Jeremiah 29:17thus says Yahweh of Armies; Behold, I will send on them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that can't be eaten, they are so bad.
The setting
Jerusalem, 597 BC. Jeremiah writes to exiles in Babylon while siege approaches the remaining city. Modern Iraq and Israel.
The emotion here: heartbroken father watching beloved children destroy themselves
The original word
ra'ah (רָעָה) — spoiled, corrupted beyond use, completely worthless
Why it matters
Bad figs were used as fertilizer - even animals wouldn't eat them
Read with care
What most readers miss in Jeremiah 29:17
This is God's response to false prophets promising quick return from exile
Common misconceptionPeople think this is random divine wrath, but it's actually the natural result of breaking covenant promises made 800 years earlier in Deuteronomy. God is explaining cause and effect.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Jeremiah 29:17
Bible Genome reading
Jeremiah 29:17 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Jeremiah 29:17 comes from the book of Jeremiah, written during the Exile period. The dominant emotion in this verse is angry, with a comfort power of 10% and a tone that is urgent. It belongs to the prophecy genre of biblical literature. Key themes include divine judgment, consequences. Notable phrases: sword, famine, pestilence; vile figs. This verse contains prophecy.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same angry
“Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'”
— Joel 3:10
“You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!”
— Matthew 23:24
“Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who tell their husba…”
— Amos 4:1
“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I can't stand your solemn assemblies.”
— Amos 5:21
“Your eyes shall not pity; life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
— Deuteronomy 19:21
Your reflection
What does Jeremiah 29:17 mean to you, today?
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