New International Version Therefore this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “See, I will make this people eat bitter food and drink poisoned water. New Living Translation So now, this is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: Look! I will feed them with bitterness and give them poison to drink. English Standard Version Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will feed this people with bitter food, and give them poisonous water to drink. Berean Standard Bible Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I will feed this people wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink. Berean Literal Bible Therefore thus says YHWH of Hosts, the God of Israel: “Behold, I will feed them—this people—with wormwood, and give them to drink water of gall! King James Bible 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. New King James Version therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: “Behold, I will feed them, this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink. New American Standard Bible therefore this is what the LORD of armies, the God of Israel says: “Behold, I will feed this people wormwood; and I will give them poisoned water to drink. NASB 1995 therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “behold, I will feed them, this people, with wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink. NASB 1977 therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “behold, I will feed them, this people, with wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink. Legacy Standard Bible therefore thus says Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, “behold, I will feed them, this people, with wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink. Amplified Bible therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “behold, I will feed them, this people, with wormwood and give them bitter and poisonous water to drink. Berean Annotated Bible Therefore this is what the LORD {YHWH} of Hosts, the God {Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God), says: “Behold, I will feed this people wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink. Christian Standard Bible Therefore, this is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: “I am about to feed this people wormwood and give them poisonous water to drink. Holman Christian Standard Bible Therefore, this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “I am about to feed this people wormwood and give them poisonous water to drink. American Standard Version therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink. Contemporary English Version So I, the LORD All-Powerful, the God of Israel, promise them poison to eat and drink. English Revised Version 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. GOD'S WORD® Translation This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: I am going to feed these people bitterness and give them poison to drink. Good News Translation So then, listen to what I, the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, will do: I will give my people bitter plants to eat and poison to drink. International Standard Version Therefore, this is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: "Look, I'll make these people eat wormwood and drink poisoned water. NET Bible So then, listen to what I, the LORD God of Israel who rules over all, say. 'I will make these people eat the bitter food of suffering and drink the poison water of judgment. New Heart English Bible therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Look, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink. Webster's Bible Translation 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. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleTherefore this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I will feed this people wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink. World English Bible Therefore Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says, “Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionTherefore, thus said YHWH of Hosts, God of Israel: “Behold, I am causing them—this people—to eat wormwood, "" And I have caused them to drink water of gall, Berean Literal Bible Therefore thus says YHWH of Hosts, the God of Israel: “Behold, I will feed them—this people—with wormwood, and give them to drink water of gall! Young's Literal Translation Therefore, thus said Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel: Lo, I am causing them -- this people -- to eat wormwood, And I have caused them to drink water of gall, Smith's Literal Translation For this, thus said Jehovah of armies, God of Israel: Behold me causing this people to eat wormwood, and I gave them to drink water of poison. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleTherefore thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Behold I will feed this people with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink. Catholic Public Domain Version For this reason, thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Behold, I will feed this people with absinthe, and I will give them the water of gall to drink. New American Bible therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: See now, I will give this people wormwood to eat and poisoned water to drink. New Revised Standard Version Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: I am feeding this people with wormwood, and giving them poisonous water to drink. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleTherefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood and give them bitter water to drink. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Because of this, thus says LORD JEHOVAH of Hosts, God of Israel: “Behold, I feed this people bitter herbs and give them bitter waters to drink OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Therefore 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. Brenton Septuagint Translation therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Behold, I will feed them with trouble and will cause them to drink water of gall: Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context A Lament over Zion…14Instead, they have followed the stubbornness of their hearts and gone after the Baals, as their fathers taught them.” 15Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I will feed this people wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink. 16I will scatter them among the nations that neither they nor their fathers have known, and I will send a sword after them until I have finished them off.”… Cross References Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Jeremiah 7:3 Thus says the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel: Correct your ways and deeds, and I will let you live in this place. Haggai 1:5 Now this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Consider carefully your ways. Zechariah 1:3 So tell the people that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Return to Me, declares the LORD of Hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of Hosts.’ “Behold, I will feed this people wormwood Jeremiah 23:15 Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts says concerning the prophets: “I will feed them wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink, for from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has spread throughout the land.” Lamentations 3:15 He has filled me with bitterness; He has intoxicated me with wormwood. Lamentations 3:19 Remember my affliction and wandering, the wormwood and the gall. and give them poisoned water to drink. Jeremiah 8:14 Why are we just sitting here? Gather together, let us flee to the fortified cities and perish there, for the LORD our God has doomed us. He has given us poisoned water to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD. Numbers 5:24-27 He is to have the woman drink the bitter water that brings a curse, and it will enter her and may cause her bitter suffering. / The priest shall take from her hand the grain offering for jealousy, wave it before the LORD, and bring it to the altar. / Then the priest is to take a handful of the grain offering as a memorial portion and burn it on the altar; after that he is to have the woman drink the water. … Revelation 8:11 The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter like wormwood oil, and many people died from the bitter waters. Deuteronomy 29:18-19 Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the LORD our God to go and worship the gods of those nations. Make sure there is no root among you that bears such poisonous and bitter fruit, / because when such a person hears the words of this oath, he invokes a blessing on himself, saying, ‘I will have peace, even though I walk in the stubbornness of my own heart.’ This will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry. Isaiah 29:8 as when a hungry man dreams he is eating, then awakens still hungry; as when a thirsty man dreams he is drinking, then awakens faint and parched. So will it be for all the many nations who go to battle against Mount Zion. Ezekiel 4:16-17 Then He told me, “Son of man, I am going to cut off the supply of food in Jerusalem. They will anxiously eat bread rationed by weight, and in despair they will drink water by measure. / So they will lack food and water; they will be appalled at the sight of one another wasting away in their iniquity. Ezekiel 12:19 Then tell the people of the land that this is what the Lord GOD says about those living in Jerusalem and in the land of Israel: ‘They will eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water in dread, for their land will be stripped of everything in it because of the violence of all who dwell in it. Hosea 9:3 They will not remain in the land of the LORD; Ephraim will return to Egypt and eat unclean food in Assyria. Amos 8:11-12 Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord GOD, when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD. / People will stagger from sea to sea and roam from north to east, seeking the word of the LORD, but they will not find it. Revelation 16:4-6 And the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and springs of water, and they turned to blood. / And I heard the angel of the waters say: “Righteous are You, O Holy One, who is and was, because You have brought these judgments. / For they have spilled the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink, as they deserve.” Treasury of Scripture Therefore thus said 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. I will. Jeremiah 8:14 Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD. Jeremiah 23:15 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land. Jeremiah 25:15 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it. Jump to Previous Almighty Armies Bitter Caused Causing Drink Eat Feed Food Gall Hosts Israel Poisoned Poisonous Water WormwoodJump to Next Almighty Armies Bitter Caused Causing Drink Eat Feed Food Gall Hosts Israel Poisoned Poisonous Water WormwoodJeremiah 9 1. Jeremiah laments the people for their manifold sins;9. and for their judgment. 12. Disobedience is the cause of their bitter calamity. 17. He exhorts to mourn for their destruction; 23. and to trust not in themselves, but in God. 25. He threatens both Jews and Gentiles. Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: The Lord speaks as Israel’s covenant God and as the ruler of all heavenly powers. His authority makes the coming judgment certain, especially because Judah has broken the covenant by abandoning Him for false gods. Jer 7:3 Thus says the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel:… “Behold, I will feed this people wormwood Their rebellion will bring bitter suffering that cannot be avoided. What they chose through idolatry and injustice will become the daily reality of national calamity. Jer 23:15 Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts says:… and give them poisoned water to drink. The judgment will reach every part of life, like contaminated water in a land dependent on its wells and cisterns. Instead of safety and provision, Judah will face ruin, loss, and the deadly consequences of rejecting the Lord. Jer 8:14 Why are we just sitting here? Gather together, let us flee… Persons / Places / Events 1. The LORD of HostsThis title emphasizes God's supreme authority and power over all heavenly and earthly armies. It underscores His ability to execute judgment and fulfill His promises. 2. The God of Israel This designation highlights the covenant relationship between God and the nation of Israel, reminding them of their unique status and responsibilities. 3. Jeremiah The prophet through whom God delivers this message. He is known for his role in warning Judah of impending judgment due to their unfaithfulness. 4. The People of Israel The recipients of this message, who have turned away from God, leading to the pronouncement of judgment. 5. Wormwood and Poisoned Water Symbolic elements representing the bitterness and suffering that will come upon the people as a consequence of their disobedience. Teaching Points The Seriousness of SinSin has real and severe consequences. Just as God warned Israel, He warns us today about the dangers of turning away from Him. God's Righteous Judgment God's judgments are just and righteous. He does not act capriciously but responds to persistent disobedience and rebellion. The Call to Repentance Even in judgment, there is an implicit call to repentance. God desires that His people turn back to Him and avoid the bitter consequences of sin. The Importance of Covenant Faithfulness As believers, we are called to remain faithful to our covenant relationship with God, just as Israel was called to be faithful to theirs. The Hope of Redemption While this passage speaks of judgment, the broader account of Scripture offers hope and redemption through Christ, who takes upon Himself the bitterness of our sin. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Jeremiah 9:15?2. How does Jeremiah 9:15 illustrate God's response to Israel's disobedience? 3. What lessons about consequences can we learn from Jeremiah 9:15? 4. How does Jeremiah 9:15 connect with Deuteronomy 28:15-68 on curses? 5. How can we apply the warning in Jeremiah 9:15 to modern Christian life? 6. What steps can believers take to avoid the fate described in Jeremiah 9:15? 7. What does Jeremiah 9:15 reveal about God's judgment on disobedience? 8. How does Jeremiah 9:15 reflect God's relationship with Israel? 9. What historical events might Jeremiah 9:15 be referencing? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Jeremiah 9? (15) Wormwood.--As a plant, probably a species of Artemisia, four species of which are found in Palestine. In Deuteronomy 29:18 it appears as the symbol of moral evil, here of the bitterness of calamity. Water of gall.--See Note on Jeremiah 8:14. Verse 15. - I will feed them... with wormwood. A figure for the bitter privations of captivity (comp. Lamentations 3:15, "He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood"). Wormwood and gall - i.e., the poppy (Tristram) - are combined again in Deuteronomy 29:17. Jeremiah 9:15 is God’s sober verdict on a people who persistently spurned His truth. The Lord of Hosts—fully able to carry out His decree—announces that Judah will taste the bitterness of wormwood and the deadly sting of tainted water. These vivid images portray comprehensive, covenant-driven judgment: life itself will turn bitter and lethal because sin has saturated the nation. Yet even in pronouncing discipline, God’s titles remind His people that He remains their covenant Lord, ready to restore when repentance comes (Jeremiah 3:12; 31:20).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Therefore,לָכֵ֗ן (lā·ḵên) Adverb Strong's 3651: So -- thus this is what כֹּֽה־ (kōh-) Adverb Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now the LORD יְהוָ֤ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel of Hosts, צְבָאוֹת֙ (ṣə·ḇā·’ō·wṯ) Noun - common plural Strong's 6635: A mass of persons, reg, organized for, war, a campaign the God אֱלֹהֵ֣י (’ĕ·lō·hê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative of Israel, יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (yiś·rā·’êl) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc says: אָמַ֞ר (’ā·mar) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say “Behold, הִנְנִ֧י (hin·nî) Interjection | first person common singular Strong's 2005: Lo! behold! I will feed מַאֲכִילָ֛ם (ma·’ă·ḵî·lām) Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 398: To eat this הַזֶּ֖ה (haz·zeh) Article | Pronoun - masculine singular Strong's 2088: This, that people הָעָ֥ם (hā·‘ām) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock wormwood לַֽעֲנָ֑ה (la·‘ă·nāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 3939: Wormwood and give them poisoned רֹֽאשׁ׃ (rōš) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7219: A poisonous plant, the poppy, poison water מֵי־ (mê-) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen to drink. וְהִשְׁקִיתִ֖ים (wə·hiš·qî·ṯîm) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural Strong's 8248: To quaff, to irrigate, furnish a, potion to Additonal Resources Jeremiah 9:15 Blue Letter BibleJeremiah 9:15 Bible Gateway Jeremiah 9:15 Bible.com Jeremiah 9:15 NIV |
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