Jeremiah 32 1

Jeremiah 32:1 kjv

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar.

Jeremiah 32:1 nkjv

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar.

Jeremiah 32:1 niv

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar.

Jeremiah 32:1 esv

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar.

Jeremiah 32:1 nlt

The following message came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah. This was also the eighteenth year of the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar.

Jeremiah 32 verses

Jeremiah 32 1 meaning

This verse sets the precise historical and chronological stage for the significant prophecy and symbolic act that follow in Jeremiah chapter 32. It records that "the word" – God's authoritative message – was directly given to the prophet Jeremiah from the LORD during a specific period: the tenth regnal year of Zedekiah, king of Judah. This dating is further confirmed by referencing the corresponding eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian emperor, whose forces were currently besieging Jerusalem. The verse emphasizes divine communication amidst national crisis and under an oppressive foreign power.

Jeremiah 32 1 Context

Jeremiah 32:1 is situated during the most critical and devastating period for the Kingdom of Judah: the final months leading up to the complete destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian forces. Jerusalem had been under siege for a significant time, enduring famine and desolation (Jer 52:4-7). King Zedekiah, installed by Nebuchadnezzar as a puppet ruler, had rebelled against Babylon, leading to the prolonged and brutal siege. At this specific point, Jeremiah himself was not only delivering unpopular messages of surrender and destruction but was also confined in the "court of the guard" within the royal palace (Jer 32:2) on accusations of defeatism. The city was surrounded, prospects were grim, and Judah's end seemed inevitable. This dire context makes the subsequent prophecy, involving the purchase of a field as a sign of future hope, even more profound and counter-intuitive, underscoring God's ultimate control and plan for restoration despite imminent catastrophe.

Jeremiah 32 1 Word analysis

• The word (Hebrew: dāḇār, דָּבָר)

  • Meaning: More than just spoken sound; it conveys a powerful, active decree, a message, a command, or an event itself. It has substance and creative force.
  • Significance: It denotes divine authority and efficacy. God's dāḇār is what shapes history, enacts His will, and will certainly come to pass.

• that came (Hebrew: hāyāh, הָיָה)

  • Meaning: "was," "became," or "happened." In this prophetic context, it signifies the reception of a divine revelation.
  • Significance: Emphasizes that the message did not originate from Jeremiah himself but was an external, divinely initiated event directed towards him.

• to Jeremiah (Hebrew: Yirmeyahu, יִרְמְיָהוּ)

  • Meaning: "The Lord Exalts/Establishes" or "The Lord Hurls/Casts" (referring to his calling into ministry, perhaps fraught with difficulty).
  • Significance: Identifies the prophet as the designated recipient of God's word, highlighting his personal role in carrying and proclaiming God's often painful message to Judah.

• from the LORD (Hebrew: mē’eṯ Yahweh, מֵאֵת יְהוָה)

  • Meaning: "from Yahweh," referring to the covenant name of God, the uncreated, self-existent One.
  • Significance: Explicitly states the divine origin of the message, leaving no doubt about its ultimate source and supreme authority, countering any claims of human invention.

• in the tenth year (Hebrew: baššānāh hāʿăśîrîṯ, בַּשָּׁנָה הָעֲשִׂירִית)

  • Meaning: Precisely dates the revelation to the tenth annual cycle of Zedekiah's reign.
  • Significance: Grounds the prophecy firmly in history, allowing for verification and underscoring the reliability and accuracy of the biblical narrative. It also situates the event within a specific period of extreme distress during the siege.

• of Zedekiah (Hebrew: Ṣiḏqîyyāhû, צִדְקִיָּהוּ)

  • Meaning: "My righteousness is Yahweh."
  • Significance: The irony of his name is profound, as Zedekiah, the last king, led Judah to ruin through unrighteousness and rebellion against God's counsel through Jeremiah. His reign marks the end of an era.

• king of Judah (Hebrew: meleḵ Yəhûḏāh, מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה)

  • Meaning: Ruler of the southern kingdom.
  • Significance: Establishes the political and geographical domain over which Zedekiah held nominal authority, reinforcing the specific historical context of the fall of the Judahite monarchy.

• which was the eighteenth year (Hebrew: hî hāššānāh haššəmunêh ʿeśrēh, הִיא הַשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁמוֹנֶה עֶשְׂרֵה)

  • Meaning: Corresponds the Judahite calendar with the Babylonian.
  • Significance: Provides a dual verification of the timing from two different chronological systems (Judean and Babylonian), further enhancing the historical credibility and demonstrating God's overview of both kingdoms.

• of Nebuchadnezzar (Hebrew: Nəḇûḵaḏre’ṣṣar, נְבֻכַדְרֶאצַּר)

  • Meaning: "Nabu, protect my firstborn son" (or "Nabu protect the boundary stone"). Nabu was a Babylonian deity.
  • Significance: Names the foreign ruler who was God's chosen instrument of judgment against Judah, despite being an idolatrous pagan. His rule over Judah signified the divine punishment that was underway.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD": This common prophetic superscription emphasizes the divine initiative and authority behind the message. It highlights God's ongoing communication with His chosen prophet, even in times of national spiritual decline and crisis.
  • "in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar": This dual dating precision anchors the prophecy firmly within the tumultuous historical moment of Judah's final siege. It underscores the historical reality of the unfolding judgment and also God's absolute sovereignty over all earthly rulers and events, orchestrating the actions of both a covenant king (Zedekiah) and a pagan king (Nebuchadnezzar) according to His plan. The juxtaposition of these two kings reflects the ultimate clash of kingdoms leading to Judah's fall.

Jeremiah 32 1 Bonus section

• The practice of dual dating, using both the Judean and the conquering power's regnal years, not only enhances historical accuracy but also implicitly highlights the power shift: Judah's timeline is now intertwined with and overshadowed by Babylon's. This is a subtle yet powerful declaration of Judah's diminishing autonomy under divine judgment.
• This verse is part of a pattern of detailed dating throughout the prophetic books (e.g., Ezekiel, Haggai, Zechariah). This is unique to prophetic literature and demonstrates the ancient authors' concern for factual, historical truth, reinforcing the belief that God actively intervenes in human history, not merely in a general sense, but at specific moments in time.
• The irony in King Zedekiah's name, meaning "My righteousness is Yahweh," becomes particularly poignant here. While his reign marks a period of profound unrighteousness and rebellion that directly led to Judah's demise, the very "word" of Yahweh continues to be spoken, ironically upholding the Lord's own righteousness in judgment and faithfulness in promised restoration.

Jeremiah 32 1 Commentary

Jeremiah 32:1 is a critical dateline, more than a simple heading. It imbues the entire chapter with historical gravity and divine authority. By precisely fixing the prophecy within the "tenth year of Zedekiah" and the "eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar," the text not only offers an accurate chronological marker but also grounds the unfolding events in the darkest period of Judah's history—the severe siege of Jerusalem by Babylon. This detailed dating underscores the historical veracity of God's Word and emphasizes that His prophecies are not abstract pronouncements but are interwoven with real human events. The mention of Jeremiah being "shut up" (v. 2) immediately following this date emphasizes that even during his physical confinement and the nation's despair, God's revelation breaks through, bringing a message that will defy current logic—a prophecy of future restoration through a seemingly irrational act (buying a field). The divine source, "from the LORD," against the backdrop of an impending national catastrophe orchestrated by Nebuchadnezzar, affirms God's ultimate sovereignty and foreknowledge, even as human leaders like Zedekiah flounder. It prepares the reader for a message of enduring hope against overwhelming odds, a testament to God's faithfulness to His covenant, even in judgment.