Jeremiah 21 2

Jeremiah 21:2 kjv

Enquire, I pray thee, of the LORD for us; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon maketh war against us; if so be that the LORD will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he may go up from us.

Jeremiah 21:2 nkjv

"Please inquire of the LORD for us, for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon makes war against us. Perhaps the LORD will deal with us according to all His wonderful works, that the king may go away from us."

Jeremiah 21:2 niv

"Inquire now of the LORD for us because Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is attacking us. Perhaps the LORD will perform wonders for us as in times past so that he will withdraw from us."

Jeremiah 21:2 esv

"Inquire of the LORD for us, for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is making war against us. Perhaps the LORD will deal with us according to all his wonderful deeds and will make him withdraw from us."

Jeremiah 21:2 nlt

"Please speak to the LORD for us and ask him to help us. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon is attacking Judah. Perhaps the LORD will be gracious and do a mighty miracle as he has done in the past. Perhaps he will force Nebuchadnezzar to withdraw his armies."

Jeremiah 21 verses

Jeremiah 21 2 Meaning

Jeremiah 21:2 conveys King Zedekiah's plea to the prophet Jeremiah for divine guidance regarding the imminent Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. Zedekiah acknowledges that God alone can intervene and seeks to know God's will and plan for the city's deliverance or destruction. This highlights a moment of desperation and a reluctant turn to divine counsel.

Jeremiah 21 2 Context

Jeremiah 21 falls within the latter years of the Kingdom of Judah. King Zedekiah, a puppet ruler appointed by Nebuchadnezzar, has sent an envoy to Jeremiah. This chapter marks a shift from warnings to Zedekiah specifically. Jerusalem is under siege by the Babylonian army. Jeremiah has been delivering messages of doom for decades, and this crisis represents the culmination of his prophecies. The Babylonian threat was a reality for Judah, leading to the eventual destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of its people. This verse is Zedekiah's desperate appeal for divine intervention, reflecting a mix of faith and perhaps a desire to deflect blame or find an alternative solution to Nebuchadnezzar's power.

Jeremiah 21 2 Word Analysis

• "Now" (וְעַתָּה - wə‘attâh): Indicates immediate relevance; it emphasizes that this request is happening in the present, critical moment. It connects the plea directly to the ongoing crisis.
• "Zedekiah" (צִדְקִיָּהוּ - ṣiḏəqîyāhû): Name meaning "Yahweh is my righteousness." Ironically, his actions would bring judgment, not righteousness. He was the last king of Judah.
• "king" (מֶלֶךְ - melek): Ruler, monarch. Denotes Zedekiah's official position and authority.
• "of Judah" (יְהוּדָה - yəhûḏâ): Refers to the southern kingdom, successor to the united kingdom, and the lineage of David.
• "when" (כִּי־ - kî): Here functioning as a conjunction introducing the circumstance or occasion of the king's action.
• "he had sent" (שָׁלַח - šālaḥ): To dispatch, send forth. Indicates a formal sending of messengers.
• "Pasur" (פַּשְׁחוּר - pašḥûr): A proper name, possibly meaning "destruction surrounds" or "released from the crescent." He was a son of Malchiah and an official in the king's court. His delegation signifies the gravity of the situation.
• "son of" (בֶּן־ - ben): Indicates lineage and relationship.
• "Malchijah" (מַלְכִּיָּה - malḵîyâ): Name meaning "my king is Yahweh." Another official, father of Pasur.
• "and" (וְ־ - wə): Conjunction connecting individuals or clauses.
• "with him" (אוֹתוֹ - ’ôṯô): Refers to the prophet Jeremiah.
• "a priest" (כָּהֵן - kāhēn): Religious officiant. This detail is crucial: sending a priest indicates seeking divine favor and counsel through traditional means, emphasizing the spiritual dimension of their plea.
• "saying" (לֵאמֹר - lə’mōr): Introduces direct speech.

Words/Groups Analysis:

• "Zedekiah king of Judah": Emphasizes his royal authority in the failing kingdom, setting the stage for a critical appeal from the highest office.
• "sent Pasur the son of Malchijah and with him a priest": The delegation's composition, including a high-ranking official and a priest, underlines the serious, officially sanctioned nature of the inquiry. They were not just individuals but representatives of the state seeking divine counsel in a dire national emergency.

Jeremiah 21 2 Bonus Section

The historical context of Jeremiah 21 is the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar II, likely in 589-588 BC. Zedekiah's rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar, breaking the oath of fealty sworn through the Babylonian king, sealed Judah's doom. Jeremiah had been prophesying doom for decades, yet kings and leaders often turned to him only in moments of extreme crisis, often seeking a favorable oracle that would align with their own hopes rather than seeking to obey God's prior commands. This interaction shows a recognition of God's power but also the reluctance to fully repent or heed the long-standing message of judgment and submission to the Babylonian empire as God's instrument.

Jeremiah 21 2 Commentary

King Zedekiah, facing an existential threat from the Babylonian invaders, turns to Jeremiah. This is not a request for comfort but a desperate plea for an answer from God through His prophet. The sending of Pasur, a prince or high official, and a priest underscores the official nature of this delegation and their desire for a divine prognosis on their predicament. Zedekiah, at this moment, acknowledges that God's disposition is the deciding factor in their survival. He is asking, "Will God help us, or not?" The verse encapsulates the desperation of a people facing the consequences of disobedience, looking for a word from the divine that might alter their grim fate.