Jeremiah 5:17 - 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.
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What does "Jeremiah 5:17" mean?
This verse from Jeremiah 5:17 is a prophetic warning of impending destruction and devastation as a punishment for the people of Judah's unfaithfulness to God. Let's break down each part:
"They will eat up your harvest and your bread, which your sons and your daughters should eat..." This refers to the enemy consuming the food supply that would sustain the family and the next generation. It speaks to widespread famine and scarcity, leaving people hungry and desperate.
"They will eat up your flocks and your herds..." This highlights the loss of livestock, which represented wealth, sustenance (meat, milk), and means of agriculture (plowing). It's a destruction of their economic base and a sign of complete conquest.
"They will eat up your vines and your fig trees..." Vineyards and fig trees were essential crops in ancient Israel, providing fruit for eating and wine for trade. Their destruction indicates the ruin of agriculture and the loss of a significant part of their livelihood.
"They will beat down your fortified cities in which you trust with the sword..." This is a particularly harsh blow. The fortified cities were meant to be their protection against invasion. The fact that these cities will be conquered highlights the vulnerability of the people and the futility of relying on their own strength for safety instead of God. "Trusting in the sword" represents relying on military might rather than on God's protection.
In essence, the verse describes a complete and total destruction. The enemy will leave nothing behind, stripping the people of Judah of their food, their wealth, their means of survival, and their security. It's a picture of utter devastation as a direct consequence of their disobedience to God's laws and their reliance on their own strength rather than divine protection.
Context within Jeremiah: This verse is part of a larger prophecy in the book of Jeremiah, where the prophet is warning the people of Judah about their sins and the consequences that will follow if they do not repent. The sins of Judah mentioned elsewhere in Jeremiah often included idolatry, social injustice, and a general turning away from God's covenant. This verse is a specific example of the type of judgment that will come upon them. The "they" in this verse is referring to an enemy nation that God will use as an instrument of judgment against Judah. Historically, this refers to the Babylonian empire.
Jeremiah 5:17 - 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.
What does "Jeremiah 5:17" mean?
This verse from Jeremiah 5:17 is a prophetic warning of impending destruction and devastation as a punishment for the people of Judah's unfaithfulness to God. Let's break down each part:
"They will eat up your harvest and your bread, which your sons and your daughters should eat..." This refers to the enemy consuming the food supply that would sustain the family and the next generation. It speaks to widespread famine and scarcity, leaving people hungry and desperate.
"They will eat up your flocks and your herds..." This highlights the loss of livestock, which represented wealth, sustenance (meat, milk), and means of agriculture (plowing). It's a destruction of their economic base and a sign of complete conquest.
"They will eat up your vines and your fig trees..." Vineyards and fig trees were essential crops in ancient Israel, providing fruit for eating and wine for trade. Their destruction indicates the ruin of agriculture and the loss of a significant part of their livelihood.
"They will beat down your fortified cities in which you trust with the sword..." This is a particularly harsh blow. The fortified cities were meant to be their protection against invasion. The fact that these cities will be conquered highlights the vulnerability of the people and the futility of relying on their own strength for safety instead of God. "Trusting in the sword" represents relying on military might rather than on God's protection.
In essence, the verse describes a complete and total destruction. The enemy will leave nothing behind, stripping the people of Judah of their food, their wealth, their means of survival, and their security. It's a picture of utter devastation as a direct consequence of their disobedience to God's laws and their reliance on their own strength rather than divine protection.
Context within Jeremiah: This verse is part of a larger prophecy in the book of Jeremiah, where the prophet is warning the people of Judah about their sins and the consequences that will follow if they do not repent. The sins of Judah mentioned elsewhere in Jeremiah often included idolatry, social injustice, and a general turning away from God's covenant. This verse is a specific example of the type of judgment that will come upon them. The "they" in this verse is referring to an enemy nation that God will use as an instrument of judgment against Judah. Historically, this refers to the Babylonian empire.