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Jeremiah 20:4

Made Simple — Modern English Translation

Translated by Verse Made Simple Editorial
KJV ORIGINAL
For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will make thee a terror to thyself, and to all thy friends: and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and thine eyes shall behold it: and I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them captive into Babylon, and shall slay them with the sword.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE

For this is what the LORD says: Look, I will make you terrifying to yourself and to all your friends. They will die by their enemies' swords, and you will watch it happen. I will hand all of Judah over to the king of Babylon, and he will take them captive to Babylon and kill them with the sword.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

God is warning that He will allow Babylon to conquer and destroy Judah, and the person being addressed will witness this terrible judgment happen to his nation and friends.

📚 Historical Context

This prophecy was given through Jeremiah around 605-586 BC, during the final years before Babylon conquered Jerusalem. The verse is part of God's judgment against Pashhur, a priest who had Jeremiah beaten and imprisoned for prophesying Jerusalem's destruction. Within decades, these words came true when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and took most of the population into exile.

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