Jer 18:21 | NETfull | STEP | So let their children die of starvation. Let them be cut down by the sword. Let their wives lose their husbands and children. Let the older men die of disease and the younger men die by the sword in battle.

Jeremiah 18:21

21 So let their children die of starvation.
Let them be cut down by the sword. ^{▼▼ Heb “be poured out to the hand [= power] of the sword.” For this same expression see Ezek 35:5; Ps 63:10 (63:11 HT). Comparison with those two passages show that it involved death by violent means, perhaps death in battle.}
Let their wives lose their husbands and children.
Let the older men die of disease ^{▼▼ Heb “be slain by death.” The commentaries are generally agreed that this refers to death by disease or plague as in 15:2. Hence, the reference is to the deadly trio of sword, starvation, and disease which were often connected with war. See the notes on 15:2.}
and the younger men die by the sword in battle.