Jeremiah 32 3

Jeremiah 32:3 kjv

For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, Wherefore dost thou prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it;

Jeremiah 32:3 nkjv

For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, "Why do you prophesy and say, 'Thus says the LORD: "Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it;

Jeremiah 32:3 niv

Now Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him there, saying, "Why do you prophesy as you do? You say, 'This is what the LORD says: I am about to give this city into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will capture it.

Jeremiah 32:3 esv

For Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him, saying, "Why do you prophesy and say, 'Thus says the LORD: Behold, I am giving this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall capture it;

Jeremiah 32:3 nlt

King Zedekiah had put him there, asking why he kept giving this prophecy: "This is what the LORD says: 'I am about to hand this city over to the king of Babylon, and he will take it.

Jeremiah 32 verses

Jeremiah 32 3 meaning

Jeremiah 32:3 concisely explains that King Zedekiah of Judah imprisoned the prophet Jeremiah because of a specific prophecy he delivered. This message, stated directly as "Thus says the Lord," declared God's sovereign intent to deliver the city of Jerusalem into the hands of the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, who would then capture it. This divine pronouncement of imminent judgment directly contradicted the king's desired narrative and the hopes of his people, leading to Jeremiah's confinement.

Jeremiah 32 3 Context

Jeremiah 32:3 is set during a pivotal and dire moment in Judah's history, the tenth year of King Zedekiah's reign, which was 588/587 BC. This was the precise period when Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and his army were besieging Jerusalem (Jer 32:1-2). The city's fall was imminent, and the situation was desperate. Jeremiah's message of inevitable destruction by Babylon had been consistent for decades, placing him in direct opposition to various false prophets who proclaimed peace and national deliverance. The verse directly follows the mention of Jeremiah's imprisonment in the guardhouse of the royal palace. Zedekiah, despite having once sought Jeremiah's advice, had now incarcerated him because the prophet's words were politically destabilizing and deeply demoralizing to a populace trying to resist the Babylonian forces. The immediate chapter context involves God commanding Jeremiah, while imprisoned, to perform an act of faith – purchasing a field in Anathoth, symbolizing future restoration and demonstrating that God's plans extended beyond the immediate destruction. This act served as a counter-sign to the despair, even as Jeremiah continued to preach the hard truth of impending doom.

Jeremiah 32 3 Word analysis

• For Zedekiah king of Judah:
  The name Zedekiah (צִדְקִיָּהוּ - Tsidqiyyahu) ironically means "Yahweh is my righteousness," a stark contrast to his actions. As "king of Judah," he wielded ultimate earthly authority in the besieged city, yet directly defied God's message through His prophet. His title highlights the clash between human sovereignty and divine revelation.
• had imprisoned him:
  The Hebrew verb כָּלָא (kala’) means to restrain, hold back, shut up, or imprison. This was a direct, coercive act of the state against Jeremiah, demonstrating the official opposition to God's word. Jeremiah was stripped of his freedom due to his divine commission.
• saying:
  Introduces the reason for the imprisonment, Zedekiah's direct challenge and accusation against Jeremiah.
• “Why do you prophesy and say,:”
  This is Zedekiah's rhetorical question, full of skepticism and challenge. He disputes the legitimacy of Jeremiah's "prophecy" (נִבָּא - nibba’ - to speak under divine influence). He questions the source and authority of Jeremiah's message, seeing it as seditious rather than divine.
• ‘Thus says the Lord:
  (כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה - koh amar YHWH). This is the quintessential prophetic formula, directly asserting that the subsequent words are not Jeremiah's, but the authoritative, undeniable declaration of God Himself. It directly counters Zedekiah's "Why do you prophesy?" by affirming the divine origin of the message.
• “Behold, I am giving this city:
  "Behold" (הִנֵּה - hinneh) commands attention and emphasizes certainty. "I am giving" (נֹתֵן - noten) is a present participle, conveying the imminence and decisive action of God. It's not Babylon taking it by its own power alone, but God actively "giving" (delivering) Jerusalem. "This city" refers to Jerusalem, the very capital and religious center, where God's temple stood, emphasizing the extent of divine judgment.
• into the hand of the king of Babylon,:
  "Hand" (יָד - yad) metaphorically represents power, authority, and control. God is using Nebuchadnezzar as His instrument of judgment, making him the executor of divine will, despite Babylon's own godless intentions.
• and he shall capture it;”’?”
  "Capture" (לְכָדָהּ - lekadah - to seize, conquer, take possession of). This verb signifies the complete and inevitable fall of Jerusalem. The use of the future tense underscores the prophecy's certainty and fulfillment.

• "Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him, saying,"
  This phrase encapsulates the core conflict: the ultimate earthly political power confronts and silences God's chosen messenger for delivering an unpopular but true divine message. It shows a king prioritizing political expediency and human hope over God's declared will, culminating in the suppression of truth.
• "“Why do you prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord:"
  This juxtaposition highlights the tension between Zedekiah's human challenge ("Why do you prophesy?") and Jeremiah's unshakeable divine commission ("Thus says the Lord"). It is a contest between human reason/rebellion and absolute divine authority. Zedekiah refuses to acknowledge the divine source.
• "Behold, I am giving this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall capture it;"
  This central declaration asserts God's supreme sovereignty over all nations and events. The active verb "I am giving" underscores that the fall of Jerusalem is not a mere outcome of military might, but a divine decree, with Babylon serving as the agent of God's judgment against His disobedient people. It seals the prophecy's inevitability.

Jeremiah 32 3 Bonus section

The charge of "discouraging the soldiers" or "treason" against Jeremiah (Jer 38:4) underpins Zedekiah's reasoning for imprisonment here. Speaking the truth about Jerusalem's inevitable fall, especially when framed as "God's will," was seen by the officials and Zedekiah as undermining national morale and aiding the enemy, rather than accepting divine judgment. The consistent theme throughout Jeremiah is the clash between God's reality (spoken through Jeremiah) and the false realities (spoken by false prophets) that Zedekiah and the people chose to believe. This particular prophecy was not merely a military prediction; it was a profound theological statement that Yahweh was actively dismantling His own kingdom as an act of discipline, an unthinkable concept to many, yet crucial for their eventual restoration.

Jeremiah 32 3 Commentary

Jeremiah 32:3 lays bare the profound conflict between divine truth and human political resistance. King Zedekiah, whose very name speaks of Yahweh's righteousness, ironically silences the true prophet who embodies that righteousness. His imprisonment of Jeremiah was not arbitrary; it was a desperate act by a monarch who refused to accept God's judgment upon his nation, preferring to cling to false hopes and politically expedient lies. The core offense was Jeremiah's clear declaration that God Himself was delivering Jerusalem into Babylon's hands. This was a direct assault on the prevailing nationalistic pride and belief in Jerusalem's invincibility due to the presence of the Temple. The verse therefore spotlights the painful cost of delivering God's unwelcome truth and illustrates the certainty of divine judgment even in the face of human defiance, emphasizing God's absolute sovereignty over both His people's destiny and the nations of the world.

Examples:

• A pastor preaching a challenging, counter-cultural biblical truth today and facing criticism or job loss.
• Individuals being ostracized for upholding unpopular biblical stances in a secular society.
• Historical figures like John the Baptist or Jesus, persecuted for speaking God's uncomfortable truth to power.