2 Kings 25 9

2 Kings 25:9 kjv

And he burnt the house of the LORD, and the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great man's house burnt he with fire.

2 Kings 25:9 nkjv

He burned the house of the LORD and the king's house; all the houses of Jerusalem, that is, all the houses of the great, he burned with fire.

2 Kings 25:9 niv

He set fire to the temple of the LORD, the royal palace and all the houses of Jerusalem. Every important building he burned down.

2 Kings 25:9 esv

And he burned the house of the LORD and the king's house and all the houses of Jerusalem; every great house he burned down.

2 Kings 25:9 nlt

He burned down the Temple of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem. He destroyed all the important buildings in the city.

2 Kings 25 verses

2 Kings 25 9 Meaning

This verse describes the complete and utter destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuzaradan, captain of the Babylonian guard, acting under King Nebuchadnezzar's command. It details the burning of the most sacred place, the Temple of the Lord, as well as the royal palace and every significant dwelling throughout the city. This act signifies the end of Judah’s monarchy, the physical manifestation of God’s covenant with His people in Jerusalem, and a comprehensive judgment upon the nation for its disobedience.

2 Kings 25 9 Context

2 Kings 25 details the devastating climax of the kingdom of Judah’s downfall, initiated by Zedekiah's rebellion against King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. After a protracted siege of Jerusalem that caused severe famine and suffering (v. 3), the city walls were breached (v. 4), and King Zedekiah was captured, witnessed his sons killed, and was then blinded (v. 7). Verse 9 describes the final, deliberate act of destruction by Nebuzaradan, Nebuchadnezzar's captain of the guard. This verse marks the literal fiery end of the First Temple era and the political independence of Judah. Historically, this event occurred in 586 BCE, a pivotal moment in Israelite history, ushering in the Babylonian Exile. For the original audience in exile, this passage affirmed the fulfillment of prophetic warnings about divine judgment for covenant disobedience and explained their displacement as a righteous act of God, rather than a defeat of their God by Babylon’s gods.

2 Kings 25 9 Word analysis

• He burned: (Hebrew: שָׂרַף, śārap) This verb means "to burn" or "to consume with fire." The passive form highlights the thoroughness of the destruction. The subject "he" refers to Nebuzaradan, captain of the Babylonian guard, who acted on behalf of King Nebuchadnezzar, emphasizing the systematic nature of the devastation. It suggests not accidental fire, but deliberate arson as an act of conquest and dominance.
• The house of the Lord: (Hebrew: בֵּית יְהוָה, bêṯ YHWH) This is the Temple, built by Solomon, the central place of Israelite worship and the dwelling place of God’s presence on earth. Its destruction was the ultimate profanation, challenging the popular belief that the Temple’s mere existence guaranteed divine protection. This event signified the end of an era marked by the physical manifestation of God's presence among His people in this specific structure.
• The king’s house: (Hebrew: בֵּית הַמֶּלֶךְ, bêṯ ha-melek) Refers to Zedekiah’s royal palace. Its burning symbolized the absolute end of the Davidic monarchy’s independent rule in Jerusalem and the collapse of the political structure of Judah. This act paralleled the fate of the religious center, showing a complete societal dismantling.
• And all the houses of Jerusalem: This phrase indicates a widespread, city-encompassing destruction, not just of central or important buildings, but the residential and communal structures as well. It underscores the scale of devastation, reducing the vibrant city to ashes.
• Every great house: This specifically targets buildings of significant size, perhaps official administrative buildings, homes of the wealthy elite, or priestly residences. It highlights the thoroughness of the destruction, ensuring no symbols of wealth, power, or organized resistance remained untouched. The focus on "every great house" demonstrates a deliberate act to break the backbone of the city's leadership and economy.
• With fire: (Hebrew: בָּאֵשׁ, bāʾēš) This specific mention of the means of destruction (fire) emphasizes the irreversible nature of the ruin. Fire leaves nothing behind but ash and ruin, signifying complete annihilation and purging. In a theological sense, fire often symbolizes divine judgment, cleansing, or consumption in the Bible.

• "He burned the house of the Lord, the king’s house, and all the houses of Jerusalem; every great house he burned with fire." This sentence structure lists objects in a hierarchical and then expansive manner, conveying the comprehensiveness of the destruction. It moves from the most sacred (Temple) to the royal power (king's house), then to the general populace (all houses), and finally reiterates the thoroughness by specifically mentioning "every great house," indicating a systematic annihilation of Judah's religious, political, economic, and social infrastructure. This deliberate targeting speaks to a profound act of judgment against the entire nation.

2 Kings 25 9 Bonus section

The total devastation depicted in 2 Kings 25:9 was meant to utterly demoralize the Judean survivors and deter future rebellion. For the Babylonians, it was a display of power and control. For the faithful remnant of Israel, it initiated a period of intense theological reflection. It forced them to grapple with the implications of a God who allowed His own dwelling place to be destroyed. This crucible of suffering led to a deeper, less materialistic understanding of Yahweh, paving the way for synagogue worship and the development of post-exilic Judaism which centered more on Torah study and spiritual adherence rather than Temple rituals alone. This shift prefigured the New Covenant understanding that God’s dwelling is not confined to structures but within His people through the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19-20). The desolation described here also echoes the very curses of the covenant warned of in passages like Deuteronomy 28, solidifying the idea that God's word is immutable, whether in blessing or in judgment.

2 Kings 25 9 Commentary

2 Kings 25:9 succinctly records one of the most tragic and pivotal moments in the history of ancient Israel: the destruction of the First Temple and the city of Jerusalem. This act was not merely the result of a military conquest but the culmination of divine judgment prophesied by generations of prophets, particularly Jeremiah and Ezekiel. The burning of the Temple, "the house of the Lord," signified God's allowing His own sanctuary to be defiled, demonstrating that His presence was not tied to a physical structure apart from His people's faithfulness. It underscored the conditional nature of the covenant with Israel, particularly regarding the land and sanctuary.

The simultaneous burning of "the king’s house" and "all the houses of Jerusalem" underscores the complete collapse of the nation – its religious life, political authority, and societal fabric. This profound act of devastation communicated to Judah that their sins, particularly idolatry and social injustice, had reached a point requiring severe chastisement. Yet, even in this judgment, there was an underlying truth: God was using Babylon as His instrument, meaning His sovereignty was still absolute. This event prompted profound theological reflection among the exiled, leading to a deeper understanding of monotheism and the nature of God's presence. For believers today, this passage serves as a sobering reminder of God's holiness and justice, and that external forms of worship, though important, cannot substitute for internal obedience and devotion. Our bodies and the church are now the temples of the Holy Spirit, demanding purity and faithfulness that physical structures could never embody alone.