Jeremiah 39 8

Jeremiah 39:8 kjv

And the Chaldeans burned the king's house, and the houses of the people, with fire, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 39:8 nkjv

And the Chaldeans burned the king's house and the houses of the people with fire, and broke down the walls of Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 39:8 niv

The Babylonians set fire to the royal palace and the houses of the people and broke down the walls of Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 39:8 esv

The Chaldeans burned the king's house and the house of the people, and broke down the walls of Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 39:8 nlt

Meanwhile, the Babylonians burned Jerusalem, including the royal palace and the houses of the people, and they tore down the walls of the city.

Jeremiah 39 verses

Jeremiah 39 8 Meaning

The Chaldean soldiers, following the orders of their king,Nebuchadnezzar, did not enter Jerusalem's gates but went around them. Instead, they put out the eyes of King Zedekiah and bound him with bronze fetters. This signifies the utter subjugation and humiliation of the Judean monarchy.

Jeremiah 39 8 Context

Jeremiah 39 recounts the final fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar. This chapter describes the events surrounding the city's capture, the fate of its leaders, and the subsequent destruction of Jerusalem. Specifically, verse 8 details the immediate actions taken by the Chaldean forces upon Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, after his capture outside the besieged city. The Babylonian army had finally breached Jerusalem's walls after a prolonged siege. This verse follows the description of Zedekiah's futile escape attempt and his subsequent apprehension. The wider context of Jeremiah's prophecy involves the ongoing pronouncements of judgment against Judah for its persistent idolatry and disobedience to God's covenant.

Jeremiah 39 8 Word Analysis

• And (וְ) - Hebrew conjunction 've', indicating sequence or addition.
• the Chaldeans (הַכַּשְׂדִּים) - Referring to the Babylonians, the people of the Chaldean empire, known for their military might and empire-building.
• went in (בָּאוּ) - Came into, entered.
• at the gates (בְּשַׁעֲרֵי) - The entrances to the city.
• of Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַם) - The capital city of the Kingdom of Judah.
• And (וְ) - Conjunction.
• the king (מֶלֶךְ) - King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.
• of (לֹא) - Here functioning with the following verb to create a negative; they did not...
• entered not (לֹא־בָאוּ) - Did not go in, did not pass through.
• into (אֶל־) - Towards, unto.
• the house (בֵּית) - Referring to the royal palace or the Temple, signifying control over the nation's heart.
• of Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַם) - The city itself.
• But (כִּי־) - Indicating a contrast or result.
• put out (נָקְרוּ) - To dig out, pluck out, bore out. This is a violent and humiliating act of blinding.
• the eyes (עֵינֵי) - The organs of sight.
• of Zedekiah (צִדְקִיָּהוּ) - The last king of Judah.
• king (מֶלֶךְ) - Designation of Zedekiah.
• of Judah (יְהוּדָה) - The southern kingdom of Israel.
• And (וְ) - Conjunction.
• bound (אָסְרוּ) - Tied, fettered, imprisoned.
• him (אֹתֹו) - Zedekiah.
• with (בִּ) - Instrumental preposition.
• fetters (אֲסוּרֵי) - Bonds, chains, fetters, likely made of bronze.
• of bronze (נְחֹשֶׁת) - Made of copper, a metal known for its strength.
• in (בְּ) - Preposition indicating location or manner.
• and (וְ) - Conjunction.
• carried (הוֹלִיכוּ) - To cause to go, lead away, transport.
• him (אֹתֹו) - Zedekiah.
• to (אֶל־) - Towards.
• Babylon (בָּבֶל) - The capital city of the Babylonian empire.

Group Analysis:The phrasing "went in at the gates of Jerusalem. And the king of [kings] did not enter into the house of Jerusalem" is interesting. It may emphasize Nebuchadnezzar's unique status and authority – as the "king of kings," he didn't need to personally enter the city as a conqueror in that moment, but his authority was implicitly represented by his forces. However, the subsequent action directly impacts Zedekiah, showing the ultimate subjection of Jerusalem's royalty.

The actions taken against Zedekiah – blinding him and binding him with bronze fetters – were specifically chosen to inflict extreme humiliation and demonstrate the complete overthrow of his rule and authority, marking a stark contrast to his kingly status. The material "bronze" further suggests durability and the finality of his subjugation.

Jeremiah 39 8 Bonus Section

The act of plucking out eyes was a known form of extreme punishment in ancient Near Eastern warfare and conquest, designed to dehumanize and incapacitate the defeated ruler and render him incapable of ever reigning again or even recognizing his own people or land. The specific mention of bronze fetters emphasizes the harsh, unyielding nature of their captivity and the severe consequences of Judah's prolonged sin. This verse directly fulfills prophecies concerning Zedekiah's fate (Jeremiah 22:5-7, Ezekiel 12:13), underscoring the reliability of God's word, both in judgment and in promised future restoration.

Jeremiah 39 8 Commentary

The disabling of King Zedekiah's sight, coupled with his being bound in bronze fetters and taken to Babylon, served as a brutal illustration of God's judgment upon Judah. This physical mutilation represented the spiritual blindness that had led the nation into idolatry and rebellion, cutting them off from divine guidance. The bronze fetters signified the inescapable nature of the punishment resulting from breaking God's covenant. This act ensured Zedekiah would never again see his homeland, nor rule, nor walk freely, all stemming from his prior defiance and disobedience to the word of the prophet Jeremiah, which ultimately defied the word of God.