Jeremiah 9:16 Meaning and Explanation
“I will scatter them also among the heathen, whom neither they nor their fathers have known: and I will send a sword after them, till I have consumed them.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The people will be exiled among foreign nations and pursued by military destruction.
The Context of Jeremiah 9:16
The mechanism of judgment: exile and military defeat.
What Does Jeremiah 9:16 Mean?
Scattering among 'heathen whom neither they nor their fathers have known' emphasizes displacement and disorientation. The people who built their identity on their land and inheritance will be torn from both and cast among strangers. This was the historical exile experience under Babylon.
The 'sword' sent after them represents military conquest and ongoing destruction. The phrase 'till I have consumed them' need not mean annihilation but rather the completion of God's judgment. Judgment, once set in motion by the people's rejection of His way, runs its course to completion.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jeremiah 9:16
What does Jeremiah 9:16 mean?
The people will be exiled among foreign nations and pursued by military destruction.
What is the context of Jeremiah 9:16?
The mechanism of judgment: exile and military defeat.