Jer 29:17 | NETfull | STEP | The Lord who rules over all says, ‘I will bring war, starvation, and disease on them. I will treat them like figs that are so rotten they cannot be eaten.

Jeremiah 29:17

17 The Lord who rules over all ^{▼▼ Heb “Yahweh of armies.” See the study note on 2:19 for explanation of this title.} says, ‘I will bring war, ^{▼▼ Heb “the sword.”} starvation, and disease on them. I will treat them like figs that are so rotten ^{▼▼ The meaning of this word is somewhat uncertain. It occurs only here in the Hebrew Bible. BDB 1045 s.v. שֹׁעָר relates it to the noun “horrible thing” (translated “something shocking”) in Jer 5:30; 23:14 and defines it as “horrid, disgusting.” HALOT 1495 s.v. שֹׁעָר relates it to the same noun and define it as “rotten; corrupt.” That nuance is accepted here.} ^{▼▼ Compare Jer 24:8–10 in its context for the figure here.} they cannot be eaten.