The Lord continues his judgment speech. He will make void the plans of Judah and Jerusalem.
The Hebrew word esa, translated as plans
describes policies made by human wisdom and is also used in Jeremiah 18:18, Jeremiah 18:23. It refers here to all the plans and policies the nation of Judah has made in rebellion against the Lord.1 The Hebrew word for void
is badaq, which means to lay waste or to devastate
and it was chosen because it sounds similar to the Hebrew word baqbuq, which is used earlier in the passage where it is translated as earthenware
(Jeremiah 19:1) and flask
(Jeremiah 19:10). This play on words connects Jeremiah’s visit to the potter and the Lord’s explanation for the trip.2 Included in Judah’s plans
were political alliances with foreign nations, which were intertwined with the worship of their gods. All of this was a blatant act of unfaithfulness towards the Lord as the nation sought safety and security from foreign nations and their gods instead of trusting in the Lord. These plans of betrayal would fail as those from whom Judah sought safety would instead bring death and destruction to the nation. This would be the Lord’s doing. He will cause their people (the people of Judah and Jerusalem) to fall by the sword before their enemies, and by the hand of those who seek their lives. I will give their dead bodies for food to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the earth.
7 And in this place I will make void the plans of Judah and Jerusalem, and will cause their people to fall by the sword before their enemies, and by the hand of those who seek their life. I will give their dead bodies for food to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the earth.