The Meaning of Jeremiah 21:9 Explained

Jeremiah 21:9

KJV: 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.

YLT: Whoso is abiding in this city -- dieth, By sword, and by famine, and by pestilence, And whoso is going forth, And hath fallen unto the Chaldeans, Who are laying siege against you -- liveth, And his life hath been to him for a spoil.

Darby: 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 deserteth to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey.

ASV: 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 passeth over to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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  {08675;02421:08799}, and his life  shall be unto him for a prey. 

What does Jeremiah 21:9 Mean?

Verse Meaning

If the residents of Jerusalem stayed in the city and resisted the enemy, they would die. But if they surrendered to the Babylonians, they would live.

Context Summary

Jeremiah 21:1-14 - The Folly Of Idolatry
Jeremiah 10:1-10
We are here introduced into an idol-factory. Contrasted with the manufactured idols is the majesty of our God. There is none like Him. His name is great in might; He is the King of the nations, the true and living God, and the everlasting King! Christian, fear not or be dismayed when enemies plot against you. It is a vain device that they frame. To hide in God is a sure defence from all that man can do for our hurt. O thou true and living Savior, in thy wounds harried and faithful souls become strong and brave again.
Jeremiah 10:19-25
The prophet now bids the people prepare for their captivity. Their city would be as when a shepherd removed his slight and insubstantial tent, leaving no trace. But Jeremiah's soul is lacerated and torn with the message he must needs announce. Are we called to be shepherds? Let us see to it that we seek the Lord; so only shall our flocks not be scattered, Jeremiah 10:21. Are we in perplexity as to our path in life? It is not for us to direct ourselves, but to look up for God's sure guidance, which will be given to the soul that waits for it, Jeremiah 10:23. Are we being corrected? Let us be patient; it is only when we endure without complaining that our trial works out the highest good, and God will not give us more than we can bear, Jeremiah 10:24. [source]

Chapter Summary: Jeremiah 21

1  Zedikiah sends to Jeremiah to enquire the event of Nebuchadnezzar's war
3  Jeremiah foretells a hard siege and miserable captivity
8  He counsels the people to fall to the Chaldeans;
11  and upbraids the King's house

What do the individual words in Jeremiah 21:9 mean?

He who remains in city this shall die by the sword and by famine and by pestilence but he who goes out and defects to the Chaldeans who besiege you - he shall live and shall be to him his life as a prize
הַיֹּשֵׁב֙ בָּעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את יָמ֕וּת בַּחֶ֖רֶב וּבָרָעָ֣ב וּבַדָּ֑בֶר וְהַיּוֹצֵא֩ וְנָפַ֨ל עַל־ הַכַּשְׂדִּ֜ים הַצָּרִ֤ים עֲלֵיכֶם֙ [יחיה] (וְחָיָ֔ה) וְהָֽיְתָה־ לּ֥וֹ נַפְשׁ֖וֹ לְשָׁלָֽל

הַיֹּשֵׁב֙  He  who  remains 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
בָּעִ֣יר  in  city 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
הַזֹּ֔את  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, feminine singular
Root: זׄאת  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, such.
יָמ֕וּת  shall  die 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
בַּחֶ֖רֶב  by  the  sword 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֶרֶב  
Sense: sword, knife.
וּבָרָעָ֣ב  and  by  famine 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: רָעָב  
Sense: famine, hunger.
וּבַדָּ֑בֶר  and  by  pestilence 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דֶּבֶר 
Sense: pestilence, plague.
וְהַיּוֹצֵא֩  but  he  who  goes  out 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
וְנָפַ֨ל  and  defects 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָפַל  
Sense: to fall, lie, be cast down, fail.
הַכַּשְׂדִּ֜ים  the  Chaldeans 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: כַּשְׂדִּים  
Sense: a territory in lower Mesopotamia bordering on the Persian Gulf.
הַצָּרִ֤ים  who  besiege 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: צוּר 
Sense: to bind, besiege, confine, cramp.
[יחיה]  - 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
(וְחָיָ֔ה)  he  shall  live 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָיָה  
Sense: to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health.
וְהָֽיְתָה־  and  shall  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
לּ֥וֹ  to  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
נַפְשׁ֖וֹ  his  life 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
לְשָׁלָֽל  as  a  prize 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁלָל  
Sense: prey, plunder, spoil, booty.