The Lord removes any doubt as to where he stands in the attack on Jerusalem. I myself will fight against you with outstretched hand and a mighty arm.
This phrase is the same as the language that is used to describe the Lord’s victory over the Egyptian army when he saved his people during the Exodus (Exodus 6:6; Deuteronomy 4:34; Deuteronomy 5:15; Deuteronomy 7:19; Deuteronomy 9:22; Deuteronomy 11:2; Deuteronomy 26:8). In the past the Lord has fought for his people as a mighty warrior, but now he fights against them. The Babylonians are his instrument of judgment against Judah.
The three nouns, anger,
fury,
and great wrath
drive home just how ferocious the invasion is going to be.1
5 I myself will fight against you with outstretched hand and strong arm, in anger and in fury and in great wrath.