Jeremiah 34 21

Jeremiah 34:21 kjv

And Zedekiah king of Judah and his princes will I give into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life, and into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, which are gone up from you.

Jeremiah 34:21 nkjv

And I will give Zedekiah king of Judah and his princes into the hand of their enemies, into the hand of those who seek their life, and into the hand of the king of Babylon's army which has gone back from you.

Jeremiah 34:21 niv

"I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah and his officials into the hands of their enemies who want to kill them, to the army of the king of Babylon, which has withdrawn from you.

Jeremiah 34:21 esv

And Zedekiah king of Judah and his officials I will give into the hand of their enemies and into the hand of those who seek their lives, into the hand of the army of the king of Babylon which has withdrawn from you.

Jeremiah 34:21 nlt

"I will hand over King Zedekiah of Judah and his officials to the army of the king of Babylon. And although they have left Jerusalem for a while,

Jeremiah 34 verses

Jeremiah 34 21 Meaning

This verse declares God's intention to hand over King Zedekiah and his officials, along with the people who had wrongly disregarded a covenant regarding the freeing of slaves, into the hands of their enemies, particularly the Babylonians. It signifies divine judgment for broken promises and unrighteous actions, leading to destruction and exile.

Jeremiah 34 21 Context

Jeremiah chapter 34 depicts the consequences of Zedekiah and the people of Jerusalem failing to uphold a covenant they had made to free their Hebrew slaves, a promise made during a time of crisis. This covenant was made in response to Jeremiah's prophecy that the Babylonians would conquer the city. However, as soon as the Babylonian army temporarily withdrew, they reneged on their promise, showing their defiance of God's word and covenant. Jeremiah is sent with a message of impending doom because of this betrayal. Verse 21 specifically outlines God's judgment against Zedekiah and his officials for this breach of faith, predicting their downfall and capture by the Babylonian forces, which ultimately leads to the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of its people, as recorded in 2 Kings 25.

Jeremiah 34 21 Word Analysis

• Behold (Hinei - הִנֵּה): This is an interjection used to draw attention, signifying that what follows is important and commands immediate consideration. It sets a serious, attention-grabbing tone for the divine declaration.
• I (Ani - אָנֹכִי): The first-person singular pronoun, emphasizing that this is God's direct pronouncement.
• giving (Natin - נָתַן): Denotes the act of delivering, handing over, or causing something to fall into the possession or power of another.
• into the hand (Yad - יָד): A common idiom in Hebrew literature representing control, power, or authority. "Into the hand" signifies subjugation and loss of freedom.
• the king (Melech - מֶלֶךְ): Refers to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, the instrument of God's judgment.
• of Babylon (Bavel - בָּבֶל): The imperial power that conquered Jerusalem and exiled its people.
• and (Ve'et - וְאֶת): Connects Nebuchadnezzar to the subsequent subjects of the judgment.
• his (Hu - הוּא): Possessive pronoun.
• officials (Sarey'hey - שָׂרֵי): Refers to the princes, captains, or rulers of Judah. Their involvement in the broken covenant makes them culpable.
• and (Ve'et - וְאֶת): Connects officials to the people.
• them (Hem - הֵם): Refers to the people of Judah, including those who remained in Jerusalem and those in the city, who implicitly agreed with or allowed the covenant to be broken.
• that (Asher - אֲשֶׁר): A relative pronoun linking the people to their particular transgression.
• have left (Azav - עָזַב): Signifies abandonment, desertion, or neglect. In this context, it means they have forsaken the covenant and God's command.
• inhabiting (Yashav - יָשַׁב): Dwelling or residing.
• Jerusalem (Yerushalayim - יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם): The capital city of Judah.
• and (U'vey - וּבְ): And in/at.
• the cities (Arim - עָרֵי): Refers to the towns and cities of Judah.
• of Judah (Yehudah - יְהוּדָה): The southern kingdom.
• and (Ve'et - וְאֶת): And to.
• its (Hu - הוּא): Possessive pronoun.
• people (Am - עַם): The general populace.
• even (Gam - גַּם): Also, indeed.
• all (Kol - כָּל): Entirety.
• their (Hem - הֵם): Possessive pronoun.
• possessions (Mishneh - מִשְׁנֶה): Often translated as 'remainder' or 'full extent.' Here, it implies everything belonging to them, reinforcing the completeness of the impending loss.
• shall be taken (Lavok'ach - לָבוֹקַח): This is a passive future verb indicating that their possessions will be captured or seized by the enemy. The Hebrew suggests a strong, inevitable action.
• as prey (Shalal - שָׁלָל): Spoils of war, plunder. This highlights the ignominious nature of their defeat.
• to the king (Melech - מֶלֶךְ): Referring back to Nebuchadnezzar.
• of Babylon (Bavel - בָּבֶל): As previously mentioned.
• their enemies (Soyvehey'hey - שׂוֹרְרֵיהֶם): Those who oppose them, the Babylonians in this context.
• and (U'vey - וּבְ): And to.
• to the people (La'am - לָעָם): The Babylonian soldiers and perhaps allied forces.
• of his (Hu - הוּא): Possessive pronoun.
• army (Tzeva'o - צִבְאָתוֹ): Military force, host.

Word Group Analysis:The phrase "giving... into the hand" signifies surrender and complete control by the enemy. "They have left inhabiting Jerusalem and the cities of Judah" implies a departure from righteousness within their own land. "All their possessions shall be taken as prey" emphasizes total material and territorial loss due to their disobedience.

Jeremiah 34 21 Bonus Section

The verse's pronouncement foreshadows the final destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile, which fulfilled these prophecies in stark detail (2 Kings 25). Zedekiah's eventual capture, blinding, and death in Babylon directly illustrate the literal fulfillment of God’s word through Jeremiah. The emphasis on "possessions shall be taken as prey" reflects the utter devastation and plunder that accompanied the city's fall, a common outcome of ancient warfare, but here directly attributed to divine decree for covenant violation. The act of "leaving" their cities, not in migration but in subjugation and exile, is a critical component of the punishment.

Jeremiah 34 21 Commentary

This verse is a stark declaration of divine retribution. God directly informs Jeremiah that Zedekiah, his rulers, and the people who abandoned their covenant obligations will be handed over to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. This act is not merely political but a judgment from God for their faithlessness and their mistreatment of one another (in the context of the covenant about freeing slaves). The judgment is comprehensive, affecting not only their lives but also all their property, which will be taken as spoils of war. It underscores the principle that covenant breaches, especially when accompanied by unrighteousness and the violation of fundamental justice, incur severe divine consequences. The temporary respite granted when the Babylonian army withdrew proved to be a trap, as their reversal of the manumission of slaves triggered God's intensified judgment.