Jeremiah 34:2

Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Go and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire:

Thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068}, the God {H430} of Israel {H3478}; Go {H1980} and speak {H559} to Zedekiah {H6667} king {H4428} of Judah {H3063}, and tell {H559} him, Thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068}; Behold, I will give {H5414} this city {H5892} into the hand {H3027} of the king {H4428} of Babylon {H894}, and he shall burn {H8313} it with fire {H784}:

"ADONAI the God of Isra'el says to go and speak to Tzidkiyahu king of Y'hudah. Tell him that ADONAI says: 'I am going to hand this city over to the king of Bavel, and he will burn it to the ground.

The LORD, the God of Israel, told Jeremiah to go and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah and tell him that this is what the LORD says: “Behold, I am about to deliver this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will burn it down.

Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Go, and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah, and tell him, Thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire:

Jeremiah 34:2 delivers a direct, solemn prophecy from God to King Zedekiah through the prophet Jeremiah, foretelling the imminent and certain destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar. It highlights God's sovereignty over nations and His judgment upon persistent disobedience.

Context

This verse is set during the final, tumultuous years of the Kingdom of Judah, specifically during the reign of King Zedekiah (597-586 BC). Jerusalem was under siege by Nebuchadnezzar's powerful Babylonian forces. Jeremiah had been delivering warnings for decades about the impending judgment due to Judah's widespread idolatry, covenant breaking, and general disobedience to God's laws. Despite these repeated warnings, King Zedekiah often vacillated between seeking Jeremiah's counsel and resisting God's word, influenced by false prophets and political pressures. This particular message underscores the divine certainty of the city's fall and its fiery destruction.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Judgment: God declares, "Behold, I will give this city," clearly stating His ultimate control over historical events and nations. The fall of Jerusalem was not merely a military defeat but a direct act of divine judgment against a rebellious people.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: The prophecy directly links Judah's persistent unfaithfulness to God's covenant with the coming destruction. The burning of the city by the king of Babylon is presented as a severe and unavoidable consequence of their prolonged sin and rejection of God's warnings.
  • Unavoidable Prophetic Warning: Despite Zedekiah's attempts to resist or negotiate with the Babylonians, God's word through Jeremiah is firm and uncompromising, emphasizing the certainty of the coming calamity and the futility of resistance against God's decreed will.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Thus saith the LORD" (Hebrew: כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה, koh amar Yahweh) is a powerful and frequently used prophetic formula in the Old Testament. It unequivocally underscores that the message originates directly from God, not from Jeremiah's own thoughts or political opinions, lending immense authority to the declaration. The declaration "I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon" emphasizes God's active role in orchestrating these events, indicating that the fall of Jerusalem was not merely a result of human conflict but a divine handover for judgment.

Cross-References and Connections

This prophecy aligns with numerous other warnings given by Jeremiah regarding Jerusalem's fate, such as in Jeremiah 21:10, where God states, "I have set my face against this city for evil, and not for good, saith the LORD: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire." The terrifying fulfillment of this prophecy is historically recorded in 2 Kings 25:9 and 2 Chronicles 36:19, detailing how Nebuchadnezzar's forces indeed burned the temple, the king's palace, and all the great houses of the city. King Zedekiah's ultimate personal fate, including his capture and blinding, is also prophesied shortly after this verse in Jeremiah 34:3.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 34:2 serves as a timeless reminder of the seriousness of divine warnings and the inevitable consequences of prolonged disobedience. It underscores God's justice and His ultimate control over the course of human history, even in the midst of seemingly chaotic events. For believers today, it highlights the critical importance of heeding God's word, seeking repentance when we stray, and recognizing that true security and blessing come from obedience rather than defiance. The verse encourages us to examine our own lives for areas where we might be resisting God's clear instructions, reminding us that God's purposes will always be fulfilled, whether through blessing or through corrective judgment.

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 21:10

    For I have set my face against this city for evil, and not for good, saith the LORD: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.

  • Jeremiah 34:22

    Behold, I will command, saith the LORD, and cause them to return to this city; and they shall fight against it, and take it, and burn it with fire: and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation without an inhabitant.

  • Jeremiah 32:3

    For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, Wherefore dost thou prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it;

  • 2 Chronicles 36:11

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

  • 2 Chronicles 36:12

    And he did [that which was] evil in the sight of the LORD his God, [and] humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet [speaking] from the mouth of the LORD.

  • Jeremiah 22:1

    ¶ Thus saith the LORD; Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and speak there this word,

  • Jeremiah 22:2

    And say, Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, that sittest upon the throne of David, thou, and thy servants, and thy people that enter in by these gates:

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