2 Chronicles 36 6

2 Chronicles 36:6 kjv

Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon.

2 Chronicles 36:6 nkjv

Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against him, and bound him in bronze fetters to carry him off to Babylon.

2 Chronicles 36:6 niv

Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked him and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon.

2 Chronicles 36:6 esv

Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and bound him in chains to take him to Babylon.

2 Chronicles 36:6 nlt

Then King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and captured it, and he bound Jehoiakim in bronze chains and led him away to Babylon.

2 Chronicles 36 verses

2 Chronicles 36 6 Meaning

Second Chronicles 36:6 details an act of conquest and subjugation. It records Nebuchadnezzar, the formidable king of Babylon, coming against King Jehoiakim of Judah and binding him with bronze chains. The explicit purpose of this action was to transport Jehoiakim to Babylon, symbolizing the severe judgment and the beginning of Judah's long period of captivity under the Babylonian empire. This verse marks a pivotal moment, highlighting the end of Judah's independence and the direct consequence of the kings' and the people's persistent rebellion against God's covenant.

2 Chronicles 36 6 Context

The Book of 2 Chronicles culminates in the decline and ultimate destruction of the southern kingdom of Judah, primarily attributing it to the spiritual rebellion and unfaithfulness of its kings and people. Chapter 36 specifically details the final four kings: Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah, each characterized by their wickedness and their reign ending in various forms of foreign subjugation.

Verse 6 falls within the narrative of King Jehoiakim, who reigned for eleven years. Despite the dire warnings from prophets like Jeremiah (e.g., Jer 22:13-19), Jehoiakim stubbornly persisted in doing evil in the eyes of the Lord (2 Chr 36:5). His reign was marked by oppressive acts, luxury, and blatant idolatry. Nebuchadnezzar, the powerful Babylonian monarch, had already established his dominance in the region. This verse describes the decisive first deportation to Babylon, which occurred after Jehoiakim had initially submitted to Nebuchadnezzar for three years and then rebelled (2 Ki 24:1). The chronicler focuses on Nebuchadnezzar's aggressive move against Jehoiakim and the humiliation of the king being taken captive, a direct fulfillment of prophetic warnings and God's covenant judgments for sustained disobedience. This act initiated the seventy-year Babylonian captivity, a period prophesied to purify Judah.

2 Chronicles 36 6 Word analysis

• Nebuchadnezzar: (נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּר - Nᵊḇūḵaḏneʾṣṣar). The name, meaning "Nebo protect my boundary/son," refers to the most powerful and ruthless king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. His historical dominance and role as God's instrument of judgment (though he did not know it) are consistent throughout prophetic books like Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. He serves as a powerful symbol of earthly authority ultimately subservient to divine will.
• king of Babylon: (מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶל - meleḵ-bāḇel). Identifies his sovereignty and the empire he commanded. Babylon, as a powerful pagan empire, became God's chosen tool for punishing His unfaithful people, a stark reality showing God's dominion over even the most formidable gentile nations.
• came up against him: (עָלָה עָלָיו - ‘ālâ ‘ālāw). Literally, "ascended upon him" or "came against him." This military term implies a hostile invasion, a direct attack or campaign. It signifies the proactive aggression and overwhelming power of Nebuchadnezzar's forces, leaving Jehoiakim and Judah with no recourse.
• and bound him: (וַיַּאַסְרֵהוּ - wayya’asrēhû). From the root אָסַר ('āsar), meaning "to bind, imprison, put in bonds." This action signifies absolute humiliation and loss of royal dignity and freedom. For a king, being bound was the ultimate disgrace, rendering him utterly powerless. This detail emphasizes his capture and dehumanization, a stark contrast to his earlier reign of pride.
• in bronze chains: (בַּנְחֻשְׁתַּיִם - bannaḥuštayim). "Bronze" (נְחֻשְׁתּ - nəḥuštā) often signifies strength, durability, but also affliction or severity in the Bible (e.g., chains for Samson, iron yokes in Jer 28:13-14). The dual ending (-ayim) might imply a pair of chains. The use of bronze highlights the unbreakable and definitive nature of his captivity, a heavy, visible sign of his downfall and the crushing defeat. It contrasts with silver or gold, indicating base value, severity and humiliation.
• to take him to Babylon: (לַהֲבִילֹו בָבֶלָה - lahăvîlōw Bāḇelâ). The explicit intention and destination. This confirms the objective of his capture – deportation and subjugation within the enemy's territory. This phrase underscores the prophecy of exile. While historical accounts in Kings and Jeremiah suggest Jehoiakim died in Jerusalem and was buried disgracefully (Jer 22:18-19), Chronicles often presents a more theological perspective, emphasizing God's judgment and the intent of his captor to remove him from his throne and land. The fact that Nebuchadnezzar intended to take him to Babylon represents the complete end of Jehoiakim's royal authority and freedom, regardless of whether he physically completed the journey alive. This points to God's full judgment on Judah.

2 Chronicles 36 6 Bonus section

• The chronicler's account focuses intensely on the theological message of God's righteous judgment against persistent sin, rather than every precise historical detail, especially when compared with 2 Kings or Jeremiah. For instance, Jeremiah indicates Jehoiakim died in Jerusalem and had a humiliating burial, possibly before reaching Babylon or after being deported. The Chronicler emphasizes Nebuchadnezzar's intent and action of binding, showing God's judgment was effectively executed through Babylon, whether or not the king physically reached Babylon in chains or died on the journey. This aligns with a broader theological narrative of judgment and exile.
• This verse represents the first official deportation of significant figures to Babylon, laying the groundwork for further deportations including that of King Jehoiachin and later Zedekiah, ultimately leading to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. Daniel and his companions were among those carried off in this initial wave of captivity, showing how impactful this single event was.

2 Chronicles 36 6 Commentary

2 Chronicles 36:6 vividly depicts a decisive moment in Judah's history: the initial stage of its exile to Babylon, orchestrated by King Nebuchadnezzar. This verse, though concise, is profoundly significant as it underscores the inescapable consequences of sin and persistent disobedience to God. Jehoiakim, despite witnessing previous divine warnings and limited judgments, continued his idolatrous and unrighteous rule. Nebuchadnezzar, a pagan king, served as God's unwitting instrument of wrath, bringing the long-prophesied judgment upon Judah for breaking their covenant with Yahweh.

The imagery of "bronze chains" communicates the severity, disgrace, and irrevocability of the capture. It signifies not just Jehoiakim's personal defeat but the stripping away of Judah's sovereignty and God's withdrawal of protection due to the nation's profound spiritual adultery. This moment begins the fulfilling of Jeremiah's prophecies regarding the Babylonian captivity and serves as a powerful lesson that God, in His absolute sovereignty, utilizes even wicked nations to accomplish His purposes, particularly in executing justice upon His unfaithful people. This event demonstrates that divine patience has limits, and unrepentant rebellion will invariably lead to severe repercussions, even for a people with whom God had made a special covenant. The capture of Jehoiakim represents the beginning of the end of the Davidic monarchy in Jerusalem and the transition to the desolate years of exile.