And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, for behold, I am bringing disaster upon all flesh, declares the LORD. But I will give you your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
God's promise to Baruch isn't just about survival, but about an intensely personal rescue. It’s framed not as a quiet retirement, but as snatching one's very life as a "prey" out of utter destruction, highlighting the profound preciousness and unexpectedness of survival amidst widespread devastation.
And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, for behold, I am bringing disaster upon all flesh, declares the LORD. But I will give you your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Baruch, Jeremiah's scribe, is lamenting his difficult task after writing down prophecies of destruction. He's overwhelmed by the grief and sorrow of delivering God's harsh message, fearing for himself and feeling burdened by the impending disaster. God, through Jeremiah, rebukes Baruch for seeking personal comfort and status when all of Judah is facing judgment.
When disaster looms, is it wise to chase personal gain? God's message to Baruch cuts through the noise of self-preservation.
Jeremiah 45:5 confronts Baruch directly: 'And seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not.' This isn't just a suggestion; it's a divine redirection. When God is bringing 'disaster upon all flesh'—a sweeping judgment on the nation—personal ambition for wealth, status, or even comfort is utterly misplaced.
When everything is being destroyed, what is the greatest treasure you can hold onto? God offers Baruch a profound perspective on survival.
The second part of the verse offers a stark, yet ultimately hopeful, counterpoint: 'But I will give you your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go.' This isn't a promise of comfort or earthly success, but something far more profound.
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Understand the original words
rā‘â · Hebrew Noun
Evil, calamity, or divine judgment; the manifestation of God’s displeasure against sin, resulting in destruction or suffering.
bāśār · Hebrew Noun
A collective term for all living creatures or humanity, highlighting the fragility and mortality of man in contrast to the eternal God.
nep̱eš · Hebrew Noun
A generic term for one’s breath, soul, or vital self, representing the person’s life, which is a gift sustained solely by God.
šālāl · Hebrew Noun
Often translated as 'spoil' or 'booty,' this refers to what is secured in battle, symbolizing here that survival itself is a gracious, hard-won provision from God amidst judgment.
Baruch's personal distress arose in the context of intense national crisis and the direct threat of Babylonian invasion. God's message to him redirects his focus from personal ambition to the preservation of life amidst widespread destruction, highlighting that even in judgment, God offers a remnant a way to survive.
c. 605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's First Deportation
Babylonian forces under Nebuchadnezzar II deport skilled individuals and potential leaders from Judah, including members of the royal family, to Babylon. This event marks the beginning of Judah's decline and increasing Babylonian influence.
c. 605 BC— this verse
Baruch Records Jeremiah's Prophecies
Baruch, the scribe of Jeremiah, records a collection of the prophet's messages, including prophecies of impending judgment against Judah and surrounding nations. This compilation is later presented to King Jehoiakim.
c. 605 BC
Jehoiakim Destroys Jeremiah's Scroll
King Jehoiakim, angered by the prophecies of doom, cuts the scroll written by Baruch into pieces and throws it into the fire, refusing to repent. This act escalates the conflict between the king and God's prophet.
c. 605 BC
Jeremiah Dictates a Second Scroll
Following the destruction of the first scroll, Jeremiah, under God's direction, dictates a second scroll to Baruch, which includes further prophecies and a specific message of judgment against Jehoiakim.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar deports another significant group of Judeans, including King Jehoiachin and many craftsmen and officials, to Babylon. This further weakens the kingdom.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
Babylonian forces conquer Jerusalem, destroy the city and the Temple, and deport the majority of the remaining population to Babylon, effectively ending the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
This passage also uses the vivid imagery of life being given 'as a prey' or 'as spoil' for those who survive amidst destruction, directly paralleling God's promise to Baruch.
Luke 12:15Jesus' warning against greed and self-advancement, 'for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of the things he possesses,' echoes Jeremiah's rebuke to Baruch about seeking 'great things' for himself.
Matthew 6:33This verse offers the counter-balance to Baruch's self-concern, urging us to 'seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,' implying that our primary focus should be God's will, not personal ambition.
Philippians 4:11Paul's declaration that he has 'learned in whatever circumstances I am to be content,' directly relates to Baruch's situation, highlighting the importance of contentment with God's provision, even when it's just survival ('life as a prize').
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8This passage speaks to the overarching divine plan for 'a time for everything,' including times of disaster and ruin, which helps contextualize God's declaration of bringing 'evil upon all flesh' as part of His sovereign purposes.
calvinJeremiah 45:1-5: "The word that Jeremiah the prophet spake unto Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,"
The word that Jeremiah the prophet spake unto Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,
Sermo quem loquutus est Jeremias Propheta ad Ba…
gillJeremiah 45:5: "And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest."
Seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not,.... Riches and wealth honour and esteem, peace and prosperity; these were not to be sought after and expected, when the whole nation would be involved in such a general calamity. Baruch perhaps expected that his reading the rol…
God's promise to Baruch isn't just about survival, but about an intensely personal rescue. It’s framed not as a quiet retirement, but as snatching one's very life as a "prey" out of utter destruction, highlighting the profound preciousness and unexpectedness of survival amidst widespread devastation.
Baruch, Jeremiah's scribe, is lamenting his difficult task after writing down prophecies of destruction. He's overwhelmed by the grief and sorrow of delivering God's harsh message, fearing for himself and feeling burdened by the impending disaster. God, through Jeremiah, rebukes Baruch for seeking personal comfort and status when all of Judah is facing judgment.
Baruch, Jeremiah's scribe, is lamenting his difficult task after writing down prophecies of destruction. He's overwhelmed by the grief and sorrow of delivering God's harsh message, fearing for himself and feeling burdened by the impending disaster. God, through Jeremiah, rebukes Baruch for seeking personal comfort and status when all of Judah is facing judgment.
"And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, for behold, I am bringing disaster upon all flesh, declares the LORD. But I will give you your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go.”" — God's promise to Baruch isn't just about survival, but about an intensely personal rescue. It’s framed not as a quiet retirement, but as snatching one's very life as a "prey" out of utter destruction…
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Last reviewed October 2026