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Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025
the Week of Proper 17 / Ordinary 22
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Green's Literal Translation

Jeremiah 21:4

So says Jehovah, the God of Israel: Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war in your hand, with which you fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans who besiege you outsidethe wall. And I will gather them togetherin the middle of the city.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Israel, Prophecies Concerning;   Thompson Chain Reference - Nebuchadnezzar;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Babylon;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Babylon;   Egypt;   Jeremiah;   Judah, tribe and kingdom;   Zedekiah;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Persecution;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Jeremiah;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Pashur;   Zephaniah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Jeremiah;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Chaldeans, Chaldees;   Zedekiah ;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom of Judah;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Four;   Judah, Kingdom of;   Zedekiah (2);   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Shem Ha-Meforash;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I am about to repel the weapons of war in your hands, those you are using to fight the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans who are besieging you outside the wall, and I will bring them into the center of this city.
Hebrew Names Version
Thus says the LORD, the God of Yisra'el, Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, with which you fight against the king of Bavel, and against the Kasdim who besiege you, without the walls; and I will gather them into the midst of this city.
King James Version
Thus saith the Lord God of Israel; Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans, which besiege you without the walls, and I will assemble them into the midst of this city.
English Standard Version
‘Thus says the Lord , the God of Israel: Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands and with which you are fighting against the king of Babylon and against the Chaldeans who are besieging you outside the walls. And I will bring them together into the midst of this city.
New American Standard Bible
'This is what the LORD, the God of Israel says: "Behold, I am going to turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, with which you are making war against the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans who are besieging you outside the wall; and I will gather them into the middle of this city.
New Century Version
‘Here is what the Lord , the God of Israel, says: You have weapons of war in your hands to defend yourselves against the king of Babylon and the Babylonians, who are all around the city wall. But I will make those weapons useless. Soon I will bring them into the center of this city.
Amplified Bible
'Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, "Behold, I will turn back and dull the edge of the weapons of war that are in your hands, [those] with which you fight against the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans who are besieging you outside the walls; and I will bring them into the center of this city (Jerusalem).
World English Bible
Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, with which you fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans who besiege you, without the walls; and I will gather them into the midst of this city.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Behold, I will turne backe the weapons of warre that are in your hands, wherewith ye fight against the King of Babel, and against the Caldeans, which besiege you without the walles, and I will assemble them into the middes of this citie.
Legacy Standard Bible
‘Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, "Behold, I am about to turn back the weapons of war which are in your hands, with which you are warring against the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans who are besieging you outside the wall; and I will gather them into the center of this city.
Berean Standard Bible
'This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I will turn against you the weapons of war in your hands, with which you are fighting the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans who besiege you outside the wall, and I will assemble their forces in the center of this city.
Complete Jewish Bible
‘This is what Adonai , the God of Isra'el, says: "I will make the weapons of war that you have in your hands ineffectual in your fight against the king of Bavel and the Kasdim who are outside the walls besieging you. Instead, I will gather them inside this city;
Darby Translation
Thus saith Jehovah the God of Israel: Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, with which ye fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans who besiege you, outside the walls, and I will assemble them into the midst of this city.
Easy-to-Read Version
‘This is what the Lord , the God of Israel, says: You have weapons of war in your hands that you are using to defend yourselves from the Babylonians and their king. But I will make those weapons worthless. "‘The army from Babylon is outside the wall all around the city. Soon I will bring that army into Jerusalem.
George Lamsa Translation
Thus says the LORD God of Israel: Behold, I will destroy the weapons of war which are in your hands, with which you fight against the king of Babylon and against the Chaldeans who are besieging you outside the city, and I will assemble them into the midst of this city.
Good News Translation
to tell Zedekiah that the Lord , the God of Israel, had said, "Zedekiah, I am going to defeat your army that is fighting against the king of Babylonia and his army. I will pile up your soldiers' weapons in the center of the city.
Lexham English Bible
‘Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: "Look, I am about to turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, with which you are fighting against them, the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans who are laying siege to you from outside the wall, and I will gather them into the center of this city.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Thus saieth the LORDE God off Israel: beholde, I will turne backe the weapens, that ye haue in youre hondes, wherwith ye fight agaynst the kinge of Babilo & the Caldees, which besege you rounde aboute ye walles: & I wil brige the together in to the myddest of this cite,
American Standard Version
Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans that besiege you, without the walls; and I will gather them into the midst of this city.
Bible in Basic English
The Lord God of Israel has said, See, I am turning back the instruments of war in your hands, with which you are fighting against the king of Babylon and the Chaldaeans, who are outside the walls and shutting you in; and I will get them together inside this town.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel: Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans, that besiege you without the walls, and I will gather them into the midst of this city.
King James Version (1611)
Thus saith the Lord God of Israel; Behold, I will turne backe the weapons of warre that are in your hands, wherewith yee fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Caldeans, which besiege you without the walles, and I will assemble them into the middest of this citie.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Thus saith the Lord God of Israel: Beholde, I wyll turne backe the weapons that ye haue in your hands, wherwith ye fight against the king of Babylon and the Chaldees, whiche besiege you rounde about the walles, and I wyll bryng them together into the middest of this citie.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war wherewith ye fight against the Chaldeans that have besieged you from outside the wall, and I will gather them into the midst of this city.
English Revised Version
Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands; wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans which besiege you, without the walls, and I will gather them into the midst of this city.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
The Lord God of Israel seith these thingis, Lo! Y schal turne the instrumentis of batel that ben in youre hondis, and with which ye fiyten ayens the king of Babiloyne, and ayens Caldeis, that bisegen you in the cumpas of wallis; and Y schal gadere tho togidere in the myddis of this citee.
Update Bible Version
This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, Look, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, with which you fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans that besiege you, outside the walls; and I will gather them into the midst of this city.
Webster's Bible Translation
Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that [are] in your hands, with which ye fight against the king of Babylon, and [against] the Chaldeans, who besiege you without the walls, and I will assemble them into the midst of this city.
New English Translation
that the Lord , the God of Israel, says, ‘The forces at your disposal are now outside the walls fighting against King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and the Babylonians who have you under siege. I will gather those forces back inside the city.
New King James Version
'Thus says the Lord God of Israel: "Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, with which you fight against the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans [fn] who besiege you outside the walls; and I will assemble them in the midst of this city.
New Living Translation
‘This is what the Lord , the God of Israel, says: I will make your weapons useless against the king of Babylon and the Babylonians who are outside your walls attacking you. In fact, I will bring your enemies right into the heart of this city.
New Life Bible
‘The Lord God of Israel says, "See, I will turn against you the objects of war you are using to fight with against the king of Babylon and the Babylonians who are gathered outside the wall to shut you in. And I will bring them into the center of this city.
New Revised Standard
Thus you shall say to Zedekiah: Thus says the Lord , the God of Israel: I am going to turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands and with which you are fighting against the king of Babylon and against the Chaldeans who are besieging you outside the walls; and I will bring them together into the center of this city.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Thus, saith Yahweh, God of Israel - Behold me! turning back the weapons of war that are in your hand, wherewith, ye, are fighting the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans, who are besieging you outside the wall, - and I will gather them into the midst of this city.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel: Behold I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, and with which you fight against the king of Babylon, and the Chaldeans, that besiege you round about the walls: and I will gather them together in the midst of this city.
Revised Standard Version
"Thus you shall say to Zedeki'ah, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war which are in your hands and with which you are fighting against the king of Babylon and against the Chalde'ans who are besieging you outside the walls; and I will bring them together into the midst of this city.
Young's Literal Translation
Thus said Jehovah, God of Israel: Lo, I am turning round the weapons of battle That [are] in your hand, With which ye do fight the king of Babylon, And the Chaldeans, who are laying siege against you, At the outside of the wall, And I have gathered them into the midst of this city,
New American Standard Bible (1995)
'Thus says the LORD God of Israel, "Behold, I am about to turn back the weapons of war which are in your hands, with which you are warring against the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans who are besieging you outside the wall; and I will gather them into the center of this city.

Contextual Overview

1 The Word which was to Jeremiah from Jehovah, when King Zedekiah sent Pashur the son of Melchiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest to him, saying, 2 Please inquire of Jehovah for us. For Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is warring against us. Perhaps Jehovah will deal with us according to all His wonderful works, that he may go up from us. 3 Then Jeremiah said to them, You shall say this to Zedekiah, 4 So says Jehovah, the God of Israel: Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war in your hand, with which you fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans who besiege you outsidethe wall. And I will gather them togetherin the middle of the city. 5 And I Myself will fight against you with an outstretched arm and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath. 6 And I will strike the people of this city, both man and beast. They shall die of a great plague. 7 And afterward, says Jehovah, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and those who remain in this city from the plague, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon andinto the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those who seek their life. And he shall strike them with the mouth of the sword; he shall not spare them, nor have pity, nor have compassion.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Behold: Jeremiah 32:5, Jeremiah 33:5, Jeremiah 37:8-10, Jeremiah 38:2, Jeremiah 38:3, Jeremiah 38:17, Jeremiah 38:18, Jeremiah 52:18, Isaiah 10:4, Hosea 9:12

and I: Jeremiah 39:3, Isaiah 5:5, Isaiah 13:4, Lamentations 2:5, Lamentations 2:7, Ezekiel 16:37-41, Zechariah 14:2, Matthew 22:7

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 28:52 - General Jeremiah 1:18 - against Jeremiah 15:12 - Shall iron Jeremiah 20:4 - I will give Jeremiah 32:3 - Behold Jeremiah 32:24 - the city is Jeremiah 34:2 - Behold Jeremiah 34:22 - shall fight Jeremiah 35:17 - Behold Jeremiah 36:29 - The king Jeremiah 37:10 - though Lamentations 1:17 - commanded Ezekiel 17:9 - shall he Ezekiel 39:3 - General Hosea 10:10 - and the Habakkuk 1:6 - I raise

Cross-References

Genesis 21:10
And she said to Abraham, Drive away this slave-girl and her son, for the son of this slave-girl shall not inherit with my son, with Isaac.
Genesis 21:12
And God said to Abraham, Let it not be evil in your eyes because of the boy, and on account of your slave-girl. All that Sarah says to you, listen to her voice, for in Isaac your Seed shall be called.
Genesis 21:22
And it happened at that time Abimelech and Phicol, the general of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, God is with you in all that you do.
Genesis 21:23
And now swear to me here by God, that you will not lie to me, and to my son, and to my heir, according to the kindness which I have sworn to you. Do to me and to the land in which you have lived.
Exodus 12:48
And when a visitor shall stay with you, and will do the Passover to Jehovah, let every male to him be circumcised, and then he may come near to prepare it. And he shall be like a native of the land. But any uncircumcised one may not eat ofit.
Leviticus 12:3
And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
Deuteronomy 12:32
All the things that I command you, take heed to do them and you shall not add to it, nor take away from it.
Luke 1:6
And they were both righteous before God, walking blameless in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
Luke 1:59
And it happened on the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child and were calling it by his father's name, Zacharias.
Luke 2:21
And when eight days were fulfilled to circumcise the child His name was called Jesus, the name called by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Thus saith the Lord God of Israel,.... Who had been, still was, and would be, Israel's God, even the God of such who are Israelites indeed; though he should, as he would, give up the present generation to ruin and destruction; they having by their sins forfeited his care and protection of them; and therefore it was in vain to hope for it from this character which they bore:

behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that [are] in your hands; so that they should do no hurt to the enemy, but recoil upon themselves. The meaning is, that they should be useless and unserviceable; that they should neither be defensive to them, nor offensive to their enemies; but rather hurtful to themselves. It seems to suggest, as if they should fall out with one another; and, like the Midianites, turn their swords upon one another, and destroy each other:

wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon, and [against] the Chaldeans which besiege you without the walls; by shooting arrows at them from within the city; or by sallying out unto them with sword in hand: this, shows that the Chaldean army, under the command of the king of Babylon, was now without the walls of Jerusalem besieging it:

and I will assemble them into the midst of this city; either the weapons of war, as Jarchi and others; which the Chaldeans, breaking into the city, should cause to be brought in to them in the middle of the city, and there slay them with them: or rather the Chaldeans, as Kimchi; who, though now without the walls, and which the Jews thought a sufficient security for them; yet should not be long there, but the walls would be broken down, and they should enter the city, and rendezvous their whole army in the midst of it.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Without the walls - These words are to be joined to wherewith ye fight.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Jeremiah 21:4. I will turn back the weapons — Every attempt you make to repel the Chaldeans shall be unsuccessful.

I will assemble them into the midst of this city. — I will deliver the city into their hands.


 
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