The Meaning of Jeremiah 21:13 Explained

Jeremiah 21:13

KJV: Behold, I am against thee, O inhabitant of the valley, and rock of the plain, saith the LORD; which say, Who shall come down against us? or who shall enter into our habitations?

YLT: Lo, I am against thee -- an affirmation of Jehovah, O inhabitant of the valley, rock of the plain, Who are saying, Who cometh down against us? And who cometh into our habitations?

Darby: Behold, I am against thee, inhabitress of the valley, the rock of the plain, saith Jehovah; ye that say, Who shall come down against us, or who shall enter into our dwellings?

ASV: Behold, I am against thee, O inhabitant of the valley, and of the rock of the plain, saith Jehovah; you that say, Who shall come down against us? or who shall enter into our habitations?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Behold, I [am] against thee, O inhabitant  of the valley,  [and] rock  of the plain,  saith  the LORD;  which say,  Who shall come down  against us? or who shall enter  into our habitations? 

What does Jeremiah 21:13 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Yahweh was against the people who lived in Jerusalem. Jerusalem stood enthroned on a hilltop, with valleys on three of its sides (cf. Psalm 125:2; Isaiah 22:1). It stood on a rocky plateau of sorts. Jerusalem"s physical location had led its inhabitants to feel secure.

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 21:13 mean?

Behold I [am] against you inhabitant of the valley [And] rock of the plain says Yahweh who say who shall come down against us Or who shall enter our dwellings
הִנְנִ֨י אֵלַ֜יִךְ יֹשֶׁ֧בֶת הָעֵ֛מֶק צ֥וּר הַמִּישֹׁ֖ר נְאֻם־ יְהוָ֑ה הָאֹֽמְרִים֙ מִֽי־ יֵחַ֣ת עָלֵ֔ינוּ וּמִ֥י יָב֖וֹא ؟ בִּמְעוֹנוֹתֵֽינוּ

הִנְנִ֨י  Behold  I  [am] 
Parse: Interjection, first person common singular
Root: הֵן  
Sense: behold, lo, though hypothetical part.
אֵלַ֜יִךְ  against  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person feminine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
יֹשֶׁ֧בֶת  inhabitant 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, feminine singular construct
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
הָעֵ֛מֶק  of  the  valley 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֵמֶק  
Sense: valley, vale, lowland, open country.
צ֥וּר  [And]  rock 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: צוּר 
Sense: rock, cliff.
הַמִּישֹׁ֖ר  of  the  plain 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִישֹׁור  
Sense: level place, uprightness.
נְאֻם־  says 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: נְאֻם  
Sense: (Qal) utterance, declaration (of prophet).
יְהוָ֑ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
הָאֹֽמְרִים֙  who  say 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יֵחַ֣ת  shall  come  down 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָחַת  
Sense: to go down, descend.
עָלֵ֔ינוּ  against  us 
Parse: Preposition, first person common plural
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
וּמִ֥י  Or  who 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interrogative
Root: מִי  
Sense: who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever.
יָב֖וֹא  shall  enter 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
؟ בִּמְעוֹנוֹתֵֽינוּ  our  dwellings 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: מְעֹנָה  
Sense: dwelling, habitation, refuge.