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 kill everything living in Jerusalem, people and animals alike! They will die from terrible diseases. 7Then I, the Lord, promise that I will hand over King Zedekiah of Judah, his officials, and any of the people who survive the war, starvation, and disease. I will hand them over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and to their enemies who want to kill them. He will slaughter them with the sword. He will not show them any mercy, compassion, or pity.’ “But tell the people of Jerusalem that the Lord says, ‘I will give you a choice between two courses of action. One will result in life; the other will result in death. 9Those who stay in this city will die in battle or of starvation or disease. Those who leave the city and surrender to the Babylonians who are besieging it will live. They will escape with their lives. 10For I, the Lord, say that I am determined not to deliver this city but to bring disaster on it. It will be handed over to the king of Babylon and he will destroy 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• And unto this peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• thou shalt sayאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• Behold, I setנָתַןnâthan · to give: putH5414
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• you the wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: conductH1870
• of lifeחַיִּיםchay · lifeH2416
• of deathמָ֫וֶתmâveth · deathH4194

Cross-references for Jeremiah 21:8

• Deuteronomy 11:26Take note – I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse:
• Deuteronomy 30:15“Look! I have set before you today life and prosperity on the one hand, and death and disaster on the other.
• Isaiah 1:19If you have a willing attitude and obey, then you will again eat the good crops 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