unfoldingWord_en_tn/jer/18/21.md

# give their children over to famine

The idiom "give over" means to place a person in the power of another person. Jeremiah speaks of "famine" as if it were a person who could have power over others. Alternate translation: "cause their children to die from famine" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-personification]])

# give them to the hands of those who use the sword

Here the word "hands" represents power. Alternate translation: "cause those who use the sword to have power over them" or "cause them to die in battle" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])

# let their women become bereaved and widows

"let the children and husbands of their women die." The word "bereaved" refers to a woman whose children have all died.

# their men be killed

The verb may be supplied from the previous phrase. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "let people kill their men" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])

# their young men killed by the sword in battle

The verb may be supplied from the previous phrase. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "let people kill their young men with swords in battle" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])