And now you shall know for certain that you will die by the sword, by famine, or by plague in the place where you desire to go to reside.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now therefore know certainly that you shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, in the place where you desire to go to live there.”
- KJV Now therefore know certainly that ye shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, in the place whither ye desire to go and to sojourn.
- BSB Now therefore, know for sure that by sword and famine and plague you will die in the place where you desire to go to reside.”
- NKJV Now therefore, know certainly that you shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence in the place where you desire to go to dwell.”
- NLT So you can be sure that you will die from war, famine, and disease in Egypt, where you insist on going.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jeremiah delivers God's verdict that those fleeing to Egypt will perish there by sword, famine, and pestilence in the very place they thought would be safe. It warns that disobedience finds no refuge in human schemes.
Overview
The remnant of Judah had asked Jeremiah for God's word but had already determined to go to Egypt for safety. God's answer is solemn: the dangers they fear in Judah will overtake them in Egypt because they are fleeing from His will rather than trusting Him. The verse exposes the futility of seeking security apart from obedience, a theme fulfilled in Christ, who alone is true refuge for those who trust and obey Him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Jer 42:17So shall it be with all the men who set their faces to go into Egypt to live there: they shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence; and none of them shall remain or escape from the evil that I will bring on them.’
- Hos 9:6For, behold, they have gone away from destruction. Egypt will gather them up. Memphis will bury them. Nettles will possess their pleasant things of silver. Thorns will be in their tents.
- Ezek 6:11“Thus says the Lord Yahweh: ‘Strike with your hand, and stamp with your foot, and say, “Alas!” Because of all the evil abominations of the house of Israel; for they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.
- Jer 43:11He will come, and will strike the land of Egypt; such as are for death shall be put to death, and such as are for captivity to captivity, and such as are for the sword to the sword.
- Ezek 5:3–4You shall take of it a few in number, and bind them in your skirts.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Against the failure of false shepherds Jeremiah promises the Righteous Branch, 'The LORD our righteousness,' and the new covenant written on the heart and sealed in the blood of Christ.
How Jeremiah 42:22 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.