ירמיהו, פרק ד׳, פסוק כ״ז

A sharp contrast exists between the impending ruin of the land and the ultimate fate of the people. Although the physical land is doomed to become a wasteland, God promises that the nation will not face complete destruction. The primary approach among commentators is that God will not entirely wipe out the inhabitants. Instead, He will leave survivors and refugees who will go into exile.

The survival of the people is made possible because God directs His anger toward the physical environment. By striking the trees, the stones, and the earth itself, the lives of the inhabitants are spared. While the initial prophetic vision presented an image of absolute ruin of everything, God clarifies that a remnant will indeed remain [מלבי״ם].

This guarantee to leave survivors is the fulfillment of an ancient covenant. It reflects the promise God made in the Torah that He would never reject or despise His people to the point of their absolute annihilation [רד״ק].