Jeremiah 29:18
New International Version
I will pursue them with the sword, famine and plague and will make them abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth, a curse and an object of horror, of scorn and reproach, among all the nations where I drive them.

New Living Translation
Yes, I will pursue them with war, famine, and disease, and I will scatter them around the world. In every nation where I send them, I will make them an object of damnation, horror, contempt, and mockery.

English Standard Version
I will pursue them with sword, famine, and pestilence, and will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, a terror, a hissing, and a reproach among all the nations where I have driven them,

Berean Standard Bible
I will pursue them with sword and famine and plague. I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth—a curse, a desolation, and an object of scorn and reproach among all the nations to which I banish them.

King James Bible
And I will persecute them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, and an astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them:

New King James Version
And I will pursue them with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence; and I will deliver them to trouble among all the kingdoms of the earth—to be a curse, an astonishment, a hissing, and a reproach among all the nations where I have driven them,

New American Standard Bible
I will pursue them with the sword, with famine, and with plague; and I will make them an object of terror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse and an object of horror and hissing, and a disgrace among all the nations where I have driven them,

NASB 1995
‘I will pursue them with the sword, with famine and with pestilence; and I will make them a terror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse and a horror and a hissing, and a reproach among all the nations where I have driven them,

NASB 1977
‘And I will pursue them with the sword, with famine and with pestilence; and I will make them a terror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, and a horror, and a hissing, and a reproach among all the nations where I have driven them,

Legacy Standard Bible
I will pursue them with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence; and I will give them over to be a terror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse and an object of horror and of hissing, and a reproach among all the nations where I have banished them,

Amplified Bible
I will pursue them with the sword, with famine and with virulent disease; and I will make them a terror (warning) to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, a horror, a hissing, and a disgrace among all the nations to which I have driven them,

Christian Standard Bible
I will pursue them with sword, famine, and plague. I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth—a curse and a desolation, an object of scorn and a disgrace among all the nations where I have banished them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I will pursue them with sword, famine, and plague. I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth—a curse and a desolation, an object of scorn and a disgrace among all the nations where I have banished them.

American Standard Version
And I will pursue after them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be tossed to and fro among all the kingdoms of the earth, to be an execration, and an astonishment, and a hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them;

English Revised Version
And I will pursue after them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be tossed to and fro among all the kingdoms of the earth, to be an execration, and an astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I will chase them with wars, famines, and plagues. I will make them a horrifying sight to all the kingdoms on the earth. They will become something cursed, ridiculed, and hissed at, and they will be a disgrace among all the nations where I scatter them.

Good News Translation
I will pursue them with war, starvation, and disease, and all the nations of the world will be horrified at what they see. Everywhere I scatter them, people will be shocked and terrified at what has happened to them. People will make fun of them and use their name as a curse.

International Standard Version
I'll pursue them with the sword, with famine, and with plague, and I'll make them a horrifying sight to all the kingdoms of the earth. I'll make them a curse, an object of horror, and scorn, and a desolation in all the nations to which I've driven them,

Majority Standard Bible
I will pursue them with sword and famine and plague. I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth?a curse, a desolation, and an object of scorn and reproach among all the nations to which I banish them.

NET Bible
I will chase after them with war, starvation, and disease. I will make all the kingdoms of the earth horrified at what happens to them. I will make them examples of those who are cursed, objects of horror, hissing scorn, and ridicule among all the nations where I exile them.

New Heart English Bible
I will pursue after them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be tossed back and forth among all the kingdoms of the earth, to be an object of horror, and an astonishment, and a hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations where I have driven them;

Webster's Bible Translation
And I will persecute them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, and an astonishment, and a hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them:

World English Bible
I will pursue after them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be tossed back and forth among all the kingdoms of the earth, to be an object of horror, an astonishment, a hissing, and a reproach among all the nations where I have driven them,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And I have pursued after them with sword, with famine, and with pestilence, and have given them for a trembling to all kingdoms of the earth, for a curse and for an astonishment, and for a hissing, and for a reproach among all the nations to where I have driven them,

Young's Literal Translation
And I have pursued after them with sword, with famine, and with pestilence, and have given them for a trembling to all kingdoms of the earth, for a curse and for an astonishment, and for a hissing, and for a reproach among all the nations whither I have driven them,

Smith's Literal Translation
And I pursued after them with the sword, with famine and with death, and I gave them for agitation to all the kingdoms of the earth, for a curse and for astonishment, and for hissing and for a reproach among all the nations which I thrust them away there:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I will persecute them with the sword, and with famine, and pith the pestilence: and I will give them up unto affliction to all the kingdoms of the earth: to be a curse, and an astonishment, and a hissing, and a reproach to all the nations to which I have driven them out:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And I will pursue them with the sword, and with famine, and with pestilence. And I will give them over to affliction, amid all the kingdoms of the earth: as a curse, and in stupor, and with hissing, and as a disgrace among all the nations to which I have driven them out.

New American Bible
I will pursue them with sword, famine, and pestilence, and make them an object of horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, a curse, a desolation, a hissing, and a reproach to all the nations among which I have banished them,

New Revised Standard Version
I will pursue them with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence, and will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be an object of cursing, and horror, and hissing, and a derision among all the nations where I have driven them,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And I will pursue them with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence, and I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be an astonishment, a curse, a reproach, and a hissing among all the nations where I have driven them,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I shall chase after them with the sword and with starvation and with plague, and I shall give them as a horror to all of the kingdoms of the Earth, an astonishment and a curse and a reproach and for hissing in all the nations where I led them
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And I will pursue after them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will make them a horror unto all the kingdoms of the earth, a curse, and an astonishment, and a hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jeremiah's Letter to the Exiles
17this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “I will send against them sword and famine and plague, and I will make them like rotten figs, so bad they cannot be eaten. 18I will pursue them with sword and famine and plague. I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth— a curse, a desolation, and an object of scorn and reproach among all the nations to which I banish them. 19I will do this because they have not listened to My words, declares the LORD, which I sent to them again and again through My servants the prophets. And neither have you exiles listened, declares the LORD.”…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 28:25
The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You will march out against them in one direction but flee from them in seven. You will be an object of horror to all the kingdoms of the earth.

Leviticus 26:33
But I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out a sword after you as your land becomes desolate and your cities are laid waste.

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.

2 Kings 17:20
So the LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel. He afflicted them and delivered them into the hands of plunderers, until He had banished them from His presence.

2 Chronicles 36:16-17
But they mocked the messengers of God, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against His people was stirred up beyond remedy. / 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,

Lamentations 2:15-16
All who pass by clap their hands at you in scorn. They hiss and shake their heads at the Daughter of Jerusalem: “Is this the city that was called the perfection of beauty, the joy of all the earth?” / All your enemies open their mouths against you. They hiss and gnash their teeth, saying, “We have swallowed her up. This is the day for which we have waited. We have lived to see it!”

Isaiah 30:17
A thousand will flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you will all flee, until you are left alone like a pole on a mountaintop, like a banner on a hill.

Ezekiel 12:15
And they will know that I am the LORD, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them throughout the countries.

Amos 9:4
Though they are driven by their enemies into captivity, there I will command the sword to slay them. I will fix My eyes upon them for harm and not for good.”

Jeremiah 15:4
I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth because of what Manasseh son of Hezekiah king of Judah did in Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 24:9
I will make them a horror and an offense to all the kingdoms of the earth, a disgrace and an object of scorn, ridicule, and cursing wherever I have banished them.

Jeremiah 34:17
Therefore this is what the LORD says: You have not obeyed Me; you have not proclaimed freedom, each man for his brother and for his neighbor. So now I proclaim freedom for you, declares the LORD—freedom to fall by sword, by plague, and by famine! I will make you a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth.

Matthew 23:37
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!

Luke 21:24
They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

John 11:48
If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”


Treasury of Scripture

And I will persecute them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, and an astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations where I have driven them:

will deliver.

Jeremiah 15:4
And I will cause them to be removed into all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 24:9
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 34:17
Therefore thus saith the LORD; Ye have not hearkened unto me, in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbour: behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the LORD, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.

to be a curse.

Jeremiah 29:22
And of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captivity of Judah which are in Babylon, saying, The LORD make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire;

Jeremiah 19:8
And I will make this city desolate, and an hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished and hiss because of all the plagues thereof.

Jeremiah 25:9
Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.

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Abhorrent Astonishment Cause Curse Cursing Deliver Disease Driven Earth Execration Famine Fear Food Forth Fro Hissing Horror Kingdoms Nations Need Object Persecute Pestilence Plague Pursue Removed Reproach Scorn Shame Surprise Sword Tossed Wonder
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Abhorrent Astonishment Cause Curse Cursing Deliver Disease Driven Earth Execration Famine Fear Food Forth Fro Hissing Horror Kingdoms Nations Need Object Persecute Pestilence Plague Pursue Removed Reproach Scorn Shame Surprise Sword Tossed Wonder
Jeremiah 29
1. Jeremiah sends a letter to the captives in Babylon to be quiet there,
8. and not to believe the dreams of their prophets;
10. and that they shall return with grace after seventy years.
15. He foretells the destruction of the rest for their disobedience.
20. He shows the fearful end of Ahab and Zedekiah, two false prophets.
24. Shemaiah writes a letter against Jeremiah.
30. Jeremiah foretells his doom.














I will pursue them
This phrase indicates God's active role in seeking out those who have turned away from Him. The Hebrew root for "pursue" is "רדף" (radaph), which conveys a sense of relentless pursuit. Historically, this reflects God's covenant relationship with Israel, where He actively seeks to bring His people back to righteousness, even through discipline. This pursuit is not out of malice but out of a desire for restoration and repentance.

with sword
The "sword" symbolizes judgment and warfare. In the ancient Near Eastern context, the sword was a common instrument of war and a symbol of divine judgment. The use of the sword here signifies the severity of God's judgment against those who have persistently rebelled against Him. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the seriousness with which God views sin.

famine
Famine, in the biblical context, often represents a divine curse or judgment. The Hebrew word "רעב" (ra'av) is used to describe a severe lack of food, which in ancient times was often seen as a direct result of divine displeasure. This phrase underscores the physical and spiritual desolation that comes from turning away from God, highlighting the dependency of humanity on divine provision.

and plague
The term "plague" refers to widespread disease or calamity. The Hebrew word "דֶּבֶר" (dever) is frequently associated with divine punishment. In the scriptural narrative, plagues are often used by God to demonstrate His power and to call His people to repentance. This serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of human life and the need for divine protection and mercy.

I will make them a horror
This phrase indicates the extent of the judgment that will befall those who have forsaken God. The Hebrew word "זַעֲוָה" (za'avah) can be translated as "horror" or "terror," suggesting a state of shock and fear. This reflects the consequences of living outside of God's will, where the once-blessed nation becomes a cautionary tale for others.

to all the kingdoms of the earth
This phrase emphasizes the scope of the judgment, extending beyond Israel to the entire world. It highlights the universal nature of God's sovereignty and the fact that His actions with Israel serve as a testimony to all nations. Historically, Israel's experiences were meant to be a witness to the surrounding nations of the one true God.

a curse and an object of horror
The repetition of "horror" alongside "curse" reinforces the severity of the judgment. The Hebrew word for "curse" is "קְלָלָה" (qelalah), which implies a state of being under divine disfavor. This serves as a warning of the spiritual and communal consequences of disobedience, where the people become a living example of the results of turning away from God.

scorn and reproach
These terms indicate the social and relational consequences of judgment. "Scorn" and "reproach" suggest public disgrace and dishonor. In the biblical context, these words reflect the loss of reputation and standing among the nations. This serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining a faithful witness to God's holiness and righteousness.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I will pursue
וְרָֽדַפְתִּי֙ (wə·rā·ḏap̄·tî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7291: To pursue, chase, persecute

them with sword,
בַּחֶ֖רֶב (ba·ḥe·reḇ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword

famine,
בָּרָעָ֣ב (bā·rā·‘āḇ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7458: Famine, hunger

and plague.
וּבַדָּ֑בֶר (ū·ḇad·dā·ḇer)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1698: A pestilence

I will make
וּנְתַתִּ֨ים (ū·nə·ṯat·tîm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

them
0 (0)
0
Strong's Hebrew

a horror
לְזַעֲוָ֜ה (lə·za·‘ă·wāh)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2113: A trembling, an object of trembling or terror

to all
לְכֹ֣ל ׀ (lə·ḵōl)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the kingdoms
מַמְלְכ֣וֹת (mam·lə·ḵō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 4467: Kingdom, sovereignty, dominion, reign

of the earth—
הָאָ֗רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

a curse,
לְאָלָ֤ה (lə·’ā·lāh)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 423: An imprecation

a desolation,
וּלְשַׁמָּה֙ (ū·lə·šam·māh)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8047: Ruin, consternation

and an object of scorn
וְלִשְׁרֵקָ֣ה (wə·liš·rê·qāh)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8322: (object of derisive) hissing

and reproach
וּלְחֶרְפָּ֔ה (ū·lə·ḥer·pāh)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2781: Contumely, disgrace, the pudenda

among all
בְּכָל־ (bə·ḵāl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the nations
הַגּוֹיִ֖ם (hag·gō·w·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts

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

I banish them.
הִדַּחְתִּ֥ים (hid·daḥ·tîm)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5080: To impel, thrust, banish


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 29:18 I will pursue after them (Jer.)
Jeremiah 29:17
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