KJV ORIGINAL
Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
Therefore, this is what the LORD of armies, the God of Israel, says: Look, I will make this people eat bitter herbs and drink poisonous water.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
God is warning that He will give His people bitter consequences for their disobedience - like making them taste the bitterness of their poor choices.
📚 Historical Context
This prophecy comes during Jeremiah's ministry before Jerusalem's destruction in 586 BC, when the people of Judah had persistently turned away from God to worship idols. Wormwood was a bitter plant used medicinally, and 'gall' referred to a bitter, poisonous substance - both symbolizing the harsh judgment God would bring through the Babylonian invasion and exile.
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