Bible Strands
Jeremiah 21:10
For I have set My face against this city to bring disaster and not good, declares the LORD. It will be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, who will destroy it with fire.’
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The LORD addresses the royal house of Judah during the Babylonian siege, responding to a request for divine intervention. He declares that staying in the city guarantees death by sword, famine, and plague, while surrendering to the Chaldeans ensures survival.
The words — The Hebrew phrase שַׂמְתִּי פָנַי (samti panai) literally means "I have set My face," paired with לְרָעָה וְלֹא לְטוֹבָה (le-ra'ah ve-lo le-tovah) meaning "for harm and not for good." This establishes a fixed divine posture of judgment rather than favor.
The thread — This motif of God fixing His face toward disaster appears in Jeremiah 44:11, Jeremiah 44:27, and Amos 9:4. Each reference extends the pattern of divine opposition against Judah's rebellion and exile.
Why it lands — The text states that the city will be delivered to the king of Babylon and burned, leaving no room for negotiated mercy. It demands acknowledgment that survival requires surrendering to the very enemy God has authorized to execute judgment.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
For I have set my face against this city for evil, and not for good, saith the Lord: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.
Cross-references
- Jeremiah 44:11 Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: I will set My face to bring disaster and to cut off all Judah.
- Jeremiah 44:27 I am watching over them for harm and not for good, and every man of Judah who is in the land of Egypt will meet his end by sword or famine, until they are finished off.
- Amos 9:4 Though they are driven by their enemies into captivity, there I will command the sword to slay them. I will fix My eyes upon them for harm and not for good.”
- Jeremiah 52:13 He burned down the house of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem—every significant building.
- Ezekiel 15:7 And I will set My face against them. Though they may have escaped the fire, yet another fire will consume them. And when I set My face against them, you will know that I am the LORD.
- 2 Chronicles 36:19 Then the Chaldeans set fire to the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem. They burned down all the palaces and destroyed every article of value.
- Jeremiah 34:2 The LORD, the God of Israel, told Jeremiah to go and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah and tell him that this is what the LORD says: “Behold, I am about to deliver this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will burn it down.
- Jeremiah 38:3 This is what the LORD says: This city will surely be delivered into the hands of the army of the king of Babylon, and he will capture it.”
- Jeremiah 38:18 But if you do not surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, then this city will be delivered into the hands of the Chaldeans. They will burn it down, and you yourself will not escape their grasp.’”
- Jeremiah 39:8 The Chaldeans set fire to the palace of the king and to the houses of the people, and they broke down the walls of Jerusalem.