Jeremiah 34:4 kjv
Yet hear the word of the LORD, O Zedekiah king of Judah; Thus saith the LORD of thee, Thou shalt not die by the sword:
Jeremiah 34:4 nkjv
Yet hear the word of the LORD, O Zedekiah king of Judah! Thus says the LORD concerning you: 'You shall not die by the sword.
Jeremiah 34:4 niv
"?'Yet hear the LORD's promise to you, Zedekiah king of Judah. This is what the LORD says concerning you: You will not die by the sword;
Jeremiah 34:4 esv
Yet hear the word of the LORD, O Zedekiah king of Judah! Thus says the LORD concerning you: 'You shall not die by the sword.
Jeremiah 34:4 nlt
"'But listen to this promise from the LORD, O Zedekiah, king of Judah. This is what the LORD says: You will not be killed in war
Jeremiah 34 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 34:5 | You shall die in peace. And as spices were burned for your fathers, the former kings... | fulfillment/qualification |
| Jeremiah 21:12 | Say, "O house of David, Thus says the Lord: "Execute justice in the morning... | King of Judah's responsibility |
| Jeremiah 37:21 | Then Jeremiah the prophet said to Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, when he was shut up... | Zedekiah's initial treatment of Jeremiah |
| Jeremiah 32:5 | he shall not return with you; for he will surely die in Babylon, and you shall see... | concerning Jehoiakim ( Zedekiah's brother) |
| Jeremiah 38:2 | "Thus says the Lord: He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, by famine... | conditionality of survival |
| Jeremiah 38:22 | "All your wives and your children shall be drawn out to the Chaldeans... | Zedekiah's future fate discussed |
| Jeremiah 39:6 | Then the king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes... | fulfillment of non-sword death |
| Jeremiah 39:7 | And Zedekiah’s eyes he put out. Then the king of Babylon bound him with bronze fetters... | actual consequence |
| Ezekiel 12:13 | I will spread My net over him, and he shall be caught in My snare... | prophesy about kings who don't listen |
| Amos 6:7 | Therefore you shall now be the first to go into exile, and the company of the... | consequence of unfaithfulness |
| Micah 3:4 | They will cry out to the Lord, but he will not answer them; he will even hide his face... | God's silence to impenitent rulers |
| Isaiah 1:20 | But if you refuse and are rebellious, you shall eat the division of the sword... | consequences of disobedience |
| Psalm 37:30 | The mouth of the righteous whispers wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. | God's favor on the just |
| Proverbs 21:30 | No, in vain is the king’s counsel without him. | king's counsel in relation to God |
| Luke 21:15 | for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which your enemies will not be able to... | God's provision for defense |
| 1 Peter 3:7 | Likewise, husbands, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife... | living wisely with those in authority |
| Hebrews 12:10 | For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us... | God's discipline |
| Romans 11:22 | Note then the kindness and the severity of God... | God's dual nature |
| Jeremiah 1:17 | "But you, gird up your loins! Arise, and speak to them all that I command you... | prophetic mandate to Jeremiah |
| Acts 2:40 | And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves... | call to repentance |
| 1 Kings 2:10 | So David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. | king's death in peace |
| 2 Kings 19:35 | Then it happened that night that the angel of the Lord struck down 185,000 in the... | divine intervention for king |
Jeremiah 34 verses
Jeremiah 34 4 Meaning
Jeremiah 34:4 states, "Yet hear the word of the Lord, O Zedekiah king of Judah! Thus says the Lord concerning you: You shall not die by the sword." This verse is a conditional prophecy given to Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, before the final fall of Jerusalem. It speaks of a personal reprieve from a violent death for Zedekiah, contingent upon his obedience to God.
Jeremiah 34 4 Context
Jeremiah 34 is set during the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Zedekiah had ascended the throne under Babylonian suzerainty but had rebelled by making an alliance with Egypt, thereby breaking his covenant oath to Babylon (Ezekiel 17:13-16). This chapter addresses Zedekiah and the people of Judah directly regarding their actions and God's impending judgment, mixed with a flicker of conditional hope for the king. The initial release of Hebrew slaves, as detailed later in the chapter, was a response to the temporary lifting of the siege, but this was rescinded, leading to severe consequences.
Jeremiah 34 4 Word Analysis
- "Yet" (וְעַתָּה - v'atah): This adversative conjunction indicates a contrast or a shift in what has been or what is about to be said. It implies that despite Zedekiah's past actions or the dire circumstances, God is speaking directly to him.
- "hear" (שְׁמַע - sh'ma): This is a direct imperative, commanding attention and obedience. It is a crucial word in the Hebrew Bible, often initiating significant divine pronouncements (e.g., the Shema in Deut. 6:4).
- "the word of the Lord" (דְּבַר־יְהוָה - d'var-Adonai): This signifies divine communication. It emphasizes that the message is not Jeremiah's opinion but God's authoritative utterance.
- "O Zedekiah king of Judah" (צִדְקִיָּה מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה - Tzidkiyah melech-Yehudah): Directly addresses the reigning monarch, highlighting his responsibility and position before God. "Zedekiah" means "My righteousness is Yahweh."
- "Thus says the Lord" (כֹּה־אָמַר יְהוָה - koh-amar Adonai): A standard prophetic formula asserting the divine origin of the following statement.
- "concerning you" (לָךְ - lach): Specifies that this particular prophecy is for Zedekiah personally.
- "You shall not die by the sword" (לֹא־תָמוּת בַּחֶרֶב - lo-tamut ba-cherev): A strong negation promising a specific end. "Tamut" (to die) is emphatic. "Ba-cherev" (by the sword) signifies a violent death in warfare or execution. This promise, as later verses clarify, is not an absolute guarantee but a conditional outcome tied to specific behaviors.
Words-group analysis
- "Yet hear the word of the Lord...": This opening sets a tone of urgency and authority. It is a final appeal to the king before his ultimate downfall. The use of "yet" implies that despite the prevailing unfaithfulness, God offers a direct communication and a potential way out of severe judgment for the king.
Jeremiah 34 4 Bonus Section
The name "Zedekiah" itself means "Yahweh is my righteousness." This is a profound irony given his unrighteous actions as king and his breach of oaths, which led to his destruction. The promise "you shall not die by the sword" does not guarantee survival but a specific manner of death, or more accurately, an escape from a specific type of violent demise, such as being killed in combat or publicly executed by the sword in Jerusalem. His ultimate fate—blindness and exile—avoids a "sword death" in the literal sense but represents a profound humiliation and loss, signifying the consequences of breaking faith with God and covenant obligations. The context reveals that the brief period of returning the slaves was a critical period of divine visitation and opportunity for repentance and a turning point in the city's fate, but this opportunity was squandered.
Jeremiah 34 4 Commentary
Jeremiah 34:4 is a critical juncture in Zedekiah's reign and in the narrative of Jerusalem's fall. It represents a moment where God, through His prophet, offers a specific word of assurance—that Zedekiah would not die by the sword. This assurance is directly linked to a prior action of the people: the emancipation of Hebrew slaves, a step towards fulfilling covenantal responsibilities, which had been briefly undertaken due to the temporary withdrawal of the Babylonian army (Jer 34:8-11). However, this humane act was later reversed. This conditional prophecy underscores that covenant faithfulness brings blessings, while disobedience and injustice invite severe judgment. The ultimate fate of Zedekiah (Jer 39:4-7) shows that while he did not die by the sword in battle or direct execution by the sword, his eyes were blinded, and he died in Babylonian exile, fulfilling the broader implications of God’s pronouncements against him for his treachery and disobedience. The verse highlights the personal nature of God’s judgment and mercy, addressing leaders directly.