Jeremiah 15:2
New International Version
And if they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ tell them, ‘This is what the LORD says: “’Those destined for death, to death; those for the sword, to the sword; those for starvation, to starvation; those for captivity, to captivity.’

New Living Translation
And if they say to you, ‘But where can we go?’ tell them, ‘This is what the LORD says: “‘Those who are destined for death, to death; those who are destined for war, to war; those who are destined for famine, to famine; those who are destined for captivity, to captivity.’

English Standard Version
And when they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD: “‘Those who are for pestilence, to pestilence, and those who are for the sword, to the sword; those who are for famine, to famine, and those who are for captivity, to captivity.’

Berean Standard Bible
If they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ you are to tell them that this is what the LORD says: ‘Those destined for death, to death; those destined for the sword, to the sword; those destined for famine, to famine; and those destined for captivity, to captivity.’

King James Bible
And it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith the LORD; Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity.

New King James Version
And it shall be, if they say to you, ‘Where should we go?’ then you shall tell them, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Such as are for death, to death; And such as are for the sword, to the sword; And such as are for the famine, to the famine; And such as are for the captivity, to the captivity.” ’

New American Standard Bible
And it shall be that when they say to you, ‘Where should we go?’ then you are to tell them, ‘This is what the LORD says: “Those destined for death, to death; And those destined for the sword, to the sword; And those destined for famine, to famine; And those destined for captivity, to captivity.”’

NASB 1995
“And it shall be that when they say to you, ‘Where should we go?’ then you are to tell them, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Those destined for death, to death; And those destined for the sword, to the sword; And those destined for famine, to famine; And those destined for captivity, to captivity."’

NASB 1977
“And it shall be that when they say to you, ‘Where should we go?’ then you are to tell them, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Those destined for death, to death; And those destined for the sword, to the sword; And those destined for famine, to famine; And those destined for captivity, to captivity.”’

Legacy Standard Bible
And it will be that when they say to you, ‘Where should we go?’ then you are to tell them, ‘Thus says Yahweh: “Those destined for death, to death; And those destined for the sword, to the sword; And those destined for famine, to famine; And those destined for captivity, to captivity.”’

Amplified Bible
And it shall be that when they say to you, ‘Where should we go?’ then tell them, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Those [destined] for death, to death; Those for the sword, to the sword; Those for famine, to famine; Those for captivity, to captivity.”’

Christian Standard Bible
If they ask you, ‘Where will we go? ’ tell them: This is what the LORD says: Those destined for death, to death; those destined for the sword, to the sword. Those destined for famine, to famine; those destined for captivity, to captivity.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If they ask you, ‘Where will we go?’ you must tell them: This is what the LORD says: Those destined for death, to death; those destined for the sword, to the sword. Those destined for famine, to famine; those destined for captivity, to captivity.

American Standard Version
And it shall come to pass, when they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith Jehovah: Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for captivity, to captivity.

Contemporary English Version
And when they ask where they are going, tell them that I, the LORD, have said: Some of you are going to die of horrible diseases. Others are going to die in war or from starvation. The rest will be led away to a foreign country.

English Revised Version
And it shall come to pass, when they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith the LORD: Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for captivity, to captivity.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When they ask you where they should go, say to them, 'This is what the LORD says: Those who are destined to die will die. Those who are destined to die in wars will die in wars. Those who are destined to die in famines will die in famines. Those who are destined to die in captivity will die in captivity.'

Good News Translation
When they ask you where they should go, tell them that I have said: Some are doomed to die by disease--that's where they will go! Others are doomed to die in war--that's where they will go! Some are doomed to die of starvation--that's where they will go! Others are doomed to be taken away as prisoners--that's where they will go!

International Standard Version
"When they say to you, 'Where can we go?', say to them, 'This is what the LORD says: "Those destined for death, to death will go; those destined for the sword, to the sword will go; and those destined for captivity, to captivity will go.

Majority Standard Bible
If they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ you are to tell them that this is what the LORD says: ‘Those destined for death, to death; those destined for the sword, to the sword; those destined for famine, to famine; and those destined for captivity, to captivity.’

NET Bible
If they ask you, 'Where should we go?' tell them the LORD says this: "Those who are destined to die of disease will go to death by disease. Those who are destined to die in war will go to death in war. Those who are destined to die of starvation will go to death by starvation. Those who are destined to go into exile will go into exile."

New Heart English Bible
It shall happen, when they tell you, 'Where shall we go forth?' Then you shall tell them, 'Thus says the LORD: "Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for captivity, to captivity.

Webster's Bible Translation
And it shall come to pass, if they say to thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith the LORD; Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity.

World English Bible
It will happen when they ask you, ‘Where shall we go out?’ then you shall tell them, ‘Yahweh says: “Such as are for death, to death; such as are for the sword, to the sword; such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for captivity, to captivity.”’
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And it has come to pass, when they say to you, "" To where do we go out? That you have said to them, "" Thus said YHWH: Those who [are] for death—to death, "" And those who are for the sword—to the sword, "" And those who are for famine—to famine, "" And those who are for captivity—to captivity.

Young's Literal Translation
And it hath come to pass, when they say to thee, Whither do we go out? that thou hast said unto them, Thus said Jehovah: Those who are for death -- to death, And those who are for the sword, to the sword, And those who are for famine, to famine, And those who are for captivity, to captivity.

Smith's Literal Translation
And it was if they shall say to thee, Whither shall we go forth? And say to them, Thus said Jehovah, Whom for death to death; and whom for the sword to the sword; and whom for famine to famine; and whom for captivity to captivity.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And if they shall say unto thee: Whither shall we go forth? thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord: Such as are for death, to death: and such as are to the sword, to the sword: and such as are for famine, to famine: and such as are to captivity, to captivity.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And if they say to you, ‘Where shall we go?’ you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord: Those who go to death, shall go to death. And those who go to the sword, shall go to the sword, and those go to famine, shall go to famine, and those who go to captivity, shall go to captivity.

New American Bible
If they ask you, “Where should we go?” tell them, Thus says the LORD: Whoever is marked for death, to death; whoever is marked for the sword, to the sword; whoever is marked for famine, to famine; whoever is marked for captivity, to captivity.

New Revised Standard Version
And when they say to you, “Where shall we go?” you shall say to them: Thus says the LORD: Those destined for pestilence, to pestilence, and those destined for the sword, to the sword; those destined for famine, to famine, and those destined for captivity, to captivity.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And it shall come to pass, if they say to you, Where shall we go? Then you shall tell them, Thus says the LORD: Those numbered for death, to death; and those numbered for the sword, to the sword; and those numbered for famine, to famine; and those numbered for captivity, to captivity.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And if they will say to you, ‘Where will we go?’, say to them: ‘So says LORD JEHOVAH, those who are for death, to death, and those who are for the sword, to the sword, and those who are for famine, to famine, and those who are for captivity, to captivity!’
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And it shall come to pass, when they say unto thee: Whither shall we go forth? then thou shall tell them: Thus saith the LORD: Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for captivity, to captivity.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it shall be, if they say to thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt say to them, Thus saith the Lord; As many as are for death, to death; and as many as are for famine, to famine; and as many as are for the sword, to the sword; and as many as are for captivity, to captivity.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Judgment to Continue
1Then the LORD said to me: “Even if Moses and Samuel should stand before Me, My heart would not go out to this people. Send them from My presence, and let them go. 2 If they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ you are to tell them that this is what the LORD says: ‘Those destined for death, to death; those destined for the sword, to the sword; those destined for famine, to famine; and those destined for captivity, to captivity.’ 3I will appoint over them four kinds of destroyers, declares the LORD: the sword to kill, the dogs to drag away, and the birds of the air and beasts of the earth to devour and destroy.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 30:19
I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore choose life, so that you and your descendants may live,

Ezekiel 14:21
For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘How much worse will it be when I send against Jerusalem My four dire judgments—sword, famine, wild beasts, and plague—in order to cut off from it both man and beast?

Ezekiel 5:12
A third of your people will die by plague or be consumed by famine within you, a third will fall by the sword outside your walls, and a third I will scatter to every wind and unleash a sword behind them.

Isaiah 65:12
I will destine you for the sword, and you will all kneel down to be slaughtered, because I called and you did not answer, I spoke and you did not listen; you did evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight.”

Isaiah 66:4
So I will choose their punishment and I will bring terror upon them, because I called and no one answered, I spoke and no one listened. But they did evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight.”

Zechariah 11:9
Then I said, “I will no longer shepherd you. Let the dying die, and the perishing perish; and let those who remain devour one another’s flesh.”

Revelation 13:10
“If anyone is destined for captivity, into captivity he will go; if anyone is to die by the sword, by the sword he must be killed.” Here is a call for the perseverance and faith of the saints.

Revelation 22:11
Let the unrighteous continue to be unrighteous, and the vile continue to be vile; let the righteous continue to practice righteousness, and the holy continue to be holy.”

Matthew 7:13-14
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. / But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.

John 8:24
That is why I told you that you would die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12
For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie, / in order that judgment may come upon all who have disbelieved the truth and delighted in wickedness.

2 Peter 2:12
These men are like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be captured and destroyed. They blaspheme in matters they do not understand, and like such creatures, they too will be destroyed.

Ezekiel 33:11
Say to them: ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked should turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’

Ezekiel 18:23
Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Lord GOD. Wouldn’t I prefer that he turn from his ways and live?


Treasury of Scripture

And it shall come to pass, if they say to you, Where shall we go forth? then you shall tell them, Thus said the LORD; Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity.

for death.

Jeremiah 14:12
When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.

Jeremiah 24:9,10
And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them…

Jeremiah 43:11
And when he cometh, he shall smite the land of Egypt, and deliver such as are for death to death; and such as are for captivity to captivity; and such as are for the sword to the sword.

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Jeremiah 15
1. The utter rejection and manifold judgments of the people.
10. Jeremiah, complaining of their spite, receives a promise for himself;
12. and a threatening for them.
15. He prays;
19. and receives a gracious promise.














And if they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’
This phrase captures a moment of desperation and confusion among the people of Judah. The Hebrew root for "ask" (שָׁאַל, sha'al) implies a seeking or inquiring, often used in contexts where guidance or divine insight is sought. Historically, this reflects a time when the people were facing imminent judgment and were uncertain about their future. The question "Where shall we go?" signifies a search for direction amidst impending doom, highlighting the people's awareness of their dire situation and their need for divine guidance.

you are to tell them ‘This is what the LORD says
The phrase underscores the role of the prophet as a mouthpiece for God. The Hebrew term for "LORD" (יהוה, Yahweh) is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His authority and the seriousness of the message. This introduction to the divine message serves as a reminder that the words spoken are not Jeremiah's own, but a direct communication from God, carrying the weight of divine judgment and authority.

Those destined for death, to death
The repetition of "destined" (לַמָּוֶת, lamavet) in Hebrew conveys a sense of inevitability and divine decree. The phrase reflects the harsh reality of the consequences of sin and rebellion against God. In the historical context, this refers to the Babylonian invasion and the resulting casualties. Theologically, it serves as a sobering reminder of the wages of sin and the certainty of divine justice.

those destined for the sword, to the sword
Here, "sword" (לַחֶרֶב, laḥerev) symbolizes warfare and violence. The repetition emphasizes the certainty of the outcome for those who have turned away from God. Historically, this points to the Babylonian military campaigns against Judah. Theologically, it underscores the principle that turning away from God leads to destruction and conflict, both physically and spiritually.

those destined for famine, to famine
"Famine" (לָרָעָב, lara'av) in Hebrew signifies a severe lack of food, often seen as a divine punishment in the Old Testament. This phrase highlights the dire consequences of disobedience and the breakdown of societal structures. Historically, famine was a common result of sieges and warfare. Theologically, it serves as a metaphor for spiritual starvation and the emptiness that comes from rejecting God.

those destined for captivity, to captivity
"Captivity" (לַשְּׁבִי, lashbi) refers to exile and the loss of freedom. This phrase captures the ultimate consequence of Judah's rebellion: being uprooted from their land and taken into Babylonian exile. Historically, this was a devastating reality for the people of Judah. Theologically, it represents the spiritual bondage that results from sin and the separation from God's presence and blessings.

(2) Such as are for death . . .--The difference between the first two forms of punishment is that the first points possibly to being led out to execution as criminals, as in Deuteronomy 19:6, but more probably to death from pestilence, as in Job 27:15; the second, to falling in a vain and hopeless conflict.

Verse 2. - Such as are for death, etc.; a sternly ironical answer. Death, sword, famine, captivity, lie in wait for them in every possible road. "Death" here means "pestilence" (comp. "the black death" in the Middle Ages), as in Jeremiah 18:21; Job 27:15. Similar combinations of evils occur in Jeremiah 43:11; Ezekiel 14:21; Ezekiel 33:27.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
If
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

they ask you,
יֹאמְר֥וּ (yō·mə·rū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘Where
אָ֣נָה (’ā·nāh)
Interrogative
Strong's 575: Where?, whither?, when?, hither and thither

shall we go?’
נֵצֵ֑א (nê·ṣê)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

you are to tell
וְאָמַרְתָּ֨ (wə·’ā·mar·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

them that
אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם (’ă·lê·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

this is what
כֹּֽה־ (kōh-)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

the LORD
יְהוָ֗ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

says:
אָמַ֣ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘Those
אֲשֶׁ֨ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

destined for death,
לַמָּ֤וֶת (lam·mā·weṯ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4194: Death, the dead, their place, state, pestilence, ruin

to death;
לַמָּ֙וֶת֙ (lam·mā·weṯ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4194: Death, the dead, their place, state, pestilence, ruin

those
וַאֲשֶׁ֤ר (wa·’ă·šer)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

destined for the sword,
לַחֶ֙רֶב֙ (la·ḥe·reḇ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword

to the sword;
לַחֶ֔רֶב (la·ḥe·reḇ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword

those
וַאֲשֶׁ֤ר (wa·’ă·šer)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

destined for famine,
לָֽרָעָב֙ (lā·rā·‘āḇ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7458: Famine, hunger

to famine;
לָֽרָעָ֔ב (lā·rā·‘āḇ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7458: Famine, hunger

those
וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר (wa·’ă·šer)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

destined for captivity,
לַשְּׁבִ֖י (laš·šə·ḇî)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7628: Exiled, captured, exile, booty

to captivity.’
לַשֶּֽׁבִי׃ (laš·še·ḇî)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7628: Exiled, captured, exile, booty


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 15:2 It shall happen when they tell you (Jer.)
Jeremiah 15:1
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