Jeremiah 21:8

Jeremiah 21:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.
• New International Version (NIV)“Furthermore, tell the people, ‘This is what the Lord says: See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"And to this people you shall say: 'Thus says the Lord: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“Now you shall say to this people, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.

Context of Jeremiah 21:8

6I will also strike down the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast; they will die of a great pestilence. 7Then afterwards,” declares the Lord, “I will give over Zedekiah king of Judah and his servants and the people, even those who survive in this city from the pestilence, the sword and the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their foes and into the hand of those who seek their lives; and he will strike them down with the edge of the sword. He will not spare them nor have pity nor compassion.”’ “You shall also say to this people, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death. 9He who dwells in this city will die by the sword and by famine and by pestilence; but he who goes out and falls away to the Chaldeans who are besieging you will live, and he will have his own life as booty. 10For I have set My face against this city for harm and not for good,” declares the Lord. “It will be given into the hand of the king of Babylon and he will burn it with fire.”’

Jeremiah 21:8 word by word

וְאֶל־הָעָ֤ם הַזֶּה֙ תֹּאמַ֔ר כֹּ֖ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה הִנְנִ֤י נֹתֵן֙ לִפְנֵיכֶ֔ם אֶת־דֶּ֥רֶךְ הַחַיִּ֖ים וְאֶת־דֶּ֥רֶךְ הַמָּֽוֶת׃Read the interlinear

• You shall also sayאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• to thisזֶהzeh · thisH2088
• peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• Thusכֹּהkôh · thusH3541
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• Beholdהִנֵּהhinnêh · beholdH2009
• setנָתַןnâthan · to give: putH5414
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• you the wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: conductH1870
• of deathמָ֫וֶתmâveth · deathH4194

Cross-references for Jeremiah 21:8

• Deuteronomy 11:26“See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse:
• Deuteronomy 30:15“See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity;
• Isaiah 1:19If you consent and obey, You will eat the best of the land;

Commentaries on Jeremiah 21:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death - Meaning escape or destruction in the present instance. This is explained in the next verse.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8Compare the marginal reference; but here the alternative is a life saved by desertion to the enemy, or a death by famine, pestilence, and the sword within the walls.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8-10The Lord decided to destroy Jerusalem, but people could choose life, likely as slaves in Babylon, or death by Babylonian swords (see Deuteronomy 20:10–13).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. "Life," if ye surrender; "death," if ye persist in opposing the Chaldees (compare De 30:19). The individuality of Jeremiah's mission from God is shown in that he urges to unconditional surrender; whereas all former prophets had urged the people to oppose their invaders (Is 7:16; 37:33, 35).Read the comment

Topics related to Jeremiah 21:8

• Babylon
• Salvation

In the dictionaries

• Literature, Sub-Apostolic
• Uriah; Uruah
• Way
• Zedekiah (2)
• Zedekiah

Commentaries on Jeremiah 21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings