Jeremiah 44:13
For 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:
Original Language Analysis
פָּקַ֖דְתִּי
For I will punish
H6485
פָּקַ֖דְתִּי
For I will punish
Strong's:
H6485
Word #:
1 of 12
to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc
עַ֤ל
H5921
עַ֤ל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
2 of 12
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הַיּֽוֹשְׁבִים֙
them that dwell
H3427
הַיּֽוֹשְׁבִים֙
them that dwell
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
3 of 12
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
6 of 12
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
פָּקַ֖דְתִּי
For I will punish
H6485
פָּקַ֖דְתִּי
For I will punish
Strong's:
H6485
Word #:
7 of 12
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 #:
8 of 12
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
יְרֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם
Jerusalem
H3389
יְרֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם
Jerusalem
Strong's:
H3389
Word #:
9 of 12
jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine
בַּחֶ֖רֶב
by the sword
H2719
בַּחֶ֖רֶב
by the sword
Strong's:
H2719
Word #:
10 of 12
drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement
Cross References
Jeremiah 43:11And 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.Jeremiah 11:22Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will punish them: the young men shall die by the sword; their sons and their daughters shall die by famine:
Historical Context
After Jerusalem's fall (586 BC), the Jewish remnant forcibly took Jeremiah to Egypt (43:6-7), settling in Migdol, Tahpanhes, Memphis, and Pathros (southern Egypt). They believed geographic distance from Judah would spare them from Babylon's reach, but Nebuchadnezzar invaded Egypt in 568/567 BC, fulfilling this prophecy.
Questions for Reflection
- What 'Egypt' do you run to when seeking security apart from God's will?
- How does this passage expose the futility of geographic solutions to spiritual problems?
- Why does disobedience to clear divine instruction inevitably bring the judgment one seeks to avoid?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
I will punish them that dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have punished Jerusalem (וּפָקַדְתִּי עַל־יוֹשְׁבֵי אֶרֶץ־מִצְרַיִם)—The verb paqad (פָּקַד) means to visit, attend to, or reckon with, often used for divine judgment. God's covenantal justice is geographically impartial: fleeing to Egypt cannot evade His hand.
The triple judgment formula—by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence (בַּחֶרֶב בָּרָעָב וּבַדָּבֶר)—echoes Jeremiah's consistent warning throughout his ministry (14:12, 21:7, 24:10). The remnant's disobedience in fleeing to Egypt despite God's explicit prohibition (42:15-19) now brings the very destruction they sought to escape. Egypt, symbol of pre-Exodus bondage, becomes their final trap.