Jeremiah 34:20 net — I will hand them over to their enemies who want to kill them. Their dead bodies will become food for the birds and the…

NET Bible

"I will hand them over to their enemies who want to kill them. Their dead bodies will become food for the birds and the wild animals."

— Jeremiah 34:20, NET Bible

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Jeremiah 34:20 in Other Translations

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Jeremiah 34 — Context

17

So I, the LORD, say:“You have not really obeyed me and granted freedom to your neighbor and fellow countryman. Therefore, I will grant you freedom, the freedom to die in war, or by starvation or disease. I, the LORD, affirm it! I will make all the kingdoms of the earth horrified at what happens to you.

18

I will punish those people who have violated their covenant with me. I will make them like the calf they cut in two and passed between its pieces. I will do so because they did not keep the terms of the covenant they made in my presence.

19

I will punish the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the court officials, the priests, and all the other people of the land who passed between the pieces of the calf.

20

I will hand them over to their enemies who want to kill them. Their dead bodies will become food for the birds and the wild animals.

21

I will also hand King Zedekiah of Judah and his officials over to their enemies who want to kill them. I will hand them over to the army of the king of Babylon, even though they have temporarily withdrawn from attacking you.

22

For I, the LORD, affirm that I will soon give the order and bring them back to this city. They will fight against it and capture it and burn it down. I will also make the towns of Judah desolate so that there will be no one living in them.”’”

Jeremiah 34:20 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Jeremiah 34:20 say?
Jeremiah 34:20 in the NET Bible reads: “I will hand them over to their enemies who want to kill them. Their dead bodies will become food for the birds and the wild animals.”
Where is Jeremiah 34:20 in the Bible?
Jeremiah 34:20 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Jeremiah, chapter 34, verse 20.
Who wrote Jeremiah?
Jeremiah is traditionally attributed to Jeremiah, with scribal help from Baruch. It was written c. 627–580 BC.
What is the book of Jeremiah about?
Jeremiah, the "weeping prophet," ministered through Judah's slow-motion collapse — pleading with kings and people to repent, suffering imprisonment for his message, and ultimately watching Jerusalem fall. Yet in the midst of judgment he promises a new covenant written on the heart.
What are the major themes of Jeremiah?
Jeremiah explores themes including Judgment, Repentance, New Covenant, Suffering Prophet, Hope. These themes shape the meaning and context of Jeremiah 34:20.
What translation should I read Jeremiah 34:20 in?
Jeremiah 34:20 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Jeremiah 34:20?
Jeremiah 34:20 reads (NET): “I will hand them over to their enemies who want to kill them. Their dead bodies will become food for the birds and the wild animals.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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