Jeremiah 32:1

¶ The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which [was] the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar.

The word {H1697} that came to Jeremiah {H3414} from the LORD {H3068} in the tenth {H6224} year {H8141} of Zedekiah {H6667} king {H4428} of Judah {H3063}, which was the eighteenth {H8083}{H6240}{H8141} year {H8141} of Nebuchadrezzar {H5019}.

This is the word that came to Yirmeyahu from ADONAI in the tenth year of Tzidkiyahu king of Y'hudah, which was the eighteenth year of N'vukhadretzar.

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar.

The word that came to Jeremiah from Jehovah in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar.

Jeremiah 32:1 serves as a crucial chronological marker, setting the stage for one of the most significant prophecies in the book of Jeremiah regarding Judah's future and God's faithfulness amidst judgment. This verse precisely dates the divine word that came to the prophet Jeremiah, placing it squarely within a critical period of Judah's history.

Historical and Cultural Context

The dating "in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah" and "the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar" pinpoints the exact moment this prophecy was delivered. This period was the eve of Judah's complete collapse. King Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, had rebelled against Babylonian rule, leading to Nebuchadrezzar's final siege of Jerusalem. The city was under immense pressure, suffering from famine and battle. Jeremiah himself was often imprisoned or restricted due to his unpopular prophecies of impending doom and surrender to Babylon. This specific prophecy, detailed in the rest of chapter 32, is remarkable because it occurs while Jeremiah is confined in the court of the prison, highlighting God's ability to speak His word even in the direst circumstances. The siege would eventually lead to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian captivity, a pivotal event in Israel's history.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Timing and Precision: The meticulous dating emphasizes that God's word is not vague but tied to specific historical events. It underscores His sovereignty over human history and the precise unfolding of His plans.
  • Reliability of Prophecy: By providing such exact chronological details, the text reinforces the trustworthiness and historical accuracy of Jeremiah's prophecies. It's a testament to the fact that God's word is not merely spiritual insight but has tangible, real-world implications.
  • God's Communication Amidst Crisis: Even as Jerusalem faced its darkest hour and Jeremiah was imprisoned, the LORD continued to speak to His prophet. This demonstrates that God's communication is not hindered by human circumstances or political turmoil.

Linguistic Insights

While this verse doesn't contain a specific Hebrew word with deep linguistic nuance, its significance lies in the precision of its dating. The dual chronological markers (Zedekiah's tenth year and Nebuchadrezzar's eighteenth year) are characteristic of ancient Near Eastern historical records, lending strong support to the historicity of the biblical account. This precise synchronism allows historians and biblical scholars to firmly place the events of Jeremiah 32 within the known timeline of the Babylonian Empire and the kingdom of Judah, reinforcing the Bible's claim as a historically accurate document.

Related Scriptures

This verse sets the stage for a prophecy of hope amidst despair. For more on the context of the siege and the fall of Jerusalem, see Jeremiah 39:1-2 and 2 Kings 25:1-2. The subsequent verses in Jeremiah 32 detail the remarkable command given to Jeremiah to buy a field, symbolizing God's promise of future restoration, even after the impending judgment. This aligns with God's ultimate plan for Judah's return, as promised in Jeremiah 29:10.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 32:1 reminds us that God is actively involved in human history, orchestrating events according to His perfect timing and sovereign will. Even in periods of profound crisis, national distress, or personal hardship, God's word continues to be relevant and powerful. This verse encourages us to trust in the reliability of God's promises, knowing that His plans, even those that seem distant or illogical in our present circumstances, will ultimately come to pass. It underscores the importance of paying attention to God's word, especially when circumstances seem bleak, as it often contains the keys to understanding His larger purposes and finding hope for the future.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jeremiah 39:1

    ¶ In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem, and they besieged it.

  • Jeremiah 39:2

    [And] in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth [day] of the month, the city was broken up.

  • 2 Kings 25:1

    ¶ And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth [day] of the month, [that] Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about.

  • 2 Kings 25:2

    And the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah.

  • Jeremiah 25:1

    ¶ The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that [was] the first year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon;

  • 2 Chronicles 36:11

    ¶ Zedekiah [was] one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.

  • Jeremiah 52:4

    And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth [day] of the month, [that] Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it, and built forts against it round about.

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