Jeremiah 18:21 - Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and give them over to the power of the sword. Let their wives become childless, and widows. Let their men be killed, and their young men struck by the sword in battle.
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What does "Jeremiah 18:21" mean?
This verse from Jeremiah 18:21 is a prayer, or more accurately, a curse, uttered by Jeremiah against his enemies. It expresses intense anger and a desire for divine retribution. To understand its meaning, it's important to consider the context:
Jeremiah's plight: Jeremiah was a prophet who delivered unpopular messages from God, warning the people of Judah about their sins and the impending consequences. He faced constant opposition, persecution, and threats to his life.
The context of Chapter 18: In this chapter, Jeremiah uses the image of a potter working with clay to illustrate God's power and sovereignty over nations. The chapter shows how God could reshape the destiny of Judah if they turned away from their evil. However, the people rejected Jeremiah's message and plotted against him (Jeremiah 18:18-20).
The meaning of the curse: In response to the people plotting against him, Jeremiah calls upon God to punish his enemies with severe and comprehensive suffering. The specific punishments he asks for are:
Famine for their children: This speaks to the long-term impact on future generations.
Death by the sword: Violent death in battle, especially for the men.
Childlessness and widowhood for the women: A loss of future descendants and the protection provided by husbands.
Interpretation and Theological Considerations:
Human emotion: This verse reflects the very human emotion of anger and the desire for justice when facing persecution.
Imprecatory Psalms/Prayers: This kind of prayer is not unique in the Old Testament, which contains other "imprecatory" psalms and prayers calling for God's judgment on enemies.
Tension with New Testament teachings: Some find verses like this difficult to reconcile with the New Testament teachings of love, forgiveness, and turning the other cheek.
Interpreting the Old Testament: Different theological perspectives approach these passages in various ways:
Some see them as expressions of human anger and frustration that God understands and allows.
Others see them as reflecting a different stage in God's relationship with humanity, before the full revelation of love and grace in Jesus Christ.
Some interpret them as God's judgment being worked out.
Important Considerations:
Not a model for personal revenge: It is important not to read this as an endorsement of personal vengeance. Jesus taught his followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:44).
God's justice vs. human justice: The verse highlights the tension between the human desire for immediate retribution and the concept of God's justice, which may be expressed differently than what humans expect.
In summary, Jeremiah 18:21 is a powerful expression of anger and a cry for divine justice against those who were persecuting him. While it reflects the raw emotions of a person suffering injustice, it is crucial to understand the context and to interpret it in light of the broader teachings of the Bible, especially the New Testament's emphasis on love and forgiveness.
Jeremiah 18:21 - Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and give them over to the power of the sword. Let their wives become childless, and widows. Let their men be killed, and their young men struck by the sword in battle.
What does "Jeremiah 18:21" mean?
This verse from Jeremiah 18:21 is a prayer, or more accurately, a curse, uttered by Jeremiah against his enemies. It expresses intense anger and a desire for divine retribution. To understand its meaning, it's important to consider the context:
Jeremiah's plight: Jeremiah was a prophet who delivered unpopular messages from God, warning the people of Judah about their sins and the impending consequences. He faced constant opposition, persecution, and threats to his life.
The context of Chapter 18: In this chapter, Jeremiah uses the image of a potter working with clay to illustrate God's power and sovereignty over nations. The chapter shows how God could reshape the destiny of Judah if they turned away from their evil. However, the people rejected Jeremiah's message and plotted against him (Jeremiah 18:18-20).
The meaning of the curse: In response to the people plotting against him, Jeremiah calls upon God to punish his enemies with severe and comprehensive suffering. The specific punishments he asks for are:
Famine for their children: This speaks to the long-term impact on future generations.
Death by the sword: Violent death in battle, especially for the men.
Childlessness and widowhood for the women: A loss of future descendants and the protection provided by husbands.
Interpretation and Theological Considerations:
Human emotion: This verse reflects the very human emotion of anger and the desire for justice when facing persecution.
Imprecatory Psalms/Prayers: This kind of prayer is not unique in the Old Testament, which contains other "imprecatory" psalms and prayers calling for God's judgment on enemies.
Tension with New Testament teachings: Some find verses like this difficult to reconcile with the New Testament teachings of love, forgiveness, and turning the other cheek.
Interpreting the Old Testament: Different theological perspectives approach these passages in various ways:
Some see them as expressions of human anger and frustration that God understands and allows.
Others see them as reflecting a different stage in God's relationship with humanity, before the full revelation of love and grace in Jesus Christ.
Some interpret them as God's judgment being worked out.
Important Considerations:
Not a model for personal revenge: It is important not to read this as an endorsement of personal vengeance. Jesus taught his followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:44).
God's justice vs. human justice: The verse highlights the tension between the human desire for immediate retribution and the concept of God's justice, which may be expressed differently than what humans expect.
In summary, Jeremiah 18:21 is a powerful expression of anger and a cry for divine justice against those who were persecuting him. While it reflects the raw emotions of a person suffering injustice, it is crucial to understand the context and to interpret it in light of the broader teachings of the Bible, especially the New Testament's emphasis on love and forgiveness.