1. ὁ λόγος ὁ γενόμενος παρὰ κυρίου πρὸς Ιερεμιαν ὅτε ἀπέστειλεν πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ βασιλεὺς Σεδεκιας τὸν Πασχωρ υἱὸν Μελχιου καὶ Σοφονιαν υἱὸν Μαασαιου τὸν ἱερέα λέγων
2. ἐπερώτησον περὶ ἡμῶν τὸν κύριον ὅτι βασιλεὺς Βαβυλῶνος ἐφέστηκεν ἐφ’ ἡμᾶς εἰ ποιήσει κύριος κατὰ πάντα τὰ θαυμάσια αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀπελεύσεται ἀφ’ ἡμῶν
3. καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτοὺς Ιερεμιας οὕτως ἐρεῖτε πρὸς Σεδεκιαν βασιλέα Ιουδα
4. τάδε λέγει κύριος ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ μεταστρέφω τὰ ὅπλα τὰ πολεμικά ἐν οἷς ὑμεῖς πολεμεῖτε ἐν αὐτοῖς πρὸς τοὺς Χαλδαίους τοὺς συγκεκλεικότας ὑμᾶς ἔξωθεν τοῦ τείχους εἰς τὸ μέσον τῆς πόλεως ταύτης
5. καὶ πολεμήσω ἐγὼ ὑμᾶς ἐν χειρὶ ἐκτεταμένῃ καὶ ἐν βραχίονι κραταιῷ μετὰ θυμοῦ καὶ ὀργῆς καὶ παροργισμοῦ μεγάλου
6. καὶ πατάξω πάντας τοὺς κατοικοῦντας ἐν τῇ πόλει ταύτῃ τοὺς ἀνθρώπους καὶ τὰ κτήνη ἐν θανάτῳ μεγάλῳ καὶ ἀποθανοῦνται
7. καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα οὕτως λέγει κύριος δώσω τὸν Σεδεκιαν βασιλέα Ιουδα καὶ τοὺς παῖδας αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸν λαὸν τὸν καταλειφθέντα ἐν τῇ πόλει ταύτῃ ἀπὸ τοῦ θανάτου καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ λιμοῦ καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς μαχαίρας εἰς χεῖρας ἐχθρῶν αὐτῶν τῶν ζητούντων τὰς ψυχὰς αὐτῶν καὶ κατακόψουσιν αὐτοὺς ἐν στόματι μαχαίρας οὐ φείσομαι ἐπ’ αὐτοῖς καὶ οὐ μὴ οἰκτιρήσω αὐτούς
8. καὶ πρὸς τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον ἐρεῖς τάδε λέγει κύριος ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ δέδωκα πρὸ προσώπου ὑμῶν τὴν ὁδὸν τῆς ζωῆς καὶ τὴν ὁδὸν τοῦ θανάτου
9. ὁ καθήμενος ἐν τῇ πόλει ταύτῃ ἀποθανεῖται ἐν μαχαίρᾳ καὶ ἐν λιμῷ καὶ ὁ ἐκπορευόμενος προσχωρῆσαι πρὸς τοὺς Χαλδαίους τοὺς συγκεκλεικότας ὑμᾶς ζήσεται καὶ ἔσται ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ εἰς σκῦλα καὶ ζήσεται
10. διότι ἐστήρικα τὸ πρόσωπόν μου ἐπὶ τὴν πόλιν ταύτην εἰς κακὰ καὶ οὐκ εἰς ἀγαθά εἰς χεῖρας βασιλέως Βαβυλῶνος παραδοθήσεται καὶ κατακαύσει αὐτὴν ἐν πυρί
11. ὁ οἶκος βασιλέως Ιουδα ἀκούσατε λόγον κυρίου
12. οἶκος Δαυιδ τάδε λέγει κύριος κρίνατε τὸ πρωὶ κρίμα καὶ κατευθύνατε καὶ ἐξέλεσθε διηρπασμένον ἐκ χειρὸς ἀδικοῦντος αὐτόν ὅπως μὴ ἀναφθῇ ὡς πῦρ ἡ ὀργή μου καὶ καυθήσεται καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ὁ σβέσων
13. ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ πρὸς σὲ τὸν κατοικοῦντα τὴν κοιλάδα Σορ τὴν πεδινὴν τοὺς λέγοντας τίς πτοήσει ἡμᾶς ἢ τίς εἰσελεύσεται πρὸς τὸ κατοικητήριον ἡμῶν
14. καὶ ἀνάψω πῦρ ἐν τῷ δρυμῷ αὐτῆς καὶ ἔδεται πάντα τὰ κύκλῳ αὐτῆς
Footnotes:
21:1-2 - King Zedekiah turns to Jeremiah for guidance, seeking God's answer regarding Jerusalem's impending destruction. The failure of rulers to turn to God is a recurring theme, demonstrating that relying on human power in times of crisis is ineffective (see also 2 Chronicles 36:12 and Psalm 118:8-9).
21:3-7 - God reveals to Zedekiah that the destruction of Jerusalem will be inevitable, with the sword, famine, and pestilence. This message highlights the seriousness of divine judgment and the reality of the consequences of sin and disobedience (see also Ezekiel 7:3 and Matthew 24:2).
21:8-10 - God offers the people a choice: life through surrender to Babylon or death through resistance. This reveals God's grace, even in a time of judgment, by giving the people the opportunity to choose peace (see also Deuteronomy 30:19-20 and Luke 13:34-35).
21:11-14 - God's message to the royal house of David is clear: if they are righteous, God will protect Jerusalem, but if they persist in evil, Jerusalem will be destroyed. The responsibility of leaders is central to the spiritual and physical well-being of the people (see also Isaiah 1:16-17 and 1 Timothy 2:1-2).
Verses related to Jeremias, 21:
Jeremiah chapter 21 brings the divine response to King Zedekiah's request. What hope remains for Jerusalem? This crucial text marks the beginning of the fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecies, with the Babylonians besieging the city. The chapter presents the difficult path of surrender as the only option for survival. Jeremiah 21 also emphasizes the responsibility of leadership and the inevitability of divine judgment. Examine with us five biblical passages that correlate with the powerful themes of this decisive chapter.
2 Kings 25:1-2: "In the ninth year of Zedekiah's reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his entire army. He camped in front of the city and built attack ramps around it. The city was besieged until the eleventh year of Zedekiah's reign." - This passage describes the fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy in Jeremiah 21 about the siege of Jerusalem.
Ezekiel 12:13: "I will spread my net, and he will be caught in my snare; I will take him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, but he will not see it, and there he will die." - Ezekiel prophesies about Zedekiah's fate, complementing Jeremiah's prophecy in Jeremiah 21.
Deuteronomy 30:15-19: "See that today I set before you life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments, decrees, and ordinances; then you will have life and increase in number, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to take possession of..." - This passage echoes the theme of choice between life and death presented by Jeremiah in Jeremiah 21:8-9.
Proverbs 1:31: "Therefore they will eat the fruit of their conduct and be satisfied with their own schemes." - This proverb reflects the principle of reaping the consequences of one's actions, a theme present in Jeremiah 21.
Isaiah 30:15: "This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: 'In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you were unwilling.'" - This passage from Isaiah echoes the call to repentance and the promise of salvation present in Jeremiah 21.
FAQ:
What was God's message to King Zedekiah?
God announced that He would deliver Jerusalem into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, because of the sins of the people. Judgment was inevitable. (Jeremiah 21:3-7)
What did God say about those who remained in Jerusalem?
God declared that whoever remained in the city would die by the sword, famine, or plague, but whoever surrendered to the Babylonians would live. (Jeremiah 21:8-10)
How would God judge the house of the king of Judah?
God commanded them to practice justice, for His wrath would come like a fire against the king's injustice and oppression. (Jeremiah 21:11-12)
Why would Jerusalem be destroyed?
Because of the people’s rebellion and pride, God allowed their enemies to attack and destroy the city. (Jeremiah 21:13-14)
What does the "way of life" and the "way of death" mean in Jeremiah 21?
God offered a choice: flee and live or resist and die, highlighting the consequences of disobedience. (Jeremiah 21:8-9)
