2 Kings 25:29

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life.

Complete Jewish Bible:

So Y'hoyakhin no longer had to wear prison clothes; moreover, he was provided with food as long as he lived;

Berean Standard Bible:

So Jehoiachin changed out of his prison clothes, and he dined regularly at the king’s table for the rest of his life.

American Standard Version:

and changed his prison garments. And Jehoiachin did eat bread before him continually all the days of his life:

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And changed^{H8132} his prison^{H3608} garments^{H899}: and he did eat^{H398} bread^{H3899} continually^{H8548} before^{H6440} him all the days^{H3117} of his life^{H2416}.

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Commentary for 2 Kings 25:29

2 Kings 25:29 is a verse that captures a significant turning point in the life of Jehoiachin, the former king of Judah, during the period of the Babylonian exile. The historical context of this verse is set after the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians under King Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C. Jehoiachin had been taken into captivity along with many of his subjects, marking the end of Judah's independence as a nation.

The verse specifically states: "And changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life." This indicates a profound change in Jehoiachin's circumstances. After spending time in prison, possibly in harsh conditions, the Babylonian king Evil-merodach (who succeeded Nebuchadnezzar) showed him favor. Jehoiachin's prison garments were changed, symbolizing a release from the status of a prisoner and perhaps an elevation to a more honorable status. Additionally, he was granted a regular allowance of food, as suggested by the phrase "he did eat bread continually before him." This suggests that Jehoiachin was provided for by the Babylonian court for the remainder of his life.

The themes present in this verse include mercy, redemption, and the sovereignty of God over the fates of kings and nations. Despite Judah's unfaithfulness to God and the consequent exile, God's mercy is seen in the improved treatment of Jehoiachin. The verse also reflects the political dynamics of the time, where captured monarchs could be used as pawns in international politics, their treatment reflecting the whims of their captors. Jehoiachin's release from prison and the provision of sustenance can be seen as a form of redemption and a glimmer of hope amidst the despair of exile, pointing to the possibility of restoration and the enduring care of God for His people, even in difficult circumstances.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H8132
   There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁנָא
   Transliteration: shânâʼ
   Pronunciation: shaw-naw'
   Description: a primitive root; to alter; change.
   
2. Strong's Number: H3608
   There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כֶּלֶא
   Transliteration: keleʼ
   Pronunciation: keh'-leh
   Description: from כָּלָא; a prison; prison. Compare כִּלְאַיִם, כְּלִיא.
   
3. Strong's Number: H899
   There are 190 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֶּגֶד
   Transliteration: beged
   Pronunciation: behg'-ed
   Description: from בָּגַד; a covering, i.e. clothing; also treachery or pillage; apparel, cloth(-es, ing), garment, lap, rag, raiment, robe, [idiom] very (treacherously), vesture, wardrobe.
   
4. Strong's Number: H398
   There are 825 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָכַל
   Transliteration: ʼâkal
   Pronunciation: aw-kal'
   Description: a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively); [idiom] at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, [idiom] freely, [idiom] in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, [idiom] quite.
   
5. Strong's Number: H3899
   There are 277 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לֶחֶם
   Transliteration: lechem
   Pronunciation: lekh'-em
   Description: from לָחַם; See also בֵּית לְעַפְרָה; food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it); (shew-) bread, [idiom] eat, food, fruit, loaf, meat, victuals.
   
6. Strong's Number: H8548
   There are 103 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: תָּמִיד
   Transliteration: tâmîyd
   Pronunciation: taw-meed'
   Description: from an unused root meaning to stretch; properly, continuance (as indefinite extension); but used only (attributively as adjective) constant (or adverbially, constantly); ellipt. the regular (daily) sacrifice; alway(-s), continual (employment, -ly), daily, (n-)ever(-more), perpetual.
   
7. Strong's Number: H6440
   There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּנִים
   Transliteration: pânîym
   Pronunciation: paw-neem'
   Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you.
   
8. Strong's Number: H3117
   There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יוֹם
   Transliteration: yôwm
   Pronunciation: yome
   Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger.
   
9. Strong's Number: H2416
   There are 452 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חַי
   Transliteration: chay
   Pronunciation: khah'-ee
   Description: from חָיָה; alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively; [phrase] age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, [phrase] merry, multitude, [phrase] (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.