Jeremiah 44:27

Authorized King James Version

Behold, I will watch over them for evil, and not for good: and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them.

Word-by-Word Analysis

הִנְנִ֨י

H2005

lo!; also (as expressing surprise) if

שֹׁקֵ֧ד

H8245

Behold I will watch

to be alert, i.e., sleepless; hence to be on the lookout (whether for good or ill)

עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם

H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

לְרָעָ֖ה

H7451

over them for evil

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

וְלֹ֣א

H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

לְטוֹבָ֑ה

H2896

and not for good

good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good

וְתַמּוּ֩

H8552

shall be consumed

to complete, in a good or a bad sense, literal, or figurative, transitive or intransitive

כָל

H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

אִ֨ישׁ

H376

and all the men

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

#10

יְהוּדָ֜ה

H3063

of Judah

jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

#11

אֲשֶׁ֧ר

H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

#12

בְּאֶֽרֶץ

H776

that are in the land

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

#13

מִצְרַ֛יִם

H4714

of Egypt

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

#14

בַּחֶ֥רֶב

H2719

by the sword

drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement

#15

וּבָרָעָ֖ב

H7458

and by the famine

hunger (more or less extensive)

#16

עַד

H5704

as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)

#17

כְּלוֹתָֽם׃

H3615

until there be an end

to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitive (to complete, prepare, consume)

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

In what ways does this verse's emphasis on divine revelation address religious pluralism and questions about the necessity of Christ, and how should the church respond?
How does the salvation theme in this verse connect to the overarching narrative of Scripture, and what does this reveal about God's character and purposes?
How might the original audience's understanding of divine revelation differ from modern interpretations, and what bridges can be built between ancient meaning and contemporary application?

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