Jeremiah 32:2

For then the king of Babylon's army besieged Jerusalem: and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison, which [was] in the king of Judah's house.

For then the king {H4428} of Babylon's {H894} army {H2428} besieged {H6696} Jerusalem {H3389}: and Jeremiah {H3414} the prophet {H5030} was shut up {H3607} in the court {H2691} of the prison {H4307}, which was in the king {H4428} of Judah's {H3063} house {H1004}.

At that time the army of the king of Bavel was besieging Yerushalayim; and Yirmeyahu the prophet was imprisoned in the guards' quarters attached to the king of Y'hudah's palace,

At that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was imprisoned in the courtyard of the guard, which was in the palace of the king of Judah.

Now at that time the king of Babylon’s army was besieging Jerusalem; and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the guard, which was in the king of Judah’s house.

Context

Jeremiah 32:2 establishes the immediate historical backdrop for a pivotal moment in the prophet's ministry. At this time, the powerful Babylonian army, led by King Nebuchadnezzar, had initiated its final, devastating siege against Jerusalem, the capital of Judah. The city was on the brink of collapse, and King Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, was desperately attempting to defend it. Jeremiah, often called the 'weeping prophet,' had consistently delivered God's unpopular message: that Jerusalem would fall and its people would go into exile due to their persistent sin. He urged surrender, as it was God's decreed judgment. This message was perceived as treasonous by the royal officials and King Zedekiah, leading to Jeremiah's imprisonment in the 'court of the prison,' located within the king's own palace grounds.

Key Themes

  • Prophecy in Adversity: The verse highlights that God's word is not constrained by human circumstances. Even while 'shut up in the court of the prison,' Jeremiah continued to receive and deliver divine messages, demonstrating that God's plan and communication transcend physical confinement.
  • Divine Sovereignty Amidst Chaos: The siege of Jerusalem was not a random act of war but the direct fulfillment of prophecies delivered through Jeremiah and other prophets. God was orchestrating events, using the Babylonian empire as an instrument of His judgment and purification for Judah.
  • Jeremiah's Faithfulness: Despite personal suffering, political opposition, and the imminent destruction of his nation, Jeremiah remained steadfast in his prophetic calling. His imprisonment underscores his unwavering obedience to God, even when it led to immense personal hardship and public disdain.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "shut up" vividly conveys Jeremiah's complete confinement and lack of freedom. The "court of the prison" suggests a specific, perhaps open-air, area within the royal palace where prisoners of importance might have been held, rather than a common dungeon. Its location "in the king of Judah's house" (King Zedekiah's residence) emphasizes the direct tension between Jeremiah's divine authority and the human authority of the king, who sought to silence him.

Significance and Application

Jeremiah 32:2 sets the stage for the extraordinary act of faith that follows in the chapter: God's command for Jeremiah to buy a field at Anathoth, even as the Babylonians besieged Jerusalem. This act, performed in the face of utter despair, was a powerful symbolic promise of future restoration and hope. For believers today, this verse offers several insights:

  • It reminds us that God's sovereign plans continue to unfold even in the midst of global chaos, personal crisis, or confinement.
  • Faithfulness to God's word may bring opposition, but His message and purposes cannot be ultimately contained or thwarted by human actions.
  • Even when circumstances seem dire and hopeless, God often reveals His greatest promises of future blessing and restoration, echoing the broader message of hope and a future found in Jeremiah's prophecies.

This verse encourages us to trust in God's ultimate control and continue to seek His will, even when our own 'Jerusalem' feels under siege.

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 37:21

    Then Zedekiah the king commanded that they should commit Jeremiah into the court of the prison, and that they should give him daily a piece of bread out of the bakers' street, until all the bread in the city were spent. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.

  • Nehemiah 3:25

    Palal the son of Uzai, over against the turning [of the wall], and the tower which lieth out from the king's high house, that [was] by the court of the prison. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh.

  • Jeremiah 33:1

    ¶ Moreover the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying,

  • Jeremiah 38:6

    Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that [was] in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon [there was] no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.

  • Jeremiah 32:8

    So Hanameel mine uncle's son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the LORD, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that [is] in Anathoth, which [is] in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance [is] thine, and the redemption [is] thine; buy [it] for thyself. Then I knew that this [was] the word of the LORD.

  • Matthew 5:12

    Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

  • Jeremiah 39:13

    So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushasban, Rabsaris, and Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, and all the king of Babylon's princes;

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