Jeremiah 13:21 Meaning and Explanation
“What wilt thou say when he shall punish thee? for thou hast taught them to be captains, and as chief over thee: shall not sorrows take thee, as a woman in travail?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The people will have no words when punished, for they caused their own destruction by making captains over themselves.
The Context of Jeremiah 13:21
The people will suffer the consequences of their own poor leadership choices.
What Does Jeremiah 13:21 Mean?
What will the people say in their defense when God punishes them? They will have nothing to say, because they themselves authored their fate. The phrase 'thou hast taught them to be captains' refers to the leadership they chose or allowed—leaders and policies that led the nation into idolatry and injustice. They set up authorities over themselves that were opposed to God's ways.
The consequence is sorrows that will come upon them as a woman in travail—labor pain that is intense, inescapable, and productive of something new. The comparison is vivid: just as a woman in labor cannot escape her pain until it has run its course, so the nation cannot escape the sorrows of judgment. They will experience the full weight of the consequences their own choices have created.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jeremiah 13:21
What does Jeremiah 13:21 mean?
The people will have no words when punished, for they caused their own destruction by making captains over themselves.
What is the context of Jeremiah 13:21?
The people will suffer the consequences of their own poor leadership choices.