Jeremiah 38:3 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Jeremiah 38:3 kjv
Thus saith the LORD, This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, which shall take it.
Jeremiah 38:3 nkjv
Thus says the LORD: 'This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, which shall take it.' "
Jeremiah 38:3 niv
And this is what the LORD says: 'This city will certainly be given into the hands of the army of the king of Babylon, who will capture it.'?"
Jeremiah 38:3 esv
Thus says the LORD: This city shall surely be given into the hand of the army of the king of Babylon and be taken."
Jeremiah 38:3 nlt
The LORD also says: 'The city of Jerusalem will certainly be handed over to the army of the king of Babylon, who will capture it.'"
Jeremiah 38 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference (Point) |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 26:31-33 | I will make your cities a waste... and your land shall be a desolation... | Covenant curse for disobedience |
| Deut 28:49-51 | The LORD will bring a nation against you... and destroy your produce | Divine judgment by foreign nation |
| Deut 28:52 | They shall besiege you... until your high and fortified walls fall | Siege leading to destruction |
| Isa 39:6-7 | The days are coming, when all... shall be carried to Babylon... your sons... shall be eunuchs | Isaiah's earlier prophecy of Babylonian exile |
| Jer 21:7 | I will give Zedekiah... into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon... | Specific prophecy of Zedekiah's capture |
| Jer 32:3 | King Zedekiah... shall surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon | Repeated prophecy of Zedekiah's capture |
| Jer 34:2 | I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire | Direct parallel, explicit burning |
| Jer 37:17 | You will be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon | Direct prophecy of Zedekiah's capture reiterated |
| Jer 38:17 | If you surrender... you and this city shall live | Conditional promise contrast |
| Jer 38:18 | If you do not surrender... then this city shall be given into the hand... | Consequence of refusing surrender (context) |
| Jer 39:8 | The Chaldeans burned the king's house and the houses of the people with fire | Fulfillment: actual burning of Jerusalem |
| 2 Kgs 25:9 | He burned the house of the LORD and the king's house and all the houses of Jerusalem | Historical fulfillment of destruction |
| 2 Chr 36:17 | Therefore he brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans... | God's use of Chaldeans (Babylonians) as agent |
| Eze 7:24 | I will bring the most evil of the nations to take possession of their houses | Foreign nations as agents of divine wrath |
| Eze 12:13 | I will spread my net over him... I will bring him to Babylon... | Prophecy of Zedekiah's capture by Babylon |
| Eze 21:28 | Thus says the Lord GOD: A sword, a sword is sharpened and polished | Imagery of God's swift judgment and destruction |
| Hos 10:3 | We have no king, for we do not fear the LORD... | Consequence of faithlessness: loss of leadership/sovereignty |
| Mic 3:12 | Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins | Prophecy of Jerusalem's utter destruction |
| Lam 1:3 | Judah has gone into exile because of affliction and hard servitude | Lament of the fulfillment of judgment |
| Zech 1:6 | But my words and my statutes... did they not overtake your fathers? | Principle that God's prophetic warnings are always fulfilled |
| Dan 1:2 | And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels... | Initial wave of Babylon's success, divine control |
| Ps 79:1 | O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple | Lament reflecting Jerusalem's devastation |
| Rom 11:7-8 | Israel failed... others were hardened, as it is written, "God gave them a spirit of stupor..." | God giving over to consequences due to hardened hearts |
Jeremiah 38 verses
Jeremiah 38 3 meaning
Jeremiah 38:3 is a direct prophetic declaration from the Lord, delivered through Jeremiah to King Zedekiah, stating the inescapable fate of Jerusalem if Zedekiah continues to resist. It foretells that God Himself will sovereignly surrender the city into the complete control and destructive power of the Babylonian king, who will then burn it with fire. This signifies divine judgment for Judah's persistent disobedience and rebellion against God's covenant.
Jeremiah 38 3 Context
Jeremiah 38:3 is part of a series of private, often urgent, conversations between King Zedekiah and the prophet Jeremiah during the final brutal siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonian army. The chapter immediately before describes the princes accusing Jeremiah of demoralizing the people and throwing him into a muddy cistern (vv. 1-6). Ebed-Melech intervenes to save him (vv. 7-13). Following this, Zedekiah, deeply fearful and indecisive, secretly seeks counsel from Jeremiah, despite earlier ill-treatment.
Jeremiah 38:1-2 sets the scene with Jeremiah proclaiming the Lord's warning: staying in the city means death by sword, famine, and pestilence, while surrendering to the Babylonians means life. Verse 3 then immediately follows, delivering the specific, grave consequence for Zedekiah and Jerusalem if the king refuses to heed the Lord's instruction to surrender (as revealed later in verses 17-18). Historically, this occurs around 588-586 BC, as Nebuchadnezzar's forces were tightening their grip on Jerusalem, bringing Judah's final rebellious king to the brink of ruin after decades of unfaithfulness to God's covenant.
Jeremiah 38 3 Word analysis
- And I will give (וּנְתַתִּי - u-n'tatî): This is a first-person singular verb, "and I will give," definitively indicating the Lord God as the speaker and ultimate actor. The root nātan (נָתַן) means "to give, place, set, deliver, permit, commit." The Hebrew structure highlights divine sovereignty; this is not a random turn of events, but God's deliberate, active handing over of the city.
- this city (אֶת־הָעִיר הַזֹּאת - et-hā-ʿîr haz-zōʾt): Refers unequivocally to Jerusalem. At this point, Jerusalem represents not only the capital of Judah but also the spiritual heart, the place where God's Temple resided. Its fate symbolized the entire nation's judgment.
- into the hand of (בְּיַד - bə-yad): This is a common Hebrew idiom, literally "in the hand of," signifying complete power, control, authority, and possession. To be "given into the hand of" implies full surrender and vulnerability to the actions of the one in power. It emphasizes that Jerusalem will be under the total dominion of the Babylonians.
- the king of Babylon (מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶל - melek-bāḇel): Explicitly identifies Nebuchadnezzar as God's instrument of judgment. This makes the prophecy concrete and undeniable, removing any ambiguity about the aggressor. While some English translations add "army" here, the Hebrew specifically names the king, emphasizing his ultimate authority and responsibility in the coming destruction, carried out by his forces.
- and he shall burn it (וְשָׂרְפָהּ - wə-śārəfāh): From the verb sāraf (שָׂרַף), meaning "to burn, set on fire." This foretells the precise mode of destruction for Jerusalem, the divine judgment rendered through the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.
- with fire (בָּאֵשׁ - bāʾēš): Reinforces the intensity and finality of the city's destruction. The image of fire consuming the city highlights the devastation and cleansing nature of divine judgment, which, while severe, also often precedes a time of purification and potential restoration.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And I will give this city into the hand of...": This phrase underlines God's direct agency and ownership over Jerusalem, demonstrating that its downfall is not merely military defeat but a sovereign act of judgment from the Lord. It signifies an intentional divine delivery for a specific purpose.
- "...the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire": This portion identifies the chosen instrument of judgment (Babylonian king) and the method of execution (burning with fire). It clarifies the specific and severe consequences that will result from Jerusalem's refusal to heed God's warnings, portraying a city laid waste under foreign dominion.
Jeremiah 38 3 Bonus section
This verse underscores a key theological theme throughout Jeremiah: the irrevocability of divine judgment once a people cross a certain line of sustained rebellion and impenitence. Zedekiah, despite numerous opportunities and direct warnings from Jeremiah, allowed fear and the influence of ungodly officials to paralyze him. The Lord's declaration in this verse is not a threat to be debated but a fixed decree due to the cumulative sin and hardening of heart displayed by Judah's leadership and populace. The tragic fulfillment of this prophecy, detailed later in Jeremiah and 2 Kings, highlights God's justice, His sovereign use of foreign nations, and the absolute certainty of His word.
Jeremiah 38 3 Commentary
Jeremiah 38:3 is a pivotal pronouncement of divine judgment, cutting through Zedekiah's indecision and the false hopes of Judah's leaders. It articulates that Jerusalem's fall is not merely a consequence of military might but an explicit, intentional act of God, who sovereignly "gives" His once-cherished city into the power of its enemy. This demonstrates God's unwavering justice, even towards His chosen people when they persistently rebel against His covenant and refuse repentance. The inclusion of "burn it with fire" paints a stark image of total devastation, signifying a definitive end to Jerusalem's rebellious era and marking the inevitable fulfillment of decades of prophetic warnings. It serves as a severe lesson in the gravity of spurning God's grace and explicit commands delivered through His prophets.