Jeremiah 22:5
New International Version
But if you do not obey these commands, declares the LORD, I swear by myself that this palace will become a ruin.’”

New Living Translation
But if you refuse to pay attention to this warning, I swear by my own name, says the LORD, that this palace will become a pile of rubble.’”

English Standard Version
But if you will not obey these words, I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation.

Berean Standard Bible
But if you do not obey these words, then I swear by Myself, declares the LORD, that this house will become a pile of rubble.’”

King James Bible
But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by myself, saith the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation.

New King James Version
But if you will not hear these words, I swear by Myself,” says the LORD, “that this house shall become a desolation.” ’ ”

New American Standard Bible
But if you will not obey these words, I swear by Myself,” declares the LORD, “that this house will become a place of ruins.”’”

NASB 1995
“But if you will not obey these words, I swear by Myself,” declares the LORD, “that this house will become a desolation."’”

NASB 1977
“But if you will not obey these words, I swear by Myself,” declares the LORD, “that this house will become a desolation.”’”

Legacy Standard Bible
But if you will not obey these words, I swear by Myself,” declares Yahweh, “that this house will become a waste place.”’”

Amplified Bible
But if you will not hear and obey these words, I swear [an oath] by Myself,” says the LORD, “that this house will become a desolation.”’”

Christian Standard Bible
But if you do not obey these words, then I swear by myself —this is the LORD’s declaration—that this house will become a ruin.’ ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But if you do not obey these words, then I swear by Myself"—this is the LORD’s declaration—"that this house will become a ruin.”

American Standard Version
But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by myself, saith Jehovah, that this house shall become a desolation.

Contemporary English Version
But if you ignore me, I promise in my own name that this palace will lie in ruins.

English Revised Version
But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by myself, saith the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But if you don't do what I say, I will take an oath on myself," declares the LORD, "that this palace will become a pile of rubble.

Good News Translation
But if you do not obey my commands, then I swear to you that this palace will fall into ruins. I, the LORD, have spoken.

International Standard Version
But if you don't listen to these words, I swear," declares the LORD, "that this house will become a ruin."'"

Majority Standard Bible
But if you do not obey these words, then I swear by Myself, declares the LORD, that this house will become a pile of rubble.??

NET Bible
But, if you do not obey these commands, I solemnly swear that this palace will become a pile of rubble. I, the LORD, affirm it!"

New Heart English Bible
But if you will not hear these words, I swear by myself, says the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation."

Webster's Bible Translation
But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by myself, saith the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation.

World English Bible
But if you will not hear these words, I swear by myself,” says Yahweh, “that this house will become a desolation.”’”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And if you do not hear these words, "" I have sworn by Myself,” "" A declaration of YHWH, "" “That this house is for a desolation.”

Young's Literal Translation
And if ye do not hear these words, By myself I have sworn -- an affirmation of Jehovah, That this house is for a desolation.

Smith's Literal Translation
And if ye will not bear these words, by myself I sware, says Jehovah, that this house shall be for a desolation.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But if you will not hearken to these words: I swear by myself, saith the Lord, that this house shall become a desolation.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But if you will not listen to these words, I swear by myself, says the Lord, that this house will be in desolation.

New American Bible
But if you do not obey these commands, I swear by myself—oracle of the LORD: this house shall become rubble.

New Revised Standard Version
But if you will not heed these words, I swear by myself, says the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But if you will not listen to these words, I swear by myself, says the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And if you will not hear this word, by myself I have sworn, says LORD JEHOVAH, ‘This house shall be for desolation’
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by Myself, saith the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But if ye will not perform these words, by myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, that this house shall be brought to desolation.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Warning for Judah's Kings
4For if you will indeed carry out these commands, then kings who sit on David’s throne will enter through the gates of this palace riding on chariots and horses—they and their officials and their people. 5But if you do not obey these words, then I swear by Myself, declares the LORD, that this house will become a pile of rubble.’”

Cross References
Deuteronomy 30:19
I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore choose life, so that you and your descendants may live,

Isaiah 1:18-20
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool. / If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land. / But if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Matthew 23:37-38
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! / Look, your house is left to you desolate.

Ezekiel 33:11
Say to them: ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked should turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’

2 Kings 17:13-14
Yet through all His prophets and seers, the LORD warned Israel and Judah, saying, “Turn from your wicked ways and keep My commandments and statutes, according to the entire Law that I commanded your fathers and delivered to you through My servants the prophets.” / But they would not listen, and they stiffened their necks like their fathers, who did not believe the LORD their God.

Luke 13:34-35
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! / Look, your house is left to you desolate. And I tell you that you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

2 Chronicles 36:15-16
Again and again the LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to His people through His messengers because He had compassion on them and on His dwelling place. / But they mocked the messengers of God, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against His people was stirred up beyond remedy.

Hosea 4:1-3
Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a case against the people of the land: “There is no truth, no loving devotion, and no knowledge of God in the land! / Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another. / Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it will waste away with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air; even the fish of the sea disappear.

John 3:18-19
Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. / And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.

Amos 3:1-2
Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt: / “Only you have I known from all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”

Romans 10:21
But as for Israel he says: “All day long I have held out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”

Zechariah 7:11-13
But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they stopped up their ears from hearing. / They made their hearts like flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD of Hosts had sent by His Spirit through the earlier prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of Hosts. / And just as I had called and they would not listen, so when they called I would not listen, says the LORD of Hosts.

Hebrews 2:1-3
We must pay closer attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. / For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every transgression and disobedience received its just punishment, / how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,

Micah 6:1-2
Hear now what the LORD says: “Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. / Hear, O mountains, the LORD’s indictment, you enduring foundations of the earth. For the LORD has a case against His people, and He will argue it against Israel:

Acts 7:51-53
You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did. / Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers— / you who received the law ordained by angels, yet have not kept it.”


Treasury of Scripture

But if you will not hear these words, I swear by myself, said the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation.

if.

Jeremiah 17:27
But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.

2 Chronicles 7:19,22
But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; …

Isaiah 1:20
But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

I.

Genesis 22:16
And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:

Numbers 14:28-30
Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: …

Deuteronomy 32:40-42
For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever…

that.

Jeremiah 7:13,15
And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the LORD, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not; …

Jeremiah 26:6-9
Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth…

Jeremiah 39:8
And the Chaldeans burned the king's house, and the houses of the people, with fire, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem.

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Affirmation Commands Declares Desolation Ear Hear Heed House Oath Obey Palace Ruin Swear Sworn Waste Words
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Affirmation Commands Declares Desolation Ear Hear Heed House Oath Obey Palace Ruin Swear Sworn Waste Words
Jeremiah 22
1. He exhorts to repentance, with promises and threats.
10. The judgment of Shallum;
13. of Jehoiakim;
20. and of Coniah.














But if you do not obey these words
This phrase sets a conditional statement, emphasizing the importance of obedience to God's commands. The Hebrew root for "obey" is "שָׁמַע" (shama), which means to hear, listen, or give heed. In the biblical context, hearing is not merely auditory but involves a response of action and compliance. The phrase underscores the covenantal relationship between God and His people, where blessings are contingent upon obedience. Historically, Israel's failure to heed God's words often led to dire consequences, as seen in their repeated cycles of disobedience and repentance.

I swear by Myself
This is a profound declaration of God's sovereignty and the seriousness of His promise. In the ancient Near Eastern context, oaths were often sworn by something greater than oneself. However, God, being the ultimate authority, swears by Himself, indicating the absolute certainty and unchangeable nature of His word. This self-referential oath highlights God's integrity and the weight of His declarations. It is a reminder of His unchanging nature and the assurance that His words are true and reliable.

declares the LORD
The phrase "declares the LORD" is a common prophetic formula that authenticates the message as coming directly from Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. The Hebrew term "נְאֻם" (ne'um) is often used to convey a divine utterance, emphasizing that the message is not of human origin but divinely inspired. This serves to remind the audience of the authority and divine origin of the prophecy, calling for reverence and attention to the words spoken.

that this house will become a ruin
The term "house" in this context refers to the royal palace or the temple, symbolizing the center of Judah's political and religious life. The Hebrew word "חָרְבָּה" (chorbah) for "ruin" conveys desolation and destruction. This warning is a direct consequence of disobedience, reflecting the covenant curses outlined in Deuteronomy. Archaeologically, the ruins of ancient Jerusalem stand as a testament to the fulfillment of such prophecies, where disobedience led to the Babylonian exile and the destruction of the temple. This serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from God's commands and the importance of faithfulness to His covenant.

(5) I swear by myself.--The formula is an exceptionally rare one, but meets us in Genesis 22:16. In Deuteronomy 32:40 the came thought is embodied in the language of the loftiest poetry. The principle in both cases is that on which the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews dwells in Jeremiah 6:13. Men swear by the greater, but God can swear by nothing greater than Himself.

This house.--The context determines the application of the word as meaning the king's palace, not the Temple.

Verse 5. - I swear by myself. "Because he could swear by no greater, he swore by himself" (Hebrews 6:13). A synonymous expression is, "As I live, saith Jehovah" (ver. 24).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But if
וְאִם֙ (wə·’im)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

you do not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

obey
תִשְׁמְע֔וּ (ṯiš·mə·‘ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

these
הָאֵ֑לֶּה (hā·’êl·leh)
Article | Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428: These, those

words,
הַדְּבָרִ֖ים (had·də·ḇā·rîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

then I swear by Myself,
נִשְׁבַּ֙עְתִּי֙ (niš·ba‘·tî)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7650: To seven oneself, swear

declares
נְאֻם־ (nə·’um-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5002: An oracle

the LORD,
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

that
כִּי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

this
הַזֶּֽה׃ (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

house
הַבַּ֥יִת (hab·ba·yiṯ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

will become
יִֽהְיֶ֖ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

a pile of rubble.’”
לְחָרְבָּ֥ה (lə·ḥā·rə·bāh)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2723: Waste, desolation, ruin


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 22:5 But if you will not hear these (Jer.)
Jeremiah 22:4
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