The Meaning of Jeremiah 22:5 Explained

Jeremiah 22:5

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

YLT: And if ye do not hear these words, By myself I have sworn -- an affirmation of Jehovah, That this house is for a desolation.

Darby: But if ye will not hear these words, I have sworn by myself, saith Jehovah, that this house shall become a waste.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Jeremiah 22:5 Mean?

Verse Meaning

If they disobeyed, God swore by Himself to destroy the palace.
Jeremiah 22:6-7 appear to be another oracle, in poetic form, against an unnamed Judean king.

Context Summary

Jeremiah 22:1-30 - The Folly Of Idolatry
Jeremiah 10:1-10
We are here introduced into an idol-factory. Contrasted with the manufactured idols is the majesty of our God. There is none like Him. His name is great in might; He is the King of the nations, the true and living God, and the everlasting King! Christian, fear not or be dismayed when enemies plot against you. It is a vain device that they frame. To hide in God is a sure defence from all that man can do for our hurt. O thou true and living Savior, in thy wounds harried and faithful souls become strong and brave again.
Jeremiah 10:19-25
The prophet now bids the people prepare for their captivity. Their city would be as when a shepherd removed his slight and insubstantial tent, leaving no trace. But Jeremiah's soul is lacerated and torn with the message he must needs announce. Are we called to be shepherds? Let us see to it that we seek the Lord; so only shall our flocks not be scattered, Jeremiah 10:21. Are we in perplexity as to our path in life? It is not for us to direct ourselves, but to look up for God's sure guidance, which will be given to the soul that waits for it, Jeremiah 10:23. Are we being corrected? Let us be patient; it is only when we endure without complaining that our trial works out the highest good, and God will not give us more than we can bear, Jeremiah 10:24. [source]

Chapter Summary: Jeremiah 22

1  He exhorts to repentance, with promises and threats
10  The judgment of Shallum;
13  of Jehoiakim;
20  and of Coniah

What do the individual words in Jeremiah 22:5 mean?

But if not you will hear - words these by Myself I swear says Yahweh that a desolation Shall become house this -
וְאִם֙ לֹ֣א תִשְׁמְע֔וּ אֶת־ הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה בִּ֤י נִשְׁבַּ֙עְתִּי֙ נְאֻם־ יְהוָ֔ה כִּי־ לְחָרְבָּ֥ה יִֽהְיֶ֖ה הַבַּ֥יִת הַזֶּֽה ס

וְאִם֙  But  if 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
תִשְׁמְע֔וּ  you  will  hear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַדְּבָרִ֖ים  words 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
הָאֵ֑לֶּה  these 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
בִּ֤י  by  Myself 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
נִשְׁבַּ֙עְתִּי֙  I  swear 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׁבַע  
Sense: to swear, adjure.
נְאֻם־  says 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: נְאֻם  
Sense: (Qal) utterance, declaration (of prophet).
יְהוָ֔ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
כִּי־  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
לְחָרְבָּ֥ה  a  desolation 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular
Root: חָרְבָּה  
Sense: a place laid waste, ruin, waste, desolation.
יִֽהְיֶ֖ה  Shall  become 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
הַבַּ֥יִת  house 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
הַזֶּֽה  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation