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Literal Standard Version

Jeremiah 29:17

thus said YHWH of Hosts: Behold, I am sending the sword, the famine, and the pestilence among them, and I have given them up as figs that [are] vile, that are not eaten because of badness.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Captivity;   Famine;   Wicked (People);   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Fig-Tree, the;   Plague or Pestilence, the;  

Dictionaries:

- Fausset Bible Dictionary - Canon of the Old Testament;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Apocrypha;   Jeremiah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Greek Versions of Ot;   Jeremiah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Pestilence ;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Zedekiah;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Fig;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
This is what the Lord of Armies says: “I am about to send sword, famine, and plague against them, and I will make them like rotten figs that are inedible because they are so bad.
Hebrew Names Version
thus says the LORD of Hosts; Behold, I will send on them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that can't be eaten, they are so bad.
King James Version
Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.
English Standard Version
‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, behold, I am sending on them sword, famine, and pestilence, and I will make them like vile figs that are so rotten they cannot be eaten.
New American Standard Bible
this is what the LORD of armies says: 'Behold, I am sending upon them the sword, famine, and plague; and I will make them like rotten figs that cannot be eaten due to rottenness.
New Century Version
The Lord All-Powerful says: "I will soon send war, hunger, and terrible diseases against those still in Jerusalem. I will make them like bad figs that are too rotten to eat.
Amplified Bible
thus says the LORD of hosts, 'Behold (listen very carefully), I am sending the sword, famine, and virulent disease (pestilence) on them, and I will make them like rotten figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten.
World English Bible
thus says Yahweh of Hosts; Behold, I will send on them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that can't be eaten, they are so bad.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Euen thus sayth the Lorde of hostes, Beholde, I will sende vpon them the sworde, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figges, that cannot bee eaten, they are so naughtie.
Legacy Standard Bible
thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘Behold, I am sending upon them the sword, famine, and pestilence, and I will make them like split-open figs that cannot be eaten due to rottenness.
Berean Standard Bible
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: "I will send against them sword, famine, and plague, and I will make them like rotten figs, so bad that they cannot be eaten.
Complete Jewish Bible
thus says Adonai -Tzva'ot: ‘I will attack them with sword, famine and plague; I will make them like bad figs, so bad they are inedible.
Darby Translation
thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Behold, I will send against them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like the vile figs, that cannot be eaten for badness.
Easy-to-Read Version
The Lord All-Powerful says, "I will soon bring war, hunger, and disease against those who are still in Jerusalem. And I will make them the same as bad figs that are too rotten to eat.
George Lamsa Translation
Thus says the LORD of hosts: Behold, I will send upon them the sword, famine, and pestilence, and I will make them like bad figs which are so bad that they cannot be eaten.
Good News Translation
The Lord Almighty says, ‘I am bringing war, starvation, and disease on them, and I will make them like figs that are too rotten to be eaten.
Lexham English Bible
thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘Look, I am going to send among them the sword, the famine, and the plague, and I will make them like rotten figs that cannot be eaten because of their bad quality.
Literal Translation
so says Jehovah of Hosts, Behold, I am sending among them the sword, the famine, and the plague. And have given them up as figs that are vile, which cannot be eaten from badness.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Thus (I saye) speaketh the LORDE of hoostes: Beholde, I wil sende a swearde, honger & pestilence vpon them, & wil make them like vntymely fyges, that maye not be eate for bytternes.
American Standard Version
thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so bad.
Bible in Basic English
This is what the Lord of armies has said: See, I will send on them the sword and need of food and disease, and will make them like bad figs, which are of no use for food, they are so bad.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
thus saith the LORD of hosts: Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so bad.
King James Version (1611)
Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Beholde, I will send vpon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figges, that cannot be eaten, they are so euill.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Thus [I say] speaketh the Lorde of hoastes, Beholde I wyll sende a sworde, hunger, and pestilence vpon them, and wyll make them lyke vntymely figges that may not be eaten for bitternesse:
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Idumea shall be a desert: every one that passes by shall hiss at it.
English Revised Version
thus saith the LORD of hosts: Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so bad.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
The Lord of oostis seith these thingis, Lo! Y schal sende among hem swerd, and hungur, and pestilence; and Y schal sette hem as yuele figis, that moun not be etun, for tho ben ful yuele.
Update Bible Version
this is what Yahweh of Hosts says; Look, I will send on them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that can't be eaten, they are so bad.
Webster's Bible Translation
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so bad.
New English Translation
The Lord who rules over all says, ‘I will bring war, starvation, and disease on them. I will treat them like figs that are so rotten they cannot be eaten.
New King James Version
thus says the LORD of hosts: Behold, I will send on them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like rotten figs that cannot be eaten, they are so bad.
New Living Translation
This is what the Lord of Heaven's Armies says: "I will send war, famine, and disease upon them and make them like bad figs, too rotten to eat.
New Life Bible
The Lord of All says, ‘I am sending the sword, hunger, and disease upon them. I will make them like bad figs which are so bad they cannot be eaten.
New Revised Standard
Thus says the Lord of hosts, I am going to let loose on them sword, famine, and pestilence, and I will make them like rotten figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Thus, saith Yahweh of hosts, Behold me! sending upon them sword famine, and pestilence, - So will I make them like the horrid figs, that cannot be eaten for badness;
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Behold I will send upon them the sword, and the famine, and the pestilence: and I will make them like bad figs that cannot be eaten, because they are very bad.
Revised Standard Version
'Thus says the LORD of hosts, Behold, I am sending on them sword, famine, and pestilence, and I will make them like vile figs which are so bad they cannot be eaten.
Young's Literal Translation
Thus said Jehovah of Hosts, Lo, I am sending among them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and I have given them up as figs that [are] vile, that are not eaten for badness.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
thus says the LORD of hosts, 'Behold, I am sending upon them the sword, famine and pestilence, and I will make them like split-open figs that cannot be eaten due to rottenness.

Contextual Overview

15Because you have said, YHWH has raised up prophets to us in Babylon, 16surely thus said YHWH concerning the king who is sitting on the throne of David, and concerning all the people that are dwelling in this city, your brothers who did not go forth with you in the expulsion— 17thus said YHWH of Hosts: Behold, I am sending the sword, the famine, and the pestilence among them, and I have given them up as figs that [are] vile, that are not eaten because of badness.18And 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, 19because that they have not listened to My words—a declaration of YHWH—that I sent to them by My servants the prophets, rising early and sending, and you did not listen—a declaration of YHWH. 20And you, hear a word of YHWH, all you of the captivity that I have sent from Jerusalem to Babylon— 21thus said YHWH of Hosts, God of Israel, concerning Ahab son of Kolaiah, and concerning Zedekiah son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying falsehood to you in My Name: Behold, I am giving them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he has struck them before your eyes, 22and because of them a reviling has been taken by all the expulsion of Judah that [are] in Babylon, saying, YHWH sets you as Zedekiah, and as Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted with fire; 23because that they have done folly in Israel, and commit adultery with the wives of their neighbors, and falsely speak a word in My Name that I have not commanded them, and I [am] He who knows and a witness—a declaration of YHWH.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Behold: Jeremiah 29:18, Jeremiah 15:2, Jeremiah 15:3, Jeremiah 24:8-10, Jeremiah 34:17-22, Jeremiah 43:11, Jeremiah 52:6, Ezekiel 5:12-17, Ezekiel 14:12-21, Luke 21:11, Luke 21:23

them like: Jeremiah 24:1-3, Jeremiah 24:8

Reciprocal: Leviticus 26:25 - I will send Jeremiah 9:16 - and I Jeremiah 14:12 - but Jeremiah 22:2 - that sittest Jeremiah 36:31 - will bring

Cross-References

Genesis 12:11
and it comes to pass as he has drawn near to enter Egypt, that he says to his wife Sarai, "Now behold, I have known that you [are] a woman of beautiful appearance;
Genesis 24:16
and the young person [is] of very good appearance, a virgin, and a man has not known her; and she goes down to the fountain, and fills her pitcher, and comes up.
Genesis 29:1
And Jacob lifts up his feet, and goes toward the land of the sons of the east;
Genesis 29:2
and he looks, and behold, a well in the field, and behold, there [are] three droves of a flock crouching by it, for they water the droves from that well, and the great stone [is] on the mouth of the well.
Genesis 29:6
And he says to them, "Does he have peace?" And they say, "Peace; and behold, his daughter Rachel is coming with the flock."
Genesis 29:12
and Jacob declares to Rachel that he [is] her father's brother, and that he [is] Rebekah's son, and she runs and declares [it] to her father.
Genesis 29:18
And Jacob loves Rachel and says, "I serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter":
Genesis 29:19
and Laban says, "It is better for me to give her to you than to give her to another man; dwell with me";
Genesis 29:20
and Jacob serves for Rachel seven years; and they are in his eyes as some days, because of his loving her.
Genesis 29:22
and Laban gathers all the men of the place, and makes a banquet.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Thus saith the Lord of hosts, behold, I will send upon them the sword,.... The sword of the Chaldeans, by which many of them should fall, as they did. The Targum is,

"I will send upon them those that kill with the sword:''

who, though they were prompted to come against the Jews, through a natural and ambitious desire of conquering and plundering, yet were sent of God; nor would they have come, had he not willed and suffered it:

the famine and the pestilence; to destroy others that escaped the sword; both these raged while Jerusalem was besieged by the Chaldeans:

and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil; to which they are compared, Jeremiah 24:8. The sense is, that as they had made themselves wicked and corrupt, like naughty and rotten figs, so the Lord would deal with them as men do with such, cast them away, as good for nothing. The word z for "vile" signifies something horrible; and designs such figs so bad, that they even strike the eater of them with horror.

z כתאנים השערים "tanquam ficus horrendas", Junius Tremellius, Piscator so Stockius, p. 1129.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

These verses are not in the Septuagint. But the text of the Septuagint is here throughout so brief and confused as to be explicable only on the supposition, that it represents what was left behind in Egypt when Jeremiah died, copied probably with extreme haste, and with no opportunity of careful collation afterward. On the other hand the Hebrew text represents no hurried transcript, but the original manuscript, and is especially trustworthy in the case of these letters sent to Babylon (see also Jeremiah 51:0), because the originals of them would be available for collation with the text preserved by Jeremiah himself. The verses were probably intended to allay excitement in Babylon consequent upon the knowledge that the representatives of various kings were assembled at that very time at Jerusalem to form a coalition against Babylon Jeremiah 27:3.

Jeremiah 29:17

Vile - The word does not occur elsewhere, but comes from a root signifying to shudder, and thus has an intense meaning.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Jeremiah 29:17. Behold, I will send upon them the sword — Do not envy the state of Zedekiah who sits on the throne of David, nor that of the people who are now in the land whence ye have been carried captive, (Jeremiah 29:16,) for "I will send the sword, the pestilence, and the famine upon them;" and afterwards shall cause them to be carried into a miserable captivity in all nations, (Jeremiah 29:18;) but ye see the worst of your own case, and you have God's promise of enlargement when the proper time is come. The reader will not forget that the prophet is addressing the captives in Babylon.


 
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