Jeremiah 37 8

Jeremiah 37:8 kjv

And the Chaldeans shall come again, and fight against this city, and take it, and burn it with fire.

Jeremiah 37:8 nkjv

And the Chaldeans shall come back and fight against this city, and take it and burn it with fire." '

Jeremiah 37:8 niv

Then the Babylonians will return and attack this city; they will capture it and burn it down.'

Jeremiah 37:8 esv

And the Chaldeans shall come back and fight against this city. They shall capture it and burn it with fire.

Jeremiah 37:8 nlt

Then the Babylonians will come back and capture this city and burn it to the ground.'

Jeremiah 37 verses

Jeremiah 37 8 Meaning

Jeremiah 37:8 declares that the Chaldeans (Babylonians) will return and take the city by siege, a stark prophecy delivered in a time of Egyptian military advance. It signifies that despite outward appearances of relief, Judah's ultimate fate under Babylonian conquest remains unchanged.

Jeremiah 37 8 Context

Jeremiah 37 occurs during the final, desperate days of Jerusalem before its fall to the Babylonians. King Zedekiah had broken his treaty with Nebuchadnezzar by allying with Egypt. The arrival of Pharaoh's army caused temporary optimism in Jerusalem, as people believed they would be relieved from the Babylonian siege. Jeremiah, however, is consistently portrayed as delivering a message of divine judgment, regardless of current political or military circumstances. This specific verse emphasizes that Egypt's intervention will be futile, and the Babylonians, who had temporarily withdrawn, would return to complete their conquest.

Jeremiah 37 8 Word Analysis

• וְהִנֵּה (wəhinnēh): "and behold" or "and lo." This introductory particle draws attention to the following statement, emphasizing its immediate importance and truth. It often signals a significant or unexpected revelation.

• חֵיל (ḥêyl): "army" or "forces." This refers to the military strength of Pharaoh.

• פַּרְעֹה (parʿōh): "Pharaoh." The title for the king of Egypt.

• צָבָא (ṣāḇā): "army" or "host." Similar to ḥêyl, referring to military might.

• צָבָא (ṣāḇā) מִצְרַיִם (miṣrayim): "the army of Egypt." Denotes the military forces coming from Egypt.

• צָבָא (ṣāḇā) כַּשְׂדִּים (kaśdîm): "the army of the Chaldeans" (Babylonians). This identifies the enemy force that had been besieging Jerusalem.

• יָשׁוּבוּ (yāšûḇū): "they will return." Indicates a coming back, specifically after a temporary withdrawal. This suggests the Babylonians were not permanently defeated but had regrouped.

• וְצָרִים (wəṣārîm): "and will besiege." Derived from the root word tsūr (צור), meaning "to block up," "to enclose," or "to besiege." It implies surrounding the city to prevent entry or exit, thereby cutting off supplies and forcing surrender.

• עַל (ʿal): "against" or "upon." A preposition indicating opposition or the target of the action.

• הָעִיר (hāʿîr): "the city." Refers specifically to Jerusalem.

• וְלָכְדָה (wəlāḵdāh): "and capture it" or "and seize it." From the root lāḵaḏ (לכד), meaning "to capture," "to take possession of." It signifies the ultimate success of the besieging army in overcoming the city's defenses.

• Groups of words analysis:

  • "Then the army of Pharaoh came out of Egypt": This clause presents a situation that the people of Jerusalem saw as positive news, potentially bringing them relief from the Babylonian siege. It represents a false hope based on earthly alliances.
  • "and when the Chaldeans heard report of them, then they broke up from Jerusalem.": This indicates that the arrival of the Egyptian army caused the Babylonian army to pause or temporarily withdraw their immediate siege operations around Jerusalem, likely to deal with the new threat.
  • "Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, saying:": This structure highlights Jeremiah's prophetic role as the mouthpiece of God. Despite the shifting military situation, God's word remains constant and authoritative, bringing a counter-narrative to human observation and hope.
  • "Thus says the LORD, 'Deceive not yourselves, saying, The Chaldeans shall surely depart from us...'": This opening from the LORD directly addresses a potential self-deception within Jerusalem. They were mistakenly believing the Egyptians' arrival meant permanent deliverance.
  • "for they shall not surely depart.": A definitive denial of their hopeful assumption.
  • "Yea, though you had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yet would they rise up every man from his tent, and burn this city with fire.'": This powerful statement emphasizes the inevitability and totality of the judgment. Even if the Egyptians achieved some military success, the divine decree for Jerusalem's destruction would still be fulfilled. The "wounded men" signify that no partial victory by the Egyptians could thwart God's purpose.

Jeremiah 37 8 Bonus Section

The mention of the Egyptian army (Pharaoh's army) returning highlights the political complexities of the time and the precarious alliances that rulers sought. Judah's treaty with Egypt, which involved Zedekiah breaking his vassal treaty with Babylon, was a grave error in their foreign policy and a further defiance of God’s will as communicated through Jeremiah. The prophecy here serves to expose the futility of seeking deliverance from any source other than God, particularly through disobedience. It also reinforces the theme throughout Jeremiah's prophecy that covenant faithfulness is paramount. The promise of a future restoration was conditional on repentance, which Zedekiah and the people repeatedly failed to embrace.

Jeremiah 37 8 Commentary

This verse reveals God's unwavering commitment to the judgment He had pronounced against Jerusalem. The arrival of the Egyptian army was a military event that offered a glimmer of hope to the beleaguered city and its king, Zedekiah. However, from God's perspective, this was merely a temporary disruption in the divine plan. Jeremiah was tasked with conveying the disheartening but crucial message that this hope was misplaced. The Babylonians were not defeated; they were merely regrouping. God’s ultimate purpose was the destruction and exile of Jerusalem due to its persistent sin and rebellion, especially Zedekiah’s breach of covenant with Babylon. The verse powerfully underscores that human alliances and perceived victories are secondary to God's sovereign will and pronouncements. Even if the Egyptian army managed to inflict damage on the Babylonians, the judgment on Jerusalem itself was decreed and would be carried out. This demonstrates that true security and hope lie in obedience to God, not in political maneuvering or misplaced trust in earthly powers.