Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity.Jeremiah 25:19Pharaoh king of Egypt, and his servants, and his princes, and all his people;Zechariah 11:9Then said I, I will not feed you: that that dieth, let it die; and that that is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let the rest eat every one the flesh of another.
Historical Context
Nebuchadnezzar invaded Egypt in his 37th year (568/7 BC), documented in Babylonian chronicles. Pharaoh Hophra (Apries), who'd encouraged Judah's rebellion, was eventually killed by Amasis (570 BC) during internal conflict linked to Babylonian pressure. Jeremiah's prophecy (vv. 8-13) used symbolic actions (burying stones at Pharaoh's palace entrance) to authenticate prediction—fulfilled within Jeremiah's likely lifetime.
Questions for Reflection
- How does this verse demonstrate that fleeing God's will only leads to meeting His judgment elsewhere?
- What does the threefold division (death/captivity/sword) teach about God's sovereignty over individual destinies even in corporate judgment?
- When have you seen attempted shortcuts or escapes from God's directive path lead to worse consequences?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And when he cometh, he shall smite the land of Egypt (וּבָא וְהִכָּה אֶת־אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם)—'he' refers to Nebuchadnezzar (v. 10), whose Judean campaign would extend to Egypt. The verb nakah (נָכָה, smite) is warfare terminology, predicting Babylon's 568/7 BC Egyptian campaign (fulfilled per Babylonian chronicles and Egyptian records of Pharaoh Amasis's troubles). What the remnant fled from in Judah follows them to their 'safe' refuge.
And deliver such as are for death to death; and such as are for captivity to captivity; and such as are for the sword to the sword—threefold sorting echoes 15:2, where God predetermined individuals' fates according to covenant judgment. Hebrew repeats each noun twice (death to death, captivity to captivity, sword to sword), emphasizing inescapable divine decree. The remnant sought Egypt to escape these very fates—ironic reversal shows no human strategy circumvents God's declared purposes.