Jeremiah 37 5

Jeremiah 37:5 kjv

Then Pharaoh's army was come forth out of Egypt: and when the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem heard tidings of them, they departed from Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 37:5 nkjv

Then Pharaoh's army came up from Egypt; and when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard news of them, they departed from Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 37:5 niv

Pharaoh's army had marched out of Egypt, and when the Babylonians who were besieging Jerusalem heard the report about them, they withdrew from Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 37:5 esv

The army of Pharaoh had come out of Egypt. And when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard news about them, they withdrew from Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 37:5 nlt

At this time the army of Pharaoh Hophra of Egypt appeared at the southern border of Judah. When the Babylonian army heard about it, they withdrew from their siege of Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 37 verses

Jeremiah 37 5 meaning

Jeremiah 37:5 details a momentary respite during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. Pharaoh's army advanced from Egypt, causing the Chaldean (Babylonian) forces currently besieging the city to withdraw. This event provided a fleeting sense of hope and relief for the people of Judah, though it ultimately proved to be a false and temporary deliverance.

Jeremiah 37 5 Context

Jeremiah chapter 37 occurs during the latter part of King Zedekiah's reign in Judah, with Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon exerting his dominance. Zedekiah, initially installed by Babylon as a vassal, foolishly broke his oath and sought an alliance with Egypt, directly contravening God's warnings delivered through Jeremiah. Jerusalem was under a devastating Babylonian siege. Jeremiah 37:5 describes the immediate consequence of this Egyptian intervention: the Babylonian army temporarily withdrew from Jerusalem. This event briefly relieved the dire situation in the capital, fostering a fleeting but ultimately delusive hope among the inhabitants and King Zedekiah that Egyptian military power would genuinely save them, disregarding Jeremiah's repeated pronouncements of the inevitability of Babylonian judgment and Jerusalem's destruction due to Judah's sin and reliance on foreign aid.

Jeremiah 37 5 Word analysis

• Then: Links this military development directly to previous pleas by King Zedekiah to Jeremiah for prayer against the Chaldean threat.
• Pharaoh's: Refers to Pharaoh Hophra (Apries) of Egypt, whose involvement Zedekiah eagerly sought despite prophetic warnings.
• army: חֵיל (cheyl). The collective military might of Egypt, perceived by Judah as a powerful deliverer against Babylon.
• had come forth: Denotes a significant movement and active engagement, a military advance by Egypt into the region.
• out of Egypt: Emphasizes the origin of this aid, which for Judah was a forbidden and treacherous alliance according to God's word.
• and when the Chaldeans: כַּשְׂדִּים (Kasdim), referring to the Babylonians, who were God's instrument for judging Judah.
• that besieged: צָרִים (tsarim), from צור (tsur), meaning "to bind" or "to lay siege." This highlights the persistent, suffocating reality of the siege Jerusalem endured.
• Jerusalem: The capital city, central to Judah's identity, under God's severe judgment.
• heard tidings: שְׁמֻעָה (shemu'ah). The receipt of intelligence or a report about the approaching Egyptian military, compelling a tactical response.
• of them: Refers directly to the advancing Pharaoh's army, posing a new threat to the Chaldean forces.
• they departed: עָלוּ (ʿalu), which implies "withdrew" or "lifted" their position. It was a strategic military repositioning to face a new adversary, not a sign of defeat or abandoning the siege entirely.
• from Jerusalem: Signifies the physical lifting of the siege line around the city, offering a moment of unexpected and profound relief.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• Then Pharaoh's army had come forth out of Egypt: This phrase encapsulates Judah's humanistic and faithless response to divine judgment, demonstrating their reliance on external political and military strength rather than repentance and trust in God.
• and when the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem: This underscores the active execution of God's judgment, as the Chaldeans were His "servant" in bringing discipline upon Judah for its sins.
• heard tidings of them: This indicates a pragmatic, military response by the Chaldeans to a credible threat, shifting their immediate focus to deal with the Egyptian army, showcasing their tactical intelligence.
• they departed from Jerusalem: Describes the resulting, albeit temporary, reprieve for the besieged city, a moment of false hope before the inevitable return of the Chaldean judgment.

Jeremiah 37 5 Bonus section

The temporary lifting of the siege, described in Jeremiah 37:5, directly facilitated a moment of profound irony and injustice for the prophet Jeremiah. During this brief window when movement outside Jerusalem was possible, Jeremiah attempted to travel to Anathoth to attend to a land transaction. However, he was unjustly accused of defecting to the Babylonians by a gate commander and subsequently imprisoned. This incident demonstrates how a perceived "moment of relief" for the nation could, paradoxically, lead to intensified suffering for God's faithful messenger, further underscoring the deep distrust and resistance to divine truth prevalent among Judah's leaders and people.

Jeremiah 37 5 Commentary

Jeremiah 37:5 presents a poignant interlude in the unfolding judgment upon Judah. The withdrawal of the Babylonian forces due to Pharaoh's military advance initially appeared to be a deliverance, perhaps validating Zedekiah's decision to seek Egyptian aid. However, this verse encapsulates a deeper spiritual truth: reliance on worldly powers is ultimately futile and short-lived when God's appointed judgment is in motion. Jeremiah had repeatedly prophesied the unreliability of Egypt and the certainty of Babylon's success as God's instrument. This brief lifting of the siege was merely a tactical necessity for the Chaldeans, not a divine intervention for Judah. It gave false hope, highlighting the deceptive nature of trusting in anything other than the Lord, whose ultimate plan for Jerusalem's destruction would soon be reinstated.