It's not just about losing wealth, but specifically laboriously gained wealth. God highlights "the fruit of their labor" to emphasize that even what they toiled for, the things they built their lives and security upon, would be utterly stripped away, magnifying the injustice and pain of the coming judgment.
Moreover, I will give all the wealth of the city, all its gains, all its prized belongings, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah into the hand of their enemies, who shall plunder them and seize them and carry them to Babylon.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Just before this, the priest Pashur publicly beat Jeremiah and locked him in stocks for prophesying the city's destruction. Now, God declares through Jeremiah that not only will Jerusalem fall, but all its wealth—its stores, the fruits of its labor, its precious belongings, and even the treasures of its kings—will be plundered and carried off to Babylon by their enemies. This prophecy intensifies the coming calamity, emphasizing the complete loss and humiliation awaiting the city and its rulers.
Jeremiah prophesies not just defeat, but the utter loss of everything precious. What does this say about how God views material possessions?
In Jeremiah 20:5, God declares He will hand over 'all the strength of this city, all its gains, all its prized belongings, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah' to their enemies. This isn't just a military defeat; it's a comprehensive stripping away of everything valued by the people and their rulers.
The True Owner
This declaration underscores that earthly wealth – whether military strength, the fruits of labor, personal treasures, or royal riches – ultimately belongs to God. He has the authority to grant it, protect it, or, as in this case, allow it to be taken away. The emphasis on 'all' signifies that no possession is beyond God's reach or His right to dispose of as He sees fit.
Beyond Material Loss
When God allows such loss, it's often a divine indictment against misplaced trust and idolatry. The people had likely placed their security and hope in their wealth and military might, rather than in the Lord. This judgment aims to reveal the emptiness of those idols and redirect hearts back to the One true source of security and worth.
The enemy will 'plunder,' 'seize,' and 'carry away' everything. What is the purpose behind such a devastating and complete judgment?
Jeremiah 20:5 describes the enemy's actions with forceful verbs: 'plunder,' 'seize,' and 'carry to Babylon.' This isn't accidental; it's a divinely orchestrated judgment.
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The Purpose of Exile
Carrying the treasures and people to Babylon served a profound purpose. It was a tangible demonstration of Judah's defeat and their God's perceived powerlessness by their enemies. More importantly, for those who would listen, it was a severe but necessary correction.
Stripped Bare to See Truth
By taking everything – the fruits of labor, the prized belongings, the king's treasures – God was stripping away the false comforts and idolatrous security the people clung to. This utter loss was meant to expose the vanity of their reliance on earthly things and their own strength. It was a fire designed not to annihilate, but to refine, burning away the dross so that the true treasure – God Himself – could be recognized and sought.
When all external support is removed, individuals and nations are forced to confront their deepest allegiances and their true spiritual condition.
Understand the original words
bāzaz · Hebrew Verb
To plunder is to seize property, wealth, or resources by force, usually as an act of war or divine judgment. It symbolizes the total loss of security and the stripping away of earthly comforts due to the abandonment of God's protection.
This prophecy, delivered during a period of escalating Babylonian invasions and exiles, paints a grim picture of Jerusalem's total destruction and the loss of all its wealth, including the royal treasures, to Babylon.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon carries off some of the Jewish people and treasures from Jerusalem.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar deports more of Judah's elite and treasures, including King Jehoiachin, following a rebellion.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Third Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and the Temple, deporting most of the remaining population and taking vast spoils to Babylon.
c. 582 BC
Third Deportation by Nebuchadnezzar
Nebuchadnezzar carries out a final deportation from Judah after continued resistance.
This passage describes God delivering Jerusalem's wealth and even its people into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar's army, echoing the specific judgment mentioned in Jeremiah 20:5.
2 Kings 20:14-18This passage records a similar prophecy where Isaiah tells Hezekiah that all his treasures and future descendants will be taken to Babylon, highlighting a recurring theme of Babylonian conquest and exile for Judah's wealth and royalty.
Ezekiel 26:11-12While about Tyre, this passage details the plundering of a city's wealth, treasures, and spoils by enemies, mirroring the comprehensive destruction and seizure of assets foretold in Jeremiah 20:5.
Daniel 1:1-2This passage shows the initial stages of the Babylonian conquest, where Nebuchadnezzar takes treasures from Jerusalem and places them in his temple, directly illustrating the fulfillment of God giving Judah's treasures into enemy hands.
calvinJeremiah 20:5: "Moreover I will deliver all the strength of this city, and all the labours thereof, and all the precious things thereof, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah will I give into the hand of their enemies, which shall spoil them, and take them, and carry them to Babylon."
- Moreover I will deliver all the strength of this city, and all the labours thereof, and all the precious things thereof, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah will I give into the hand of their enem…
barnesJeremiah 20:5: "Moreover I will deliver all the strength of this city, and all the labours thereof, and all the precious things thereof, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah will I give into the hand of their enemies, which shall spoil them, and take them, and carry them to Babylon."
All the strength - "All the stores." The labors - The gains of the citizens.
It's not just about losing wealth, but specifically laboriously gained wealth. God highlights "the fruit of their labor" to emphasize that even what they toiled for, the things they built their lives and security upon, would be utterly stripped away, magnifying the injustice and pain of the coming judgment.
Just before this, the priest Pashur publicly beat Jeremiah and locked him in stocks for prophesying the city's destruction. Now, God declares through Jeremiah that not only will Jerusalem fall, but all its wealth—its stores, the fruits of its labor, its precious belongings, and even the treasures of its kings—will be plundered and carried off to Babylon by their enemies. This prophecy intensifies the coming calamity, emphasizing the complete loss and humiliation awaiting the city and its rulers.
Just before this, the priest Pashur publicly beat Jeremiah and locked him in stocks for prophesying the city's destruction. Now, God declares through Jeremiah that not only will Jerusalem fall, but all its wealth—its stores, the fruits of its labor, its precious belongings, and even the treasures of its kings—will be plundered and carried off to Babylon by their enemies. This prophecy intensifies the coming calamity, emphasizing the complete loss and humiliation awaiting the city and its rulers.
"Moreover, I will give all the wealth of the city, all its gains, all its prized belongings, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah into the hand of their enemies, who shall plunder them and seize them and carry them to Babylon." — It's not just about losing wealth, but specifically laboriously gained wealth. God highlights "the fruit of their labor" to emphasize that even what they toiled for, the things they built their liv…
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Last reviewed October 2026
