He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth out, and falleth to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey.
Anyone who stays in this city will die by war, hunger, or disease. But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Babylonians who are surrounding you will live, and they will escape with their life.
God is warning that staying in Jerusalem means death, but surrendering to the Babylonian army means survival.
📚 Historical Context
In the 6th century BC, the Babylonian Empire under King Nebuchadnezzar was besieging Jerusalem as a divine judgment on Judah for its idolatry and disobedience to God. Jeremiah, as God's prophet, delivered this message to the king and people, warning that staying in the city would result in death from war, famine, or disease. He contrasted this with the promise that surrendering to the besieging Chaldeans would allow individuals to survive and preserve their lives.
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