Jeremiah 21:7

5 And I Myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm, with anger, fury, and great wrath.

6 I will strike down the residents of this city, both man and beast. They will die in a terrible plague.’

‘After that,’ declares the LORD, ‘I will hand over Zedekiah king of Judah, his officers, and the people in this city who survive the plague and sword and famine, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to their enemies who seek their lives. He will put them to the sword; he will not spare them or show pity or compassion.’

8 Furthermore, you are to tell this people that this is what the LORD says: ‘Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.

9 Whoever stays in this city will die by sword and famine and plague, but whoever goes out and surrenders to the Chaldeans who besiege you will live; he will retain his life like a spoil of war.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
‘After that,’ declares the LORD, ‘I will hand over Zedekiah king of Judah, his officers, and the people in this city who survive the plague and sword and famine, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to their enemies who seek their lives. He will put them to the sword; he will not spare them or show pity or compassion.’
KJV
And afterward, saith the LORD, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life: and he shall smite them with the edge of the sword; he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy.
WEB
Afterward,” says the LORD, “I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, his servants, and the people, even those who are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those who seek their life. He will strike them with the edge of the sword. He will not spare them, have pity, or have mercy.”’
ASV
And afterward, saith Jehovah, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, even such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life: and he shall smite them with the edge of the sword; he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy.
DARBY
And afterwards, saith Jehovah, I will give Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life, and he shall smite them with the edge of the sword: he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy.
BLB
‘And after thus,’ a declaration of YHWH, ‘I will give Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and those left over in this city from the pestilence [and] from the sword and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those seeking their soul. And he will strike them with the mouth of the sword; he will not spare them, and he will not have pity, and he will not have compassion.
ÅB
Og deretter, sier Herren, vil jeg gi Sedekias, Judas konge, og hans tjenere og folket, de som i denne by er blitt igjen etter pesten, sverdet og hungersnøden, i Babels konge Nebukadnesars hånd og i deres fienders hånd og i deres hånd som står dem etter livet; og han skal slå dem med sverdets egg, han skal ikke spare dem og ikke skåne og ikke forbarme seg.
OTB
Deretter, erklærer Herren, vil jeg overgi Sidkia, kongen av Juda, hans embetsmenn og folket som overlever i denne byen fra pesten, sverdet og hungersnøden, til Nebukadnesar, kongen av Babylon, til deres fiender og til dem som søker deres liv. Han skal slå dem ned med sverdet; han skal ikke vise noen nåde, medfølelse eller barmhjertighet.’
B1930
Og derefter, sier Herren, vil jeg gi Sedekias, Judas konge, og hans tjenere og folket, de som i denne by er blitt igjen efter pesten, sverdet og hungersnøden, i Babels konge Nebukadnesars hånd og i deres fienders hånd og i deres hånd som står dem efter livet; og han skal slå dem med sverdets egg, han skal ikke spare dem og ikke skåne og ikke forbarme sig.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Jeremiah 37:17

    Later, King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah and received him in his palace, where he asked him privately, “Is there a word from the LORD?” “There is,” Jeremiah replied. “You will be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.”

    Read in context
  • Habakkuk 1:6–10

    For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans — that ruthless and impetuous nation which marches through the breadth of the earth to seize dwellings not their own.

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 25:5–7

    but the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho, and all his army was separated from him.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 7:9

    I will not look on you with pity, nor will I spare you, but I will punish you for your ways and for the abominations among you. Then you will know that it is I, the LORD, who strikes the blow.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 17:20–21

    I will spread My net over him and catch him in My snare. I will bring him to Babylon and execute judgment upon him there for the treason he committed against Me.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 13:14

    I will smash them against one another, fathers and sons alike, declares the LORD. I will allow no mercy or pity or compassion to keep Me from destroying them.’”

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 25:18–21

    The captain of the guard also took away Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest of second rank, and the three doorkeepers.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 52:8–11

    but the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho, and all his army was separated from him.

    Read in context