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Jeremiah 21:3

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 21:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Then said Jeremiah unto them, Thus shall ye say to Zedekiah:” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Then said Jeremiah unto them, Thus shall ye say to Zedekiah:
Jeremiah 21:3 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 21

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1The word which came unto Jeremiah from Jehovah, when king Zedekiah sent unto him Pashhur the son of Malchijah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, saying,
2Inquire, I pray thee, of Jehovah for us; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon maketh war against us: peradventure Jehovah will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he may go up from us.
3Then said Jeremiah unto them, Thus shall ye say to Zedekiah:
4Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans that besiege you, without the walls; and I will gather them into the midst of this city.
5And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation.
6And I will smite the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast: they shall die of a great pestilence.
← Jeremiah 21:2Jeremiah 21:4 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Then said Jeremiah unto them, etc.] The two priests, Pashur and Zephaniah, after he had sought the Lord, and knew his mind and will: thus shall ye say to Zedekiah; by whom they were sent.”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“21:3-7 The Lord answered King Zedekiah’s messengers with a judicial decree (see study note on 2:2). Resisting the Babylonians would be useless because the Lord was fighting against Jerusalem.”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“The Lord's reply through Jeremiah consists of three parts: a. The answer to the king's hope that the Lord will save Jerusalem from the Chaldeans ( Jer 21:4-7); b. The counsel given to the people and the royal family as to how they may avert ruin ( Jer 21:8-12); c. The prediction that Jerusalem will be punished for her sins ( Jer 21:13 and Jer 21:14). Jer 21:3-6 The answer. - Jer 21:3. "And Jeremiah said to them: Thus shall ye say to Zedekiah: Jer 21:4. Thus hath Jahveh the God of Israel said: Behold, I turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans, which besiege you without the walls, and gather them together into the…”
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Related study paths

Read Jeremiah 21 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification