Jeremiah 32:2 kjv
For then the king of Babylon's army besieged Jerusalem: and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison, which was in the king of Judah's house.
Jeremiah 32:2 nkjv
For then the king of Babylon's army besieged Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison, which was in the king of Judah's house.
Jeremiah 32:2 niv
The army of the king of Babylon was then besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was confined in the courtyard of the guard in the royal palace of Judah.
Jeremiah 32:2 esv
At that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the guard that was in the palace of the king of Judah.
Jeremiah 32:2 nlt
Jerusalem was then under siege from the Babylonian army, and Jeremiah was imprisoned in the courtyard of the guard in the royal palace.
Jeremiah 32 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 32:1 | "...the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah in the tenth year..." | Sovereignty of God's Word |
| 2 Kings 24:12 | "And Zedekiah king of Judah gave himself up to the king of Babylon..." | Zedekiah's submission to Babylon |
| 2 Kings 25:1 | "And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month..." | Siege of Jerusalem begins |
| Jeremiah 32:2 | "At that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem..." | Babylonian siege of Jerusalem |
| Jeremiah 32:2 | "...and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the guard..." | Jeremiah's confinement |
| Jeremiah 32:3 | "For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land." | Promise of future restoration |
| Jeremiah 32:6 | "Jeremiah said, 'The word of the LORD came to me: Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle shall come to you, saying, 'Buy yourself my field which is at Anathoth, for the right of redemption is yours to buy it.'" | The symbolic act of buying the field |
| Isaiah 55:8 | "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD." | God's ways are higher |
| John 1:14 | "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us..." | The Word of God Incarnate |
| Romans 10:17 | "So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." | Faith through the Word |
| Ephesians 6:17 | "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." | The Word as a spiritual weapon |
| Hebrews 4:12 | "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword..." | Power of God's Word |
| 1 Peter 1:23 | "since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God." | The enduring Word of God |
| Jeremiah 21:3 | "and call to account the king of Judah who sits on the throne of David, saying..." | Similar address to Zedekiah |
| Jeremiah 21:4 | "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Behold, I will turn back the forces of war that are in your walls and in your city toward the king of Babylon who besieges you, and I will gather them into the midst of this city.'" | God's active involvement in war |
| Jeremiah 32:26 | "Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah:" | Repetition emphasizing divine message |
| Jeremiah 32:29 | "and the Chaldeans who are fighting against this city shall come and set fire to this city with fire, and they shall burn it..." | Future destruction foreseen |
| Jeremiah 32:37 | "Behold, I will gather them from all the countries to which I will drive them in my anger and in my wrath and in my great indignation..." | Gathering Israel from exile |
| Jeremiah 32:43 | "and fields shall be bought in this land, of which you say, 'It is a desolate waste, without man or beast,' for it has been given into the hand of the Chaldeans." | Promise of repurchase |
| Deuteronomy 28:52 | "and they shall besiege you in all your towns, until your high walls, in which you trust, fall down in all your land..." | Deuteronomic curse of siege |
| Leviticus 25:24 | "In all the land of your possession, you shall grant the right of redemption to your nearest kin." | Laws of land redemption |
Jeremiah 32 verses
Jeremiah 32 2 Meaning
The entire nation of Israel was under siege by the Babylonians, specifically within Jerusalem. King Zedekiah, the reigning monarch of Judah, was in his palace in Jerusalem, confined by the encircling enemy army. This verse establishes the dire circumstances and the king's personal predicament during a time of intense national crisis, right before a significant prophetic declaration.
Jeremiah 32 2 Context
The eleventh year of King Zedekiah's reign marks a critical point in the history of Judah. The Babylonian Empire, under Nebuchadnezzar II, was aggressively expanding its dominion. Jeremiah, the prophet, was divinely instructed to buy a field from his cousin Hanamel during this oppressive period. This action, though seemingly illogical given the imminent destruction and exile, served as a powerful prophetic sign affirming God's ultimate plan of restoration for His people and land. The surrounding military presence of the Chaldeans signifies the tangible reality of impending doom and captivity, making the prophetic act of purchase all the more stark. This chapter is rich with theological meaning, contrasting divine judgment with the certainty of future redemption.
Jeremiah 32 2 Word Analysis
- וַֽ֠תְּהִי (vattehî): "and it was," "and it came to pass." This is a common conjunctive particle introducing a new clause or setting the scene. It signifies the unfolding of events within a narrative.
- דְּבַר־ (dəḇar): "word." This refers to communication, a command, or a message. In this context, it is specifically "the word of the LORD," emphasizing divine revelation.
- יְהוָ֛ה (YHVH): "the LORD." The covenant name of God.
- אֶל־ (’el): "to." Indicates the recipient of the message.
- יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ (Yirməyāhû): "Jeremiah." The prophet's name, meaning "Yahweh exalts" or "Yahweh throws down."
- בֶּהָצַ֥ר (behāṣar): "in the court," "within the court." The word "ḥaṣar" refers to an enclosed area, a courtyard. Here, it specifies the location of Jeremiah.
- הַמַּטָּרָ֑ה (hammatṭāārāh): "the guard," "the prison," "the place of confinement." This term denotes a garrison or a place where soldiers are kept, or where individuals are detained. It signifies Jeremiah's lack of freedom.
- וַאֲשֶׁר־ (wā’ăšer): "and that," "and which." Connects clauses, linking Jeremiah's confinement to the wider context.
- יָצָ֧א (yāṣā): "went out," "came out." Indicates movement from a place.
- מֶ֣לֶךְ (meleḵ): "king." Refers to Zedekiah.
- בָּבֶ֥ל (Bāḇel): "Babylon." The powerful empire and its army.
- מָצָ֖ר (maṣṣār): "shut up," "besieged," "hemmed in." A strong word indicating confinement, blockade, and encirclement by an enemy.
- אֶת־ (’eṯ): Accusative particle, marking the direct object.
- יְרֽוּשָׁלִֽם׃ (Yərûšā·lāim): "Jerusalem." The capital city of Judah.
Words-group analysis:
- "וַתְּהִי דְבַר־ יְהוָה אֶל־ יִרְמְיָהוּ בֶּהָצַר הַמַּטָּרָה" (vattehî dəḇar-YHVH ’el-Yirməyāhû behāṣar hammatṭāārāh): This phrase highlights the divine origin of the message ("The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah") and emphasizes Jeremiah's location of confinement ("in the court of the guard"). It underscores that even in restriction, God's word found its way to His prophet.
- "וַאֲשֶׁר יָצָא מֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל אֶת־ יְרוּשָׁלִַם" (wā’ăšer yāṣā meleḵ Bāḇel ’eṯ-Yərûšā·lāim): This describes the military action of the Babylonian king against Jerusalem. "Yāṣā meleḵ Bāḇel ’eṯ-Yərûšā·lāim" signifies the outward advance and military investment of Jerusalem by Babylon.
- "מָצָ֖ר אֶת־ יְרוּשָׁלִֽם" (maṣṣār ’eṯ-Yərûšā·lāim): This compound expression conveys the severity of the siege. "Maṣṣār" powerfully communicates that Jerusalem was not just under attack but completely encircled and blockaded, with no easy escape. It reflects the desperate state of the city.
Jeremiah 32 2 Bonus Section
The prophet Jeremiah was imprisoned on several occasions due to his pronouncements against Judah. This specific imprisonment mentioned here may be related to his previous warnings and the political turmoil that led to the siege. The "court of the guard" suggests a specific royal precinct or military enclosure within Jerusalem where high-security prisoners were held. The term "shut up" or "besieged" (maṣṣār) for both the city and Jeremiah within it is significant. It paints a picture of pervasive confinement, affecting both the collective nation and the individual prophet. This parallel underscores that Jeremiah's prophetic ministry was not performed in comfortable detachment but in shared experience with the suffering people of Judah, embodying the sorrow and pain of God's covenant people facing judgment. This intense backdrop is crucial for understanding the profound message of hope that God is about to convey through Jeremiah's act of faith.
Jeremiah 32 2 Commentary
This verse vividly portrays the oppressive atmosphere of Jerusalem during the Babylonian siege. King Zedekiah is not outside the city's struggle but within the palace, subject to the same doom as the populace. Jeremiah’s confinement in the court of the guard highlights his identification with his people's suffering and the political pressures of the time, as kings often imprisoned those perceived as disruptive or disloyal during crises. The direct contrast between the surrounding military might of Babylon and the prophetic word that still reaches Jeremiah underlines God's unfailing faithfulness. Even in the direst circumstances, when the physical land is being threatened, God’s divine communication and plan continue. The futility of outward defenses is implied, pointing towards a spiritual solution rooted in obedience and faith, a theme God will soon illustrate through Jeremiah’s purchase of the field. This situation mirrors the human condition of being trapped by sin and its consequences, from which only God's word and redemptive plan can liberate us.