Jeremiah 34 6

Jeremiah 34:6 kjv

Then Jeremiah the prophet spake all these words unto Zedekiah king of Judah in Jerusalem,

Jeremiah 34:6 nkjv

Then Jeremiah the prophet spoke all these words to Zedekiah king of Judah in Jerusalem,

Jeremiah 34:6 niv

Then Jeremiah the prophet told all this to Zedekiah king of Judah, in Jerusalem,

Jeremiah 34:6 esv

Then Jeremiah the prophet spoke all these words to Zedekiah king of Judah, in Jerusalem,

Jeremiah 34:6 nlt

So Jeremiah the prophet delivered the message to King Zedekiah of Judah.

Jeremiah 34 verses

Jeremiah 34 6 Meaning

Jeremiah 34:6 states, "Now therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, but your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring upon this place." This verse pronounces judgment on Zedekiah and the people of Judah, highlighting that their demise would be inevitable despite the prophet's (Jeremiah's) message reaching Zedekiah. The "gathering to fathers" signifies death and burial, a peace denied by the impending doom.

Jeremiah 34 6 Context

Jeremiah 34 describes a critical moment in Jerusalem's history during the siege by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Zedekiah, the king, had broken his covenant with the Babylonian king and, more importantly, his covenant with the LORD. In response to external pressure and a false sense of security, Zedekiah had initiated a flawed attempt to reinstate the law regarding the freeing of Hebrew slaves. Jeremiah, as the LORD's prophet, declares that this late and politically motivated action is insufficient to avert God's judgment. The chapter's narrative reveals a pattern of rebellion and deceit, culminating in the king and people disregarding God's word even after Jeremiah's prophecy is delivered directly to Zedekiah.

Jeremiah 34 6 Word Analysis

• "Now therefore": (Hebrew: v'attah, `et - "and now, therefore") - Indicates a transition to a concluding statement or a consequence of what has been said.

• "behold": (Hebrew: hinnēh - "lo," "see") - A particle drawing attention to what follows, emphasizing its importance.

• "I will gather you": (Hebrew: 'āsep kêm - "I will collect/take you") - A divine action, implying control over destiny and ultimate fate.

• "to your fathers": (Hebrew: 'el-ăbôtěkha - "unto your fathers") - Refers to the collective generations of ancestors who have died and are buried. It signifies entering the realm of the departed.

• "you shall be gathered to your grave": (Hebrew: wə-tōsāp hānē 'el-qĕḇerôtêkhem - "and you shall be gathered unto your graves") - Reinforces the idea of burial and joining the deceased, a common euphemism for death.

• "in peace": (Hebrew: ləšālôm - "to/with peace") - Implies a peaceful, undisturbed rest in death. However, in this context, it's ironic; true peace would have come from obedience, not through the coming judgment.

• "but": (Hebrew: wə- - "and") - Conjunction used adversatively, creating a stark contrast.

• "your eyes shall not see": (Hebrew: lō'- rā'û `ênêykha - "not see your eyes") - Means they will not witness, experience, or comprehend. It often implies being removed from the scene before its full unfolding.

• "all the disaster": (Hebrew: kāl hārā‘â - "all the evil/calamity") - Denotes the totality of the impending destruction and suffering.

• "that I will bring": (Hebrew: 'ānōḵî mēbî' - "I am bringing") - Emphasizes God's active role in executing judgment.

• "upon this place": (Hebrew: ‘al hammāqōm haggĕwĕ‘îqūm - "upon this place") - Refers to Jerusalem and the land of Judah.

• Phrase Analysis: "gathered to your fathers... gathered to your grave in peace": This idiomatic expression highlights a dignified burial, implying that despite the circumstances, there would be a cessation of suffering upon death. However, the peace is tragically undercut by the preceding phrase.

• Phrase Analysis: "your eyes shall not see all the disaster": This signifies being taken away from experiencing the full horror of the ensuing ruin. For Zedekiah, this literally means being blinded and exiled to Babylon, thus "not seeing" the complete desolation of his city and kingdom with his own eyes before dying elsewhere.

Jeremiah 34 6 Bonus Section

The concept of "gathering to one's fathers" was a common Hebrew euphemism for death and burial, found in various Old Testament accounts (e.g., Gen 15:15, Gen 47:30, Deut 31:16). It signifies returning to the ancestral land of the dead. The "peace" in this context is a peace from worldly turmoil, a resting state upon death, rather than a peace of spiritual well-being or prosperity which they had forfeited. The verse highlights a critical point about judgment: while individual suffering might end with death, the consequences of collective sin often extend beyond the perpetrators' lifespan to their descendants and their land. The verse also echoes themes of spiritual blindness found throughout Jeremiah's ministry, where the people and their leaders refuse to see or heed the LORD's warnings.

Jeremiah 34 6 Commentary

This verse underscores the inevitability of God's judgment upon Zedekiah and his people for their persistent disobedience and broken covenants. Despite their temporary, half-hearted attempts at reform, such as releasing slaves, their actions are seen as politically motivated and devoid of true repentance. The gathering to fathers and grave "in peace" stands in stark contrast to the looming "disaster" they will not witness. This paradoxical statement suggests that death will bring an end to their personal suffering, but not before God’s wrath is fully unleashed upon their land and people. Jeremiah's prophecies consistently emphasize that true peace comes only through obedience to God, not through superficial reforms or appeasement. The blindness mentioned here is both literal for Zedekiah, who was blinded after his capture, and figurative, representing their spiritual inability to perceive the divine justice being executed.