Jeremiah 37:10

8 Then the Chaldeans will return and fight against this city. They will capture it and burn it down.

9 This is what the LORD says: Do not deceive yourselves by saying, ‘The Chaldeans will go away for good,’ for they will not!

Indeed, if you were to strike down the entire army of the Chaldeans that is fighting against you, and only wounded men remained in their tents, they would still get up and burn this city down.”

11 When the Chaldean army withdrew from Jerusalem for fear of Pharaoh’s army,

12 Jeremiah started to leave Jerusalem to go to the land of Benjamin to claim his portion there among the people.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Indeed, if you were to strike down the entire army of the Chaldeans that is fighting against you, and only wounded men remained in their tents, they would still get up and burn this city down.”
KJV
For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yet should they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire.
WEB
For though you had struck the whole army of the Chaldeans who fight against you, and only wounded men remained among them, they would each rise up in his tent and burn this city with fire.’”
ASV
For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yea would they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire.
DARBY
For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained [but] wounded men among them, [yet] should they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire.
BLB
For if you⁺ were to strike all the force of the Chaldeans who are fighting against you⁺, and there remained among them [only] wounded men, then they would rise up, each man in his tent, and burn this city with fire!
ÅB
om dere så slo hele kaldeernes hær som strider mot dere, og det bare ble noen hårdt sårede tilbake iblant dem, så skulle disse stå opp, hver i sitt telt, og brenne denne by opp med ild.
OTB
Selv om dere skulle beseire hele den babylonske hæren som angriper dere og bare de sårede ble igjen i teltene sine, ville de reise seg og sette denne byen i brann.’»
B1930
om I så slo hele kaldeernes hær som strider mot eder, og det bare blev nogen hårdt sårede tilbake iblandt dem, så skulde disse stå op, hver i sitt telt, og brenne denne by op med ild.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Jeremiah 50:45

    Therefore hear the plans that the LORD has drawn up against Babylon and the strategies He has devised against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the little ones of the flock will be dragged away; certainly their pasture will be made desolate because of them.

    Read in context
  • Joel 2:11

    The LORD raises His voice in the presence of His army. Indeed, His camp is very large, for mighty are those who obey His command. For the Day of the LORD is great and very dreadful. Who can endure it?

    Read in context
  • Leviticus 26:36–38

    As for those of you who survive, I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies, so that even the sound of a windblown leaf will put them to flight. And they will flee as one flees the sword, and fall when no one pursues them.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 30:17

    A thousand will flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you will all flee, until you are left alone like a pole on a mountaintop, like a banner on a hill.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 13:15

    Whoever is caught will be stabbed, and whoever is captured will die by the sword.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 49:20

    Therefore hear the plans that the LORD has drawn up against Edom and the strategies He has devised against the people of Teman: Surely the little ones of the flock will be dragged away; certainly their pasture will be made desolate because of them.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 21:4–7

    this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will turn against you the weapons of war in your hands, with which you are fighting the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans who besiege you outside the wall, and I will assemble their forces in the center of this city.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 10:4

    Nothing will remain but to crouch among the captives or fall among the slain. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.

    Read in context