Jeremiah 19:9
New International Version
I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and daughters, and they will eat one another’s flesh because their enemies will press the siege so hard against them to destroy them.’

New Living Translation
I will see to it that your enemies lay siege to the city until all the food is gone. Then those trapped inside will eat their own sons and daughters and friends. They will be driven to utter despair.’

English Standard Version
And I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and their daughters, and everyone shall eat the flesh of his neighbor in the siege and in the distress, with which their enemies and those who seek their life afflict them.’

Berean Standard Bible
I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and daughters, and they will eat one another’s flesh in the siege and distress inflicted on them by their enemies who seek their lives.’

King James Bible
And I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they shall eat every one the flesh of his friend in the siege and straitness, wherewith their enemies, and they that seek their lives, shall straiten them.

New King James Version
And I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and everyone shall eat the flesh of his friend in the siege and in the desperation with which their enemies and those who seek their lives shall drive them to despair.” ’

New American Standard Bible
And I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they will eat one another’s flesh during the siege and in the hardship with which their enemies and those who seek their life will torment them.”’

NASB 1995
“I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they will eat one another’s flesh in the siege and in the distress with which their enemies and those who seek their life will distress them."’

NASB 1977
“And I shall make them eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they will eat one another’s flesh in the siege and in the distress with which their enemies and those who seek their life will distress them.”’

Legacy Standard Bible
I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they will eat one another’s flesh in the siege and in the distress with which their enemies and those who seek their life will distress them.”’

Amplified Bible
And I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and their daughters, and each one will eat one another’s flesh during the siege and distress brought by their enemies and those who seek their lives.”’

Christian Standard Bible
I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and their daughters, and they will eat each other’s flesh in the distressing siege inflicted on them by their enemies who intend to take their life.’

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and their daughters, and they will eat each other’s flesh in the siege and distress that their enemies, those who want to take their life, inflict on them.

American Standard Version
And I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters; and they shall eat every one the flesh of his friend, in the siege and in the distress, wherewith their enemies, and they that seek their life, shall distress them.

Contemporary English Version
And while your enemies are trying to break through your city walls to kill you, the food supply will run out. You will become so hungry that you will eat the flesh of your friends and even of your own children.

English Revised Version
And I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they shall eat every one the flesh of his friend, in the siege and in the straitness, wherewith their enemies, and they that seek their life, shall straiten them.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I will make the people eat the flesh of their sons and daughters. They will eat each other's flesh during blockades and hardships that their enemies impose on them when they want to kill them."

Good News Translation
The enemy will surround the city and try to kill its people. The siege will be so terrible that the people inside the city will eat one another and even their own children."

International Standard Version
I'll cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and daughters, and people will eat the flesh of their neighbors in the siege and in the distress to which their enemies and those seeking their lives will subject them."'"

Majority Standard Bible
I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and daughters, and they will eat one another’s flesh in the siege and distress inflicted on them by their enemies who seek their lives.’

NET Bible
I will reduce the people of this city to desperate straits during the siege imposed on it by their enemies who are seeking to kill them. I will make them so desperate that they will eat the flesh of their own sons and daughters and the flesh of one another."'"

New Heart English Bible
I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters; and they shall eat everyone the flesh of his friend, in the siege and in the distress, with which their enemies, and those who seek their life, shall distress them."'

Webster's Bible Translation
And I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they shall eat every one the flesh of his friend in the siege and distress with which their enemies, and they that seek their lives, shall distress them.

World English Bible
I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters. They will each eat the flesh of his friend in the siege and in the distress with which their enemies, and those who seek their life, will distress them.”’
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And I have caused them to eat the flesh of their sons, and the flesh of their daughters, and they each eat the flesh of his friend, in the siege and in the constriction with which their enemies constrict them, and those seeking their life.”

Young's Literal Translation
And I have caused them to eat the flesh of their sons, and the flesh of their daughters, and each the flesh of his friend they do eat, in the siege and in the straitness with which straiten them do their enemies, and those seeking their life.

Smith's Literal Translation
And I caused them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and each the flesh of his neighbor shall they eat in the straitness and in the distress which their enemies, and they seeking their souls, shall press upon them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I will feed them with the flesh of their sons, and with the flesh of their daughters: and they shall eat every one the flesh of his friend in the siege, and in the distress wherewith their enemies, and they that seek their lives shall straiten them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And I will feed them with the flesh of their sons and with the flesh of their daughters. And each one of them will eat the flesh of his friend during the blockade and the embargo by which their enemies, and those who seek their lives, will enclose them.

New American Bible
I will have them eat the flesh of their sons and daughters; they shall eat one another’s flesh during the harsh siege under which their enemies and those who seek their lives will confine them.

New Revised Standard Version
And I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and all shall eat the flesh of their neighbors in the siege, and in the distress with which their enemies and those who seek their life afflict them.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they shall eat every one the flesh of his neighbors in the siege and in the affliction with which their enemies and those who seek their lives shall inflict upon them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I shall feed them the flesh of their sons and of their daughters, and each man shall eat the body of his neighbor in the siege, and in the affliction that their enemies and those who seek their soul shall inflict on them
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they shall eat every one the flesh of his friend, in the siege and in the straitness, wherewith their enemies, and they that seek their life, shall straiten them.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they shall eat the flesh of their sons, and the flesh of their daughters; and they shall eat every one the flesh of his neighbour in the blockade, and in the siege wherewith their enemies shall besiege them.
Audio Bible



Context
The Broken Jar
8I will make this city a desolation and an object of scorn. All who pass by will be appalled and will scoff at all her wounds. 9I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and daughters, and they will eat one another’s flesh in the siege and distress inflicted on them by their enemies who seek their lives.’ 10Then you are to shatter the jar in the presence of the men who accompany you,…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 28:53-57
Then you will eat the fruit of your womb, the flesh of the sons and daughters whom the LORD your God has given you, in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you. / The most gentle and refined man among you will begrudge his brother, the wife he embraces, and the rest of his children who have survived, / refusing to share with any of them the flesh of his children he will eat because he has nothing left in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you within all your gates. ...

Leviticus 26:29
You will eat the flesh of your own sons and daughters.

2 Kings 6:28-29
Then the king asked her, “What is the matter?” And she answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him, and tomorrow we will eat my son.’ / So we boiled my son and ate him, and the next day I said to her, ‘Give up your son, that we may eat him.’ But she had hidden her son.”

Lamentations 4:10
The hands of compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.

Ezekiel 5:10
As a result, fathers among you will eat their sons, and sons will eat their fathers. I will execute judgments against you and scatter all your remnant to every wind.’

Isaiah 9:20
They carve out what is on the right, but they are still hungry; they eat what is on the left, but they are still not satisfied. Each one devours the flesh of his own offspring.

2 Kings 17:25
Now when the settlers first lived there, they did not worship the LORD, so He sent lions among them, which killed some of them.

2 Kings 25:3
By the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine in the city was so severe that the people of the land had no food.

2 Chronicles 36:17
So He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who put their young men to the sword in the sanctuary, sparing neither young men nor young women, neither elderly nor infirm. God gave them all into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar,

Micah 3:3
You eat the flesh of my people after stripping off their skin and breaking their bones. You chop them up like flesh for the cooking pot, like meat in a cauldron.”

Matthew 24:19
How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers!

Luke 21:23
How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! For there will be great distress upon the land and wrath against this people.

Mark 13:17
How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers!

Matthew 24:7
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

Luke 19:43
For the days will come upon you when your enemies will barricade you and surround you and hem you in on every side.


Treasury of Scripture

And I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they shall eat every one the flesh of his friend in the siege and narrow place, with which their enemies, and they that seek their lives, shall straiten them.

eat the.

Leviticus 26:29
And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.

Deuteronomy 28:53-57
And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the LORD thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee: …

2 Kings 6:26-29
And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king…

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Afflict Another's Bitter Cause Caused Cruel Daughters Designs Distress Eat Enemies Flesh Food Friend Imposed Life Making Meal Need Neighbor Seek Seeking Siege Straiten Straitness Stress Wherewith
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Afflict Another's Bitter Cause Caused Cruel Daughters Designs Distress Eat Enemies Flesh Food Friend Imposed Life Making Meal Need Neighbor Seek Seeking Siege Straiten Straitness Stress Wherewith
Jeremiah 19
1. Under the type of breaking a potter's vessel, is foreshown the desolation of the Jews














I will make them eat
This phrase is a direct declaration from God, indicating His sovereign control over the events that will unfold. The Hebrew root for "make" (עָשָׂה, asah) often implies causing or compelling an action. This reflects the severity of divine judgment, where God allows the natural consequences of the people's sins to manifest in extreme circumstances. Historically, such dire situations were not uncommon during sieges in the ancient Near East, where famine led to desperate measures.

the flesh of their sons and daughters
The mention of "sons and daughters" underscores the horror and unnaturalness of the act. In Hebrew culture, children were considered a blessing and a heritage from the Lord (Psalm 127:3). The consumption of one's offspring is a reversal of the natural order and a sign of ultimate desperation and judgment. This phrase serves as a stark warning of the consequences of turning away from God and the covenant.

and they will eat one another’s flesh
This phrase further emphasizes the breakdown of societal norms and the depth of the calamity. The Hebrew word for "flesh" (בָּשָׂר, basar) is often used to denote human kinship and community. The act of consuming one another's flesh symbolizes the complete disintegration of community and familial bonds, highlighting the destructive power of sin and rebellion against God.

in the siege and distress
The context of a "siege" (מָצוֹר, matzor) was a common military tactic in the ancient world, where cities were surrounded and cut off from supplies. "Distress" (צָרָה, tsarah) conveys a sense of anguish and extreme pressure. Together, these words paint a picture of the intense suffering and hopelessness that result from divine judgment. Historically, the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 BC is a poignant example of such circumstances.

inflicted on them by their enemies
This phrase indicates that the calamity is not just a natural disaster but is orchestrated through human agents—specifically, the enemies of Israel. The Hebrew word for "enemies" (אוֹיֵב, oyev) often refers to adversaries who are instruments of God's judgment. This reflects the biblical theme that God can use even those opposed to Him to accomplish His purposes.

who seek their lives
The phrase "seek their lives" (מְבַקְשֵׁי נַפְשָׁם, mevakshei nafsham) highlights the intent and determination of the enemies. In the Hebrew context, "life" (נֶפֶשׁ, nephesh) encompasses the whole being, not just physical existence. This underscores the totality of the threat faced by the people due to their disobedience. It serves as a sobering reminder of the seriousness of turning away from God's protection and guidance.

(9) I will cause them to eat . . .--Once again an echo, almost a quotation, from Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 28:53). The woes of that memorable chapter had obviously furnished the prophet both with imagery and language. In Lamentations 2:20; Lamentations 4:10 we find proof of the fulfilment of the prediction. Thus, by the dread law of retribution, were the people to pay the penalty of their sin in the Melech sacrifices, in which they, sinning at once against natural affection and against the faith of their fathers, had slain their sons and daughters.

Verse 9. - The same description, almost verbatim, is given in Deuteronomy 28:53; (comp. Leviticus 26:29; Ezekiel 5:10). For the fulfillment, see Lamentations 4:10.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I will make them eat
וְהַֽאֲכַלְתִּ֞ים (wə·ha·’ă·ḵal·tîm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 398: To eat

the flesh
בְּשַׂ֣ר (bə·śar)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1320: Flesh, body, person, the pudenda of a, man

of their sons
בְּנֵיהֶ֗ם (bə·nê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1121: A son

and daughters,
בְּנֹתֵיהֶ֔ם (bə·nō·ṯê·hem)
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1323: A daughter

and they will eat
יֹאכֵ֑לוּ (yō·ḵê·lū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 398: To eat

one
וְאִ֥ישׁ (wə·’îš)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

another’s
רֵעֵ֖הוּ (rê·‘ê·hū)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7453: Friend, companion, fellow

flesh
בְּשַׂ֣ר (bə·śar)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1320: Flesh, body, person, the pudenda of a, man

in the siege
בְּמָצוֹר֙ (bə·mā·ṣō·wr)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4692: Something hemming in, a mound, a siege, distress, a fastness

and distress
וּבְמָצ֔וֹק (ū·ḇə·mā·ṣō·wq)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4689: A narrow place, confinement, disability

inflicted
יָצִ֧יקוּ (yā·ṣî·qū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 6693: To constrain, bring into straits, press upon

on them
לָהֶ֛ם (lā·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

by their enemies
אֹיְבֵיהֶ֖ם (’ō·yə·ḇê·hem)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 341: Hating, an adversary

who seek
וּמְבַקְשֵׁ֥י (ū·mə·ḇaq·šê)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1245: To search out, to strive after

their lives.’
נַפְשָֽׁם׃ (nap̄·šām)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 19:9 I will cause them to eat (Jer.)
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