Jeremiah 21:8
New International Version
“Furthermore, tell the people, ‘This is what the LORD says: See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death.

New Living Translation
“Tell all the people, ‘This is what the LORD says: Take your choice of life or death!

English Standard Version
“And to this people you shall say: ‘Thus says the LORD: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.

Berean Standard Bible
Furthermore, you are to tell this people that this is what the LORD says: ‘Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.

King James Bible
And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.

New King James Version
“Now you shall say to this people, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.

New American Standard Bible
“You shall also say to this people, ‘This is what the LORD says: “Behold, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death.

NASB 1995
“You shall also say to this people, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.

NASB 1977
“You shall also say to this people, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.

Legacy Standard Bible
“You shall also say to this people, ‘Thus says Yahweh, “Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.

Amplified Bible
“And to this people you (Jeremiah) shall also say, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.

Christian Standard Bible
“But tell this people, ‘This is what the LORD says: Look, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“But you must say to this people, ‘This is what the LORD says: Look, I am presenting to you the way of life and the way of death.

American Standard Version
And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.

Contemporary English Version
Then I told them that the LORD had said: People of Jerusalem, I, the LORD, give you the choice of life or death.

English Revised Version
And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Say to these people, 'This is what the LORD says: I am going to give you the choice of life or death.

Good News Translation
Then the LORD told me to say to the people, "Listen! I, the LORD, am giving you a choice between the way that leads to life and the way that leads to death.

International Standard Version
"You are to say to this people, 'This is what the LORD says: "I'm about to set before you the way of life and the way of death.

Majority Standard Bible
Furthermore, you are to tell this people that this is what the LORD says: ‘Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.

NET Bible
"But tell the people of Jerusalem that the LORD says, 'I will give you a choice between two courses of action. One will result in life; the other will result in death.

New Heart English Bible
To this people you shall say, "Thus says the LORD: 'Look, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.

Webster's Bible Translation
And to this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.

World English Bible
“You shall say to this people, ‘Yahweh says: “Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“And you say to this people, Thus said YHWH: Behold, I am setting before you the way of life, "" And the way of death!

Young's Literal Translation
And unto this people thou dost say, Thus said Jehovah: Lo, I am setting before you the way of life, And the way of death!

Smith's Literal Translation
And to this people thou shalt say, Thus said Jehovah, Behold me giving before your face the way of life and the way of death.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And to this people thou shalt say: Thus saith the Lord: Behold I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And to this people, you shall say: Thus says the Lord: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.

New American Bible
And to this people you shall say: Thus says the LORD: See, I am giving you a choice between the way to life and the way to death.

New Revised Standard Version
And to this people you shall say: Thus says the LORD: See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And to this people you shall say, Thus says the LORD: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And to this people say: “Thus says LORD JEHOVAH, ‘Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And unto this people thou shalt say: Thus saith the LORD: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And thou shalt say to this people, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I have set before you the way of life, and the way of death.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jerusalem will Fall to Babylon
7‘After that,’ declares the LORD, ‘I will hand over Zedekiah king of Judah, his officers, and the people in this city who survive the plague and sword and famine, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to their enemies who seek their lives. He will put them to the sword; he will not spare them or show pity or compassion.’ 8Furthermore, you are to tell this people that this is what the LORD says: ‘Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death. 9Whoever stays in this city will die by sword and famine and plague, but whoever goes out and surrenders to the Chaldeans who besiege you will live; he will retain his life like a spoil of war.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 30:15-19
See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, as well as death and disaster. / For I am commanding you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, statutes, and ordinances, so that you may live and increase, and the LORD your God may bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. / But if your heart turns away and you do not listen, but are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, ...

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.

Proverbs 14:12
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

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

Ezekiel 18:30-32
Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that your iniquity will not become your downfall. / Cast away from yourselves all the transgressions you have committed, and fashion for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel? / For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death, declares the Lord GOD. So repent and live!

Joshua 24:15
But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!”

Isaiah 55:6-7
Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. / Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.

1 Kings 18:21
Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people did not answer a word.

Psalm 1:6
For the LORD guards the path of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Matthew 19:17
“Why do you ask Me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

Romans 8:6
The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace,

John 3:16-18
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. / For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. / Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

Galatians 6:8
The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.


Treasury of Scripture

And to this people you shall say, Thus said the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.

I set.

Deuteronomy 11:26
Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;

Deuteronomy 30:15,19
See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; …

Isaiah 1:19,20
If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: …

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Death Furthermore Life Setting Way
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Death Furthermore Life Setting Way
Jeremiah 21
1. Zedikiah sends to Jeremiah to enquire the event of Nebuchadnezzar's war.
3. Jeremiah foretells a hard siege and miserable captivity.
8. He counsels the people to fall to the Chaldeans;
11. and upbraids the King's house.














Furthermore, you are to tell this people
This phrase indicates a direct command from God to the prophet Jeremiah. The Hebrew word for "tell" is "אָמַר" (amar), which means to speak or declare. This emphasizes the role of the prophet as a mouthpiece for God, tasked with delivering His message to the people. The phrase "this people" refers to the Israelites, specifically the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who were facing imminent judgment due to their persistent disobedience. This highlights the personal and communal nature of God's communication, as He addresses them directly through His prophet.

that this is what the LORD says
The phrase underscores the authority and divine origin of the message. "LORD" is translated from the Hebrew "יהוה" (YHWH), the sacred and covenantal name of God, emphasizing His eternal and unchanging nature. This assures the audience that the message is not Jeremiah's own, but a direct revelation from God Himself. It serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and His right to judge and guide His people.

Behold
The Hebrew word "הִנֵּה" (hinneh) is used here, which can be translated as "look" or "see." It is an attention-grabbing word, meant to alert the listeners to the importance and urgency of the message. It calls the people to focus and consider carefully what is about to be presented to them, indicating that the following message is of critical importance.

I set before you
This phrase indicates a deliberate action by God, presenting a choice to the people. The Hebrew root "שׂוּם" (sum) means to place or set, suggesting that God is actively placing options before the Israelites. This reflects God's respect for human free will, allowing them to choose their path, while also holding them accountable for their decisions.

the way of life and the way of death
The "way" in Hebrew is "דֶּרֶךְ" (derekh), which means a path or road. This metaphorical language presents two distinct paths or lifestyles with corresponding outcomes. "Life" (חַיִּים, chayyim) and "death" (מָוֶת, mavet) are not just physical states but represent spiritual realities and consequences. Historically, this choice was literal, as the people faced destruction from the Babylonian siege. Scripturally, it echoes the choices presented in Deuteronomy 30:19, where God sets before the Israelites life and death, blessings and curses. This duality underscores the consistent biblical theme of covenantal faithfulness leading to life, while rebellion leads to death. It serves as a timeless reminder of the importance of choosing obedience to God, which leads to spiritual and often physical life, over the path of disobedience, which leads to spiritual and often physical death.

(8) The way of life, and the way of death.--The words are not unlike those of Deuteronomy 11:26-27; Deuteronomy 30:15; Deuteronomy 30:19, but there is something like a solemn irony in their application here. They obviously present themselves, not with the wide spiritual application with which they meet us there, but are to be taken in their lowest and most literal sense. The "way of life" is no longer that way of righteousness which the men of Judah had forsaken, leading to the life of eternal blessedness, but simply submission to the Chaldaeans, and the life so gained was one of exile and poverty, if not of bondage also.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
You are also to say
תֹּאמַ֔ר (tō·mar)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to
וְאֶל־ (wə·’el-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

this
הַזֶּה֙ (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

people,
הָעָ֤ם (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

‘This is what
כֹּ֖ה (kōh)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

the LORD
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH

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

Behold,
הִנְנִ֤י (hin·nî)
Interjection | first person common singular
Strong's 2005: Lo! behold!

I set
נֹתֵן֙ (nō·ṯên)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

before
לִפְנֵיכֶ֔ם (lip̄·nê·ḵem)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 6440: The face

you
אֶת־ (’eṯ-)
Direct object marker
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

the way
דֶּ֥רֶךְ (de·reḵ)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

of life
הַחַיִּ֖ים (ha·ḥay·yîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

and the way
דֶּ֥רֶךְ (de·reḵ)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

of death.
הַמָּֽוֶת׃ (ham·mā·weṯ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4194: Death, the dead, their place, state, pestilence, ruin


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 21:8 To this people you shall say Thus (Jer.)
Jeremiah 21:7
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