Jeremiah 15

King James Version

Full text for Jeremiah Chapter 15

1¶ Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, [yet] my mind [could] not [be] toward this people: cast [them] out of my sight, and let them go forth.

2And it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith the LORD; Such as [are] for death, to death; and such as [are] for the sword, to the sword; and such as [are] for the famine, to the famine; and such as [are] for the captivity, to the captivity.

3And I will appoint over them four kinds, saith the LORD: the sword to slay, and the dogs to tear, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and destroy.

4And I will cause them to be removed into all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah king of Judah, for [that] which he did in Jerusalem.

5For who shall have pity upon thee, O Jerusalem? or who shall bemoan thee? or who shall go aside to ask how thou doest?

6Thou hast forsaken me, saith the LORD, thou art gone backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee, and destroy thee; I am weary with repenting.

7And I will fan them with a fan in the gates of the land; I will bereave [them] of children, I will destroy my people, [since] they return not from their ways.

8Their widows are increased to me above the sand of the seas: I have brought upon them against the mother of the young men a spoiler at noonday: I have caused [him] to fall upon it suddenly, and terrors upon the city.

9She that hath borne seven languisheth: she hath given up the ghost; her sun is gone down while [it was] yet day: she hath been ashamed and confounded: and the residue of them will I deliver to the sword before their enemies, saith the LORD.

10¶ Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; [yet] every one of them doth curse me.

11The LORD said, Verily it shall be well with thy remnant; verily I will cause the enemy to entreat thee [well] in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.

12Shall iron break the northern iron and the steel?

13Thy substance and thy treasures will I give to the spoil without price, and [that] for all thy sins, even in all thy borders.

14And I will make [thee] to pass with thine enemies into a land [which] thou knowest not: for a fire is kindled in mine anger, [which] shall burn upon you.

15¶ O LORD, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke.

16Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

17I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation.

18Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, [which] refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, [and as] waters [that] fail?

19Therefore thus saith the LORD, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, [and] thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them.

20And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I [am] with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD.

21And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The LORD declares an unchangeable judgment upon Judah for their persistent sin, stating that even Moses and Samuel's intercession would not avert the decreed destruction by sword, famine, death, and captivity. Jeremiah laments his suffering as a prophet of contention but is assured by God of his personal protection and restoration if he remains faithful, separating the precious from the vile. God promises to make Jeremiah a fortified wall against his adversaries.

Medium Summary

Jeremiah 15 opens with the LORD's firm declaration that His judgment upon Judah is irreversible, asserting that even the intercession of revered figures like Moses and Samuel would not sway His decision. He outlines the severe punishments awaiting the people: death, sword, famine, and captivity, further detailing destruction by wild beasts and fowls, primarily due to the sins of Manasseh. The LORD expresses weariness with repenting and laments that Jerusalem has forsaken Him, promising to increase their widows and bring sudden terror. Jeremiah then voices his deep distress, feeling like a man of strife and contention, cursed by all, despite his integrity. In response, God assures Jeremiah of personal well-being and protection from his enemies during times of affliction. Jeremiah, in turn, pleads with God to remember him, avenge his persecutors, and questions the perpetual nature of his pain. The chapter concludes with God's renewed commission to Jeremiah, promising to restore him if he remains pure and separates the precious from the vile, making him a strong, unyielding wall against the people, and guaranteeing his deliverance from the wicked.

Long Summary

Jeremiah 15 begins with a stark pronouncement from the LORD, emphasizing the finality of His judgment against Judah. He declares that even the most revered intercessors, Moses and Samuel, could not persuade Him to relent from the impending doom. The LORD specifies the fourfold destruction awaiting the people: death, the sword, famine, and captivity, further detailing that their bodies will be devoured by the sword, dogs, fowls of the heaven, and beasts of the earth. This severe punishment is explicitly attributed to the sins committed by King Manasseh in Jerusalem. God expresses that no one will pity or mourn Jerusalem, for she has forsaken Him and gone backward, leading Him to stretch out His hand in destruction, being weary of repenting. He promises to fan them with a fan in the gates, bereave them of children, and destroy His people because they refuse to turn from their wicked ways. The number of widows will increase beyond measure, and sudden terror and spoilers will fall upon the city, causing even mothers of many children to languish and die, with the remainder delivered to the sword. Jeremiah, overwhelmed by his prophetic burden, cries out in lament, expressing woe that he was born a man of strife and contention, cursed by all, despite having committed no usury or wrongdoing. The LORD then offers a word of comfort and assurance to Jeremiah, promising that his remnant will fare well and that his enemies will entreat him kindly in times of evil and affliction. God reiterates His intention to give Judah's substance and treasures to spoil without price due to their widespread sins, and to send them into an unknown land, for His anger is kindled against them. Jeremiah, in a personal prayer, appeals to God to remember him, visit him, and avenge him of his persecutors, affirming that he has suffered rebuke for God's sake and found joy in His word, separating himself from mockers. He questions God's faithfulness, asking why his pain is perpetual and if God will be like failing waters. In response, the LORD provides a conditional promise of restoration to Jeremiah, stating that if he returns to faithfulness and separates the precious from the vile, he will stand before God as His mouth, and the people should return to him, not he to them. Finally, God assures Jeremiah that He will make him a fortified wall of brass against the people, who will fight against him but not prevail, for the LORD is with him to save and deliver him from the wicked and terrible.

Core Concepts

  • Irreversible JudgmentGod's decree against Judah is unchangeable, even in the face of intercession from revered figures like Moses and Samuel, due to the people's persistent sin and apostasy.
  • Fourfold DestructionThe LORD specifies the precise forms of punishment for Judah: death, the sword, famine, and captivity, further amplified by the consumption of bodies by dogs, fowls, and beasts.
  • Jeremiah's LamentThe prophet expresses profound personal suffering and isolation, feeling like a "man of strife and contention" cursed by all, despite his faithfulness to God's word.
  • God's Weariness with RepentingThe LORD declares He is "weary with repenting," indicating a point of no return for Judah, where His patience and willingness to avert judgment have been exhausted.
  • Prophet's Restoration and CommissionGod assures Jeremiah of personal protection and restoration, promising to make him a "fenced brasen wall" against his adversaries if he remains faithful and separates the "precious from the vile."
  • Sins of ManassehThe historical sins of King Manasseh are explicitly cited as a significant reason for God's severe and widespread judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem.
  • Eating God's WordJeremiah describes finding and "eating" God's words, which became the "joy and rejoicing" of his heart, signifying his deep internalization and delight in divine revelation.