Jeremiah 34:21

And Zedekiah king of Judah and his princes will I give into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life, and into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, which are gone up from you.

And Zedekiah {H6667} king {H4428} of Judah {H3063} and his princes {H8269} will I give {H5414} into the hand {H3027} of their enemies {H341}, and into the hand {H3027} of them that seek {H1245} their life {H5315}, and into the hand {H3027} of the king {H4428} of Babylon's {H894} army {H2428}, which are gone up {H5927} from you.

Tzidkiyahu king of Y'hudah and his officials I will hand over to their enemies, to those who seek their lives and to the army of the king of Bavel, which has withdrawn.

And I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah and his officials into the hands of their enemies who seek their lives, to the army of the king of Babylon that had withdrawn from you.

And Zedekiah king of Judah and his princes will I give into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life, and into the hand of the king of Babylonโ€™s army, that are gone away from you.

Commentary

Jeremiah 34:21 delivers a severe prophetic word from the Lord concerning King Zedekiah of Judah and his officials. This verse underscores God's absolute sovereignty and His impending judgment upon those who defy His commands and break their sacred vows. It explicitly states that Zedekiah and his princes would be delivered into the hands of their enemies, specifically the Babylonian army, despite their temporary retreat from Jerusalem.

Context

This prophecy is set during a critical period in the final days of the Kingdom of Judah. The Babylonian army, led by King Nebuchadnezzar, had laid siege to Jerusalem. However, they temporarily withdrew to confront an approaching Egyptian army (Jeremiah 37:5). During this brief respite, King Zedekiah and the people of Jerusalem made a solemn covenant before God to free their Hebrew slaves, as prescribed by Mosaic Law (Deuteronomy 15:12). Yet, shortly after, they shamelessly reneged on their promise, re-enslaving those they had just liberated (Jeremiah 34:16). Jeremiah 34:21 is God's swift and unyielding response to this profound act of covenant breaking and hypocrisy, declaring that the Babylonian siege would resume and succeed.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment: The verse powerfully illustrates God's righteous judgment against disobedience and covenant infidelity. The delivery of Zedekiah and his princes into the hands of their enemies is a direct, divinely ordained consequence of their actions.
  • Sovereignty of God: Even though the Babylonian army had "gone up from you" (temporarily departed), the Lord declares, "will I give," emphasizing that the ultimate outcome is under His control. God is actively orchestrating historical events to fulfill His prophetic word.
  • Consequences of Covenant Breaking: The immediate catalyst for this prophecy is the violation of a solemn vow made before God to free slaves. This highlights the seriousness with which God views promises made in His name and obedience to His laws.
  • Inevitable Doom of Jerusalem: This verse is part of a larger prophetic narrative in Jeremiah foretelling the fall and destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of its people.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "will I give into the hand of" is a common Hebrew idiom (ื ืชืŸ ื‘ื™ื“ - natan b'yad) signifying surrender, delivery, or subjugation. It emphasizes God's active role in handing over the disobedient king and his officials to their adversaries, rather than merely observing the natural course of events. This highlights the divine initiative behind the impending catastrophe.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 34:21 serves as a timeless reminder of several enduring truths:

  • Accountability: Leaders and individuals alike are accountable to God for their actions, promises, and adherence to His commands. There are consequences for hypocrisy and broken vows.
  • God's Justice: While God is merciful, He is also just. He will not be mocked, and His warnings are not idle threats. Disobedience, especially after receiving clear instruction and warning, invites severe repercussions.
  • Integrity in Promises: The episode with the freed slaves underscores the importance of integrity, especially in promises made before God or humanity. Our word should be our bond.
  • Divine Control in History: Even in times of chaos and conflict, this verse affirms God's ultimate control over nations and their destinies. He works through earthly powers to accomplish His purposes, whether for judgment or restoration.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 52:24

    ยถ And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door:

  • Jeremiah 52:27

    And the king of Babylon smote them, and put them to death in Riblah in the land of Hamath. Thus Judah was carried away captive out of his own land.

  • Jeremiah 39:6

    Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes: also the king of Babylon slew all the nobles of Judah.

  • Ezekiel 17:16

    [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely in the place [where] the king [dwelleth] that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake, [even] with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die.

  • Jeremiah 37:5

    Then Pharaoh's army was come forth out of Egypt: and when the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem heard tidings of them, they departed from Jerusalem.

  • Jeremiah 37:11

    ยถ And it came to pass, that when the army of the Chaldeans was broken up from Jerusalem for fear of Pharaoh's army,

  • 2 Kings 25:18

    And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door:
โ† Back