For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts.
Look, I am starting to bring disaster on the city that bears my name, so do you think you will escape punishment completely? You will not escape punishment, because I will bring war against all the people of the earth, says the LORD of hosts.
God is saying that if He judges His own people in Jerusalem, other nations certainly won't escape His judgment either.
📚 Historical Context
During the time of the prophet Jeremiah in the 6th century BC, Judah was under threat from the Babylonian Empire due to the nation's widespread idolatry, social injustice, and breaking of God's covenant. Jeremiah delivered this message as a warning to the people of Jerusalem, the city dedicated to God's name, indicating that divine judgment would start with His own people before extending to others. This reflects God's consistent pattern in the Old Testament of holding accountable those who claim to follow Him.
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