Jeremiah 38:23

KJV

So they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans: and thou shalt not escape out of their hand, but shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon: and thou shalt cause this city to be burned with fire.

KJV (with Strong's)

So they shall bring out {H3318} all thy wives {H802} and thy children {H1121} to the Chaldeans {H3778}: and thou shalt not escape out {H4422} of their hand {H3027}, but shalt be taken {H8610} by the hand {H3027} of the king {H4428} of Babylon {H894}: and thou shalt cause this city {H5892} to be burned {H8313} with fire {H784}.

Complete Jewish Bible

They will bring all your women and children out to the Kasdim, and you will not escape from them. Rather, you will be captured by the king of Bavel, and you will cause this city to be burned to the ground."

Berean Standard Bible

All your wives and children will be brought out to the Chaldeans. And you yourself will not escape their grasp, for you will be seized by the king of Babylon, and this city will be burned down.”

American Standard Version

And they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans; and thou shalt not escape out of their hand, but shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon: and thou shalt cause this city to be burned with fire.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 38:23 delivers a devastating and inescapable prophecy to King Zedekiah, serving as the climactic warning of Jerusalem's impending doom. It starkly foretells the public humiliation and captivity of his wives and children, his own inevitable capture by the formidable king of Babylon, and, most chillingly, directly attributes the fiery destruction of Jerusalem to Zedekiah's persistent refusal to heed God's counsel. This verse encapsulates the tragic culmination of Judah's long history of disobedience and Zedekiah's stubborn defiance, presenting a vivid picture of the catastrophic consequences of rejecting divine wisdom.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within the intense, final dialogue between the prophet Jeremiah and King Zedekiah, occurring as Jerusalem endures the brutal siege by the Babylonian army. Earlier in [Jeremiah 38](/jeremiah/38 "Jeremiah 38 - Jeremiah's Imprisonment and Counsel to Zedekiah"), Jeremiah had been unjustly imprisoned for delivering God's unpopular message of surrender, which was perceived as treasonous by the king's fearful officials. Despite this, Zedekiah, in a desperate and secret attempt to understand his fate, summoned Jeremiah. In [Jeremiah 38:17-18](/jeremiah/38-17-18 "Jeremiah 38:17-18 - Jeremiah's Urgent Counsel to Zedekiah"), Jeremiah presented Zedekiah with an unambiguous, two-fold choice: surrender to the Babylonian commanders and preserve his life, his family, and the city, or refuse and face utter destruction. Verse 23 functions as the grim, explicit elaboration of the latter, detailing the horrific fate awaiting Zedekiah and Jerusalem should he persist in his disobedience. It is God's final, unvarnished warning, leaving no room for misunderstanding before the prophecy's tragic fulfillment.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophecy unfolds in the pivotal year of 586 BC, during the climactic and brutal final phase of the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. King Zedekiah, a puppet king installed by Nebuchadnezzar after the initial deportation in 597 BC, had sworn allegiance but subsequently rebelled. He placed his trust in a fragile alliance with Egypt, which ultimately proved to be a broken reed. The "Chaldeans" referenced in the text are the Babylonians, the dominant Mesopotamian superpower of that era, renowned for their military prowess and their magnificent capital, Babylon. In ancient Near Eastern warfare, the fate of a defeated king's family—particularly his wives and children—was often public humiliation, enslavement, or execution. This brutal practice was designed to utterly dismantle the royal line, extinguish any hope of future rebellion, and serve as a stark warning. The burning of a conquered city was a common, devastating act to assert absolute dominance and prevent future uprisings, but here, it is presented not merely as an act of war, but as a direct, divinely ordained consequence of Zedekiah's personal choices.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 38:23 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes woven throughout the book of Jeremiah and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the severe **Consequences of Disobedience**, illustrating how rejecting God's clear word, even when delivered through an unpopular prophet, inevitably leads to catastrophic outcomes. Zedekiah's fear of human opinion and his own officials, as highlighted in [Jeremiah 38:19](/jeremiah/38-19 "Jeremiah 38:19 - Zedekiah's Fear of the Jews"), tragically outweighed his fear of God, thereby sealing his and Jerusalem's fate. Secondly, the verse highlights **Divine Sovereignty and Judgment**. While the Chaldeans act as the immediate agents, the prophecy reveals God's ultimate control over nations and history, orchestrating these events as a just judgment for centuries of Judah's idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness, as detailed in passages like [Jeremiah 7](/jeremiah/7 "Jeremiah 7 - The Temple Sermon"). Thirdly, it exemplifies **Prophetic Clarity and Warning**, showcasing Jeremiah's unwavering commitment to delivering God's precise and often unpopular message, leaving no room for misinterpretation regarding the impending doom. Finally, it vividly portrays the **Tragedy of Jerusalem's Fall**, a lamentable event that marked the end of the Davidic monarchy in Judah and the destruction of the Temple, which was central to Israelite worship. This tragic outcome is further detailed in historical accounts such as [2 Kings 25](/2_kings/25 "2 Kings 25 - The Fall of Jerusalem") and [Jeremiah 52](/jeremiah/52 "Jeremiah 52 - The Fall of Jerusalem and Captivity").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **bring out (Hebrew, _yâtsâʼ'_):** This verb (H3318) fundamentally means "to go out" but, in its causative form, signifies "to bring out." In this context, it denotes the forceful extraction and public display of Zedekiah's family. This act implies a complete lack of dignity, control, or choice on their part, emphasizing their utter vulnerability and the profound humiliation inherent in their capture. The action is initiated by "they," referring to the Chaldeans, underscoring their overwhelming power and the complete subjugation of the royal household.
* **children (Hebrew, _bên'_):** The term (H1121) broadly refers to a "son" or "child," encompassing offspring in the widest sense. Its inclusion here underscores the devastating personal impact of Zedekiah's choices, not just on himself but on his innocent descendants. The fate of his children, who represent the future and continuity of the royal line, being delivered to the enemy, signifies the utter collapse of the Davidic dynasty and the complete eradication of Zedekiah's legacy.
* **hand (Hebrew, _yâd'_):** This noun (H3027) primarily means "hand" but is extensively used figuratively to denote "power," "means," "control," or "dominion." The poignant repetition of "out of their hand" and "by the hand of the king of Babylon" powerfully emphasizes the absolute and inescapable capture of Zedekiah. It signifies his complete loss of agency and his utter helplessness in the face of overwhelming Babylonian power, leaving no possibility of escape or resistance.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"So they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans:"** This clause details the initial act of profound humiliation and capture. "They" refers to the conquering Chaldean (Babylonian) forces. The forced exposure and delivery of Zedekiah's entire family—his wives and children—to the enemy was an unparalleled disgrace for a king, signifying the complete breakdown of his protection and authority. It was a public spectacle of his utter defeat and the definitive end of his royal line.
* **"and thou shalt not escape out of their hand,"** This pronouncement directly addresses Zedekiah, asserting the futility of any attempt to flee or evade capture. The phrase "out of their hand" emphasizes the inescapable grip and superior power of the Chaldeans. It negates any hope of personal survival or freedom for the king, directly contradicting Zedekiah's hidden desire to escape.
* **"but shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon:"** This clause specifies the captor and the absolute certainty of Zedekiah's personal seizure. "Taken by the hand" reinforces the idea of complete capture and control, signifying that Zedekiah would become a helpless prisoner under the direct authority of Nebuchadnezzar, the most powerful monarch of the time. This detail underscores the complete and irreversible nature of his downfall.
* **"and thou shalt cause this city to be burned with fire."** This is the most chilling and morally weighty part of the prophecy. It does not state that the Chaldeans will burn the city, but that Zedekiah himself, by his actions (or, more precisely, his inaction and stubborn refusal to obey), will "cause" it to be burned. This places the ultimate responsibility for Jerusalem's destruction—the burning of its houses, walls, and even the sacred Temple—directly on Zedekiah's persistent refusal to obey God's command to surrender. His disobedience, not merely the enemy's aggression, is presented as the proximate and decisive cause of the city's fiery demise.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 38:23 employs several potent literary devices to convey its stark and unyielding message. The most prominent is **Foreshadowing**, as the verse explicitly details the future events of Zedekiah's capture and Jerusalem's destruction, which are later historically fulfilled with chilling precision. There is also profound **Irony** in the declaration that Zedekiah himself would "cause this city to be burned with fire." As king, his sacred duty was to protect Jerusalem, yet his choices directly lead to its fiery demise, making him an unwitting agent of its destruction. The repeated use of "hand" (**Metonymy**) functions powerfully to represent power, control, and inescapable grasp ("out of their hand," "by the hand of the king of Babylon"), emphasizing the absolute dominion of the Babylonians over Zedekiah. The entire verse functions as a direct **Prophetic Declaration**, delivered with unvarnished clarity and divine authority, leaving no room for misinterpretation of God's certain judgment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 38:23 stands as a profound testament to the principle that disobedience to divine counsel carries severe, often personal and communal, consequences. It illustrates the tragic outcome when human fear, pride, and self-preservation override God's clear word, even when that word demands a difficult and unpopular path. The prophecy underscores God's unwavering sovereignty, demonstrating that even the actions of formidable foreign empires are ultimately within His providential plan to bring about just judgment and purification for His covenant people. It is a sobering reminder that refusing to humble oneself and submit to God's will can lead to far greater suffering than the initial, difficult act of obedience. This passage highlights the profound responsibility of leadership, where one man's choices can determine the fate of an entire nation and its future.

* [Deuteronomy 28:15](/deuteronomy/28-15 "Consequences of Disobedience to God's Voice")
* [Lamentations 2:2](/lamentations/2-2 "God's Unrelenting Judgment on Zion")
* [Ezekiel 12:12-13](/ezekiel/12-12-13 "Prophecy of Zedekiah's Capture and Blindness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 38:23 serves as a timeless and urgent call for deep introspection, challenging us to examine our own responses to divine warnings and difficult truths. Like Zedekiah, we often face choices where God's path seems counterintuitive, unpopular, or personally costly. This passage compels us to confront the profound cost of stubbornness and pride, reminding us that delaying or outright rejecting God's counsel often leads to a far worse outcome than the initial discomfort of obedience. It highlights the critical importance of spiritual discernment and the courage to act on what is right, rather than what is expedient or popular. For leaders, it is a stark reminder of the immense responsibility they bear, as their decisions can have far-reaching and devastating consequences for those under their charge. Ultimately, the verse invites us to cultivate a posture of humility and trust in God's wisdom, even when His instructions are challenging, recognizing that His ways are always for our ultimate good, even amidst trials.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "unpopular" truths or difficult commands might God be asking me to obey in my life right now, even if they challenge my comfort or reputation?**
* **In what areas of my life am I prone to Zedekiah's stubbornness, prioritizing human opinion or personal comfort over divine instruction?**
* **How do my personal choices, especially in leadership roles within my family, community, or work, impact those around me, and am I taking that responsibility seriously before God?**
* **What does this passage teach me about the nature of God's judgment and His unwavering sovereignty over human affairs, even when His methods seem harsh?**

### FAQ

**Did Jeremiah's prophecy about Zedekiah's family and the city's burning actually come true?**

Answer: Yes, Jeremiah's prophecy was fulfilled with chilling precision and historical accuracy. Accounts in [2 Kings 25](/2_kings/25 "2 Kings 25 - The Fall of Jerusalem and Exile") and [Jeremiah 52](/jeremiah/52 "Jeremiah 52 - The Fall of Jerusalem and Captivity") confirm every tragic detail. Zedekiah's sons were indeed killed before his eyes, his wives and daughters were brought out and taken to the Chaldeans, and Zedekiah himself was captured, blinded, and taken in chains to Babylon, where he died in prison. Furthermore, the city of Jerusalem, including the sacred Temple, was indeed burned to the ground by the Babylonian army, just as Jeremiah had prophesied Zedekiah would "cause" it to be through his disobedience.

**Why did Zedekiah refuse to surrender, despite such a clear and dire warning from God?**

Answer: Zedekiah's refusal stemmed primarily from a profound lack of true faith and an overwhelming fear of man. [Jeremiah 38:19](/jeremiah/38-19 "Jeremiah 38:19 - Zedekiah's Fear of the Jews") explicitly reveals his fear of being mocked and abused by the Jews who had already defected to the Babylonians if he surrendered. He was more concerned with his reputation and personal safety among his people than with obeying God's explicit command. This highlights a common human failing: prioritizing immediate social pressure or personal comfort over the long-term, divinely ordained path, even when the consequences are clearly laid out. His fear of man tragically outweighed his fear of God, leading to his and his city's ruin.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Jeremiah 38:23 portrays the tragic consequences of a king's disobedience and the devastating judgment upon a rebellious people, it ultimately points to the greater King, Jesus Christ, and His perfect obedience. Zedekiah's failure led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of his people, a stark testament to the brokenness of human leadership and the profound need for a perfect deliverer. In stark contrast, Jesus, the true Son of David, did not seek to escape the "hand" of His enemies, but willingly submitted to the will of His Father, even unto death on the cross ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Humiliation and Obedience")). His suffering and "capture" by the powers of this world were not due to His disobedience, but were the very means by which He secured salvation for His people, taking away the "hand" of sin and death. Whereas Zedekiah's choices led to the burning of a physical city, Christ's sacrifice cleanses us from sin, establishing a spiritual Jerusalem, the church, that will never be destroyed ([Hebrews 12:22-24](/hebrews/12-22-24 "Hebrews 12:22-24 - The Heavenly Jerusalem")). The judgment poured out on Jerusalem for its sin foreshadows the ultimate judgment for sin, which Christ bore on the cross, allowing those who trust in Him to escape the "hand" of eternal condemnation and enter into His eternal kingdom ([Romans 8:1](/romans/8-1 "Romans 8:1 - No Condemnation in Christ Jesus")). He is the King whose perfect obedience brings life and restoration, not destruction and exile, and whose reign is eternal and unshakeable.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Jeremiah 41:10

Then Ishmael carried away captive all the residue of the people that [were] in Mizpah, [even] the king's daughters, and all the people that remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam: and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah carried them away captive, and departed to go over to the Ammonites.

Jeremiah 38:18

But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon's princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand.

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.

Jeremiah 27:12

¶ I spake also to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live.

Jeremiah 27:13

Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the LORD hath spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?

2 Chronicles 36:20

And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia:

2 Chronicles 36:21

To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: [for] as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.