Jeremiah 5:17

Judgment

¹⁵ Behold, I am bringing a distant nation against you, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD. “It is an established nation, an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know and whose speech you do not understand.

¹⁶ Their quivers are like open graves; they are all mighty men.

They will devour your harvest and food; they will consume your sons and daughters; they will eat up your flocks and herds; they will feed on your vines and fig trees. With the sword they will destroy the fortified cities in which you trust.”

¹⁸ “Yet even in those days,” declares the LORD, “I will not make a full end of you.

¹⁹ And when the people ask, ‘For what offense has the LORD our God done all these things to us?’ You are to tell them, ‘Just as you have forsaken Me and served foreign gods in your land, so will you serve foreigners in a land that is not your own.’”

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: They will devour your harvest and food; they will consume your sons and daughters; they will eat up your flocks and herds; they will feed on your vines and fig trees. With the sword they will destroy the fortified cities in which you trust.”
KJV: And they shall eat up thine harvest, and thy bread, which thy sons and thy daughters should eat: they shall eat up thy flocks and thine herds: they shall eat up thy vines and thy fig trees: they shall impoverish thy fenced cities, wherein thou trustedst, with the sword.
WEB: They will eat up your harvest and your bread, which your sons and your daughters should eat. They will eat up your flocks and your herds. They will eat up your vines and your fig trees. They will beat down your fortified cities in which you trust with the sword.
ASV: And they shall eat up thy harvest, and thy bread, [which] thy sons and thy daughters should eat; they shall eat up thy flocks and thy herds; they shall eat up thy vines and thy fig-trees; they shall beat down thy fortified cities, wherein thou trustest, with the sword.
DARBY: And they shall eat up thy harvest and thy bread, they shall eat up thy sons and thy daughters, they shall eat up thy flocks and thy herds, they shall eat up thy vines and thy fig-trees; they shall destroy with the sword thy strong cities, wherein thou trustedst.
BLB: And it will consume your harvest and your bread; they will consume your sons and daughters, it will consume your flock and your herd, it will consume your vine and your fig tree; it will beat down with the sword your fortified cities, which you are trusting in them.”

ÅB: Og de skal fortære din høst og ditt brød, de skal fortære dine sønner og dine døtre, de skal fortære ditt småfe og storfe, de skal fortære ditt vintre og fikentre; dine faste byer som du setter din lit til, skal de bryte ned med sverd.
OTB: De vil fortære din høst og din mat; de vil fortære dine sønner og døtre; de vil fortære dine flokker og hjorder; de vil fortære dine vinstokker og fikentrær. De vil ødelegge dine befestede byer, som du stoler på, med sverdet.
B1930: Og de skal fortære din høst og ditt brød, de skal fortære dine sønner og dine døtre, de skal fortære ditt småfe og storfe, de skal fortære ditt vintre og fikentre; dine faste byer som du setter din lit til, skal de bryte ned med sverd.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Leviticus 26:16
then this is what I will do to you: I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting disease, and fever that will destroy your sight and drain your life. You will sow your seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it.
Read in context
Deuteronomy 28:33
A people you do not know will eat the produce of your land and of all your toil. All your days you will be oppressed and crushed.
Read in context
Hosea 8:14
Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces; Judah has multiplied its fortified cities. But I will send fire upon their cities, and it will consume their citadels.
Read in context
Jeremiah 50:7
All who found them devoured them, and their enemies said, ‘We are not guilty, for they have sinned against the LORD, their true pasture, the LORD, the hope of their fathers.’
Read in context
Jeremiah 4:26
I looked, and the fruitful land was a desert. All its cities were torn down before the LORD, before His fierce anger.
Read in context
Jeremiah 1:15
For I am about to summon all the clans and kingdoms of the north,” declares the LORD. “Their kings will come and set up their thrones at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem. They will attack all her surrounding walls and all the other cities of Judah.
Read in context
Isaiah 62:9
For those who harvest grain will eat it and praise the LORD, and those who gather grapes will drink the wine in My holy courts.”
Read in context
Isaiah 65:22
No longer will they build houses for others to inhabit, nor plant for others to eat. For as is the lifetime of a tree, so will be the days of My people, and My chosen ones will fully enjoy the work of their hands.
Read in context