Jeremiah 39 5

Jeremiah 39:5 kjv

But the Chaldeans' army pursued after them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho: and when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he gave judgment upon him.

Jeremiah 39:5 nkjv

But the Chaldean army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. And when they had captured him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, to Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced judgment on him.

Jeremiah 39:5 niv

But the Babylonian army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They captured him and took him to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced sentence on him.

Jeremiah 39:5 esv

But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. And when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, at Riblah, in the land of Hamath; and he passed sentence on him.

Jeremiah 39:5 nlt

But the Babylonian troops chased them and overtook Zedekiah on the plains of Jericho. They captured him and took him to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who was at Riblah in the land of Hamath. There the king of Babylon pronounced judgment upon Zedekiah.

Jeremiah 39 verses

Jeremiah 39 5 Meaning

Jeremiah 39:5 details the personal and immediate consequence faced by Zedekiah, the king of Judah, during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. It records him being captured and taken to the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah, emphasizing the swift and final judgment on his rebellion.

Jeremiah 39 5 Context

Jeremiah 39:5 falls within the broader narrative of the final destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of its people by the Babylonians. King Zedekiah, appointed by Nebuchadnezzar, broke his covenant of loyalty to Babylon and sought an alliance with Egypt, a direct contravention of God's prophet Jeremiah's warnings (Jeremiah 37:7-10). Consequently, the Babylonians laid siege to Jerusalem. Chapter 39 describes the breaching of the city walls. This verse specifically details Zedekiah's capture as he attempted to escape Jerusalem during the final stages of the siege. His capture at Riblah and subsequent sentencing by Nebuchadnezzar mark the ultimate downfall of the Judean monarchy.

Jeremiah 39 5 Word Analysis

• וַֽיְהִי (vayhí): "And it came to pass" or "And it happened." A common introductory particle indicating the flow of events in the narrative.
• כִּי (kî): "when," "as," or "because." Connects the preceding events (the fall of the city) to the action described.
• נִבְקְעָה (nivqə'âh): "was broken through," "was breached," or "was cleft." Feminine passive form of the verb bāqa‘ (בָּקַע), indicating the city walls were penetrated. This signifies the military success of the Babylonians.
• הָעִ֑יר (hā‘îr): "the city." Refers specifically to Jerusalem.
• וַיִּבְרְחוּ (vayivərḥû): "and they fled." Masculine plural imperfect consecutive from the root bārah (בָּרַח), meaning "to flee" or "to escape." Indicates the panicked flight of the people, including the king.
• כָּל־ (kol-): "all." Emphasizes that a significant portion of the inhabitants, especially those with military capability or royalty, attempted to escape.
• אַנְשֵׁי (anshey): "men of" or "people of." Refers to the soldiers and able-bodied men.
• הַמִּלְחָמָה (hammilḥāmâ): "the war," "the battle." Denotes the fighting men.
• בֹּ֤דֶךָ (bo·ðe·ḵā): "out by the way of the Arabah," "by the King's Garden." Refers to the northern road leading away from Jerusalem, the specific route taken by Zedekiah. This detail suggests an organized, though ultimately failed, escape attempt.
• מִפֶּתַח (mippettaḥ): "from the gate of."
• בֵּֽין (bêyn): "between."
• שְׁנֵי (šəney): "two."
• הַֽחוֹמוֹת (haḥômôṯ): "the walls." This likely refers to the inner and outer walls of the city or specific fortified sections.
• עָר (‘ar): "gate."
• בִּין (bin): "gate." This repetition emphasizes the location of the breach and escape.
• דָּוִד (Dāwíð): "David."
• וּבָרוּחַ (ūḇā·rū·aḥ): "and they fled." Repeated action of fleeing.
• בָּרִיחַ (bā·ri·aḥ): "gate." Refers to another gate, emphasizing the widespread flight through the broken defenses.
• לְעֵמֶק (lə‘êmeq): "toward the plain" or "toward the valley."
• שָׁכְבֵיהוּ (šāḵḇê·hū): "his habitation" or "his dwelling," but here likely referring to a place or the region.
• נַבּוּכַדְרֶצַּר (Nab·bu·ḵa·ðrez·ṣar): "Nebuchadnezzar." The Babylonian king.
• שְׁלַח (šəlaḥ): "sent."
• מִמֶּנּוּ (mimmēn·nū): "from him" (referring to Nebuchadnezzar).
• אֹתוֹ (‘ō·tō): "him." Zedekiah.
• לְרִבְלָה (lə·rîḇ·lâ): "to Riblah." A strategic location in Hamath where Nebuchadnezzar established his headquarters. This place was known for its strategic importance during campaigns.
• אֶל־ (‘el-): "to."
• מֶ֣לֶךְ (meleḵ): "king."
• בָבֶ֔ל (Bāḇel): "Babylon."
• וַֽיִּפְטָר־ (vay·yip̄·ṭār-): "and he passed judgment," "and he inquired of." The verb pāṭar (פָּטַר) can mean to "dismiss," "release," or "inquire of" in a legal or judicial sense. In this context, it signifies a final legal determination concerning Zedekiah.
• בֹּ֑ו (bō): "him." Zedekiah.

Group Analysis:

The verse is structured around the sequence of events: the breach of the city, the attempted escape of Zedekiah and his army, and their subsequent capture and delivery to Nebuchadnezzar for judgment at Riblah. The specific geographical locations mentioned (Arabah, King's Garden, between the walls, David's gate) provide detail to the escape attempt, highlighting its desperate nature and eventual failure due to the pervasive Babylonian control. The phrase "passed sentence on him" signifies the official pronouncement of Zedekiah's fate by the conquering king.

Jeremiah 39 5 Bonus Section

The capture and sentencing of Zedekiah at Riblah is described in vivid detail in other parts of scripture. While this verse notes the sentencing, other passages like 2 Kings 25:7 and Jeremiah 52:10-11 reveal the horrific specifics: his sons were killed before his eyes, and then his own eyes were put out before he was sent to Babylon in chains. This act was meant to extinguish any hope of future succession or political restoration and was a common practice of ancient Near Eastern conquerors to humiliate defeated rulers and prevent future uprisings. The prophecies concerning Zedekiah, such as those in Ezekiel 12:13 ("I will spread My net over him, and he shall be caught in My snare; I will bring him to Babylon"), are directly fulfilled here, reinforcing Jeremiah's credibility as God's messenger even amidst the despair of Jerusalem's fall.

Jeremiah 39 5 Commentary

This verse is a stark illustration of divine judgment against rebellion and unfaithfulness. Zedekiah, having broken his oath to Nebuchadnezzar, met the consequence of his actions. His attempted escape highlights the king's fear and his reliance on his own strategies rather than God's proclaimed will through Jeremiah. The interception and journey to Riblah for judgment by Nebuchadnezzar were not mere political events but the fulfillment of prophecy, signifying the complete loss of sovereignty for Judah. This event marks the effective end of the Davidic dynasty on the throne of Judah, setting the stage for the post-exilic period. It underscores the principle that disobedience to God's word and the violation of established covenants leads to severe consequences. The focus shifts from the king's fleeing to the finality of Nebuchadnezzar's decree at Riblah.