Jeremiah 46:26
And I will deliver them into the hand of those that seek their lives, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of his servants: and afterward it shall be inhabited, as in the days of old, saith the LORD.
Original Language Analysis
וּנְתַתִּ֗ים
And I will deliver
H5414
וּנְתַתִּ֗ים
And I will deliver
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
1 of 17
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
וּבְיַד
and into the hand
H3027
וּבְיַד
and into the hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
2 of 17
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
מְבַקְשֵׁ֣י
of those that seek
H1245
מְבַקְשֵׁ֣י
of those that seek
Strong's:
H1245
Word #:
3 of 17
to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after
נַפְשָׁ֔ם
their lives
H5315
נַפְשָׁ֔ם
their lives
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
4 of 17
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
וּבְיַד
and into the hand
H3027
וּבְיַד
and into the hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
5 of 17
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
נְבֽוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֥ר
of Nebuchadrezzar
H5019
נְבֽוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֥ר
of Nebuchadrezzar
Strong's:
H5019
Word #:
6 of 17
nebukadnetstsar (or nebukadretsts(-ar, or)), king of babylon
בָּבֶ֖ל
of Babylon
H894
בָּבֶ֖ל
of Babylon
Strong's:
H894
Word #:
8 of 17
babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire
וּבְיַד
and into the hand
H3027
וּבְיַד
and into the hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
9 of 17
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
וְאַחֲרֵי
and afterward
H310
וְאַחֲרֵי
and afterward
Strong's:
H310
Word #:
11 of 17
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
כֵ֛ן
H3651
כֵ֛ן
Strong's:
H3651
Word #:
12 of 17
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
תִּשְׁכֹּ֥ן
it shall be inhabited
H7931
תִּשְׁכֹּ֥ן
it shall be inhabited
Strong's:
H7931
Word #:
13 of 17
to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively)
כִּֽימֵי
as in the days
H3117
כִּֽימֵי
as in the days
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
14 of 17
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
Cross References
Jeremiah 44:30Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give Pharaoh-hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of them that seek his life; as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, his enemy, and that sought his life.Ezekiel 32:11For thus saith the Lord GOD; The sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon thee.
Historical Context
Nebuchadnezzar (Nebuchadrezzar in Hebrew) invaded Egypt in 568 BC. Egypt subsequently recovered, though never regaining its ancient glory. The Persian conquest (525 BC) followed, then Hellenistic rule. Alexandria became a major center of Jewish scholarship (producing the Septuagint) and early Christian theology.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's promise of restoration after judgment reveal His ultimate purposes?
- What does Egypt's recovery teach about God's mercy extending even to pagan nations?
- How should the certainty of both judgment and restoration shape our understanding of divine justice?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And I will deliver them into the hand of those that seek their lives, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon (וּנְתַתִּים בְּיַד מְבַקְשֵׁי נַפְשָׁם וּבְיַד נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּר מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶל)—The Hebrew mevaqqeshey nafsham (seekers of their life/soul) intensifies the threat beyond mere conquest to annihilation. Yet astonishingly, and afterward it shall be inhabited, as in the days of old, saith the LORD (וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵן תִּשְׁכֹּן כִּימֵי־קֶדֶם)—tishkon kimey qedem promises restoration.
This gracious conclusion mirrors God's treatment of Moab and Ammon (48:47, 49:6). Even pagan nations receive post-judgment mercy, demonstrating that God's wrath serves remedial, not merely punitive, purposes. Egypt did indeed recover, later becoming home to a significant Jewish diaspora (including Jeremiah himself) and early Christianity's intellectual center in Alexandria.