Jeremiah 52:14 kjv
And all the army of the Chaldeans, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down all the walls of Jerusalem round about.
Jeremiah 52:14 nkjv
And all the army of the Chaldeans who were with the captain of the guard broke down all the walls of Jerusalem all around.
Jeremiah 52:14 niv
The whole Babylonian army, under the commander of the imperial guard, broke down all the walls around Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 52:14 esv
And all the army of the Chaldeans, who were with the captain of the guard, broke down all the walls around Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 52:14 nlt
Then he supervised the entire Babylonian army as they tore down the walls of Jerusalem on every side.
Jeremiah 52 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 39:8 | "And the Chaldeans burned the house of the king and the houses of the people..." | Direct parallel account |
| 2 Kin 25:9 | "And he burned the house of the LORD, and the house of the king..." | Parallel account, fulfillment |
| 2 Chron 36:19 | "And they burned the house of God, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem..." | Parallel account, consequence |
| Ps 79:1 | "O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy..." | Lament over destruction |
| Lam 1:10 | "The adversary has stretched out his hand over all her pleasant things..." | Poetic depiction of destruction |
| Lam 2:6 | "He has violently treated his tent, as if it were a garden shed..." | Divine withdrawal and destruction |
| Ezek 6:12 | "He who is far off shall die by the pestilence, and he who is near shall fall by..." | Prophecy of judgment |
| Ezek 24:11 | "Then set it empty on its coals until it is hot, lest it be defiled..." | Figurative destruction |
| Matt 24:2 | "Jesus said to them, 'You see these great buildings? Truly, I say to you, there..." | Jesus foretells temple's destruction |
| Mark 13:2 | "And Jesus said to him, 'You see these great buildings? There will not be left..." | Jesus foretells temple's destruction |
| Luke 19:44 | "'and tear you down, and throw down your children within you. And they will not leave..." | Jesus laments Jerusalem's fate |
| Luke 21:6 | "'As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not..." | Jesus foretells temple's destruction |
| Acts 7:42 | "Then God turned and gave them up to serve the host of heaven..." | Idolatry leading to judgment |
| Rev 11:1 | "Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and the angel stood saying, 'Rise..." | Temple imagery in prophetic vision |
| Ps 74:6 | "And now they break down its wooden elaborately carved work with axe and picks." | Desecration of the sanctuary |
| Jer 7:14 | "but I will deal with this house that bears my name, and on which you call, as..." | Warning about temple desecration |
| Jer 21:4 | "‘concerning him who returns to fight against you in Jerusalem, saying, ‘The king of Babylon shall surely come against this land and shall destroy it’" | Fulfillment of prophecy |
| Jer 22:5 | "but if you will not obey these words, by my life, declares the LORD, this house shall become a desolation." | Consequence of disobedience |
| Neh 1:4 | "As I saw the tears of Jerusalem, I sat and wept and mourned for days..." | Lament over Jerusalem's condition |
| Ps 137:7 | "Remember, O LORD, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem, when they said, 'Tear it down, tear it down! Down to its foundation!'" | Historical injustice |
Jeremiah 52 verses
Jeremiah 52 14 Meaning
This verse describes the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem by fire, marking a catastrophic event in Jewish history. It signifies the culmination of God's judgment upon the people of Judah for their persistent disobedience and idolatry.
Jeremiah 52 14 Context
Jeremiah chapter 52 provides a historical account of the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of Solomon's Temple. This chapter serves as a factual appendix to the prophetic pronouncements found earlier in the book of Jeremiah. Verse 14 specifically describes the final act of desecration and destruction of the Temple by the Babylonians, led by Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard. This event occurred in 586 BC, marking the end of the Southern Kingdom of Judah and initiating the Babylonian exile. The historical backdrop is crucial for understanding the fulfillment of God's judgment for the sins of idolatry, injustice, and disobedience that Jeremiah had prophesied for decades.
Jeremiah 52 14 Word analysis
- וַיִּשְׂרְפוּ (vayyisərəpū) - "and they burned". The verb "saraph" (שָׂרַף) means to burn, consume by fire. The Hebrew emphasizes a thorough, destructive burning. This is not just an accidental fire, but an intentional act of demolition.
- אֵת (et) - "the" (definite article, direct object marker).
- בֵּית (beit) - "house". The Hebrew word "bayit" can refer to a house, dwelling, temple, or lineage. Here, it specifically refers to the Temple of God.
- הַמֶּלֶךְ (haMeleḵ) - "the king". Refers to the royal palace.
- וְאֶת (wə'et) - "and the" (conjunction and direct object marker).
- בָּתֵּי (bāttēy) - "houses of". Plural form of "bayit" (house).
- הָעָם (hā'ām) - "the people". The common populace.
- הַגָּדוֹל (haGāḏôl) - "great". Indicates the significance or grandeur of the houses.
- אֶת־כָּל־ (et-kol-) - "all the".
- בַּיִת (bayit) - "house".
- יְרוּשָׁלִַם (Yərûšāləm) - "Jerusalem". The name of the capital city, significant for its religious and political importance.
- בָּאֵשׁ (bā'ēš) - "with fire". Lit. "by fire." Specifies the means of destruction. The intensification of "fire" by the particle "ba-" suggests a total consumption.
words-group by words-group analysis
- "וַיִּשְׂרְפוּ אֵת בֵּית הַמֶּלֶךְ וְאֶת־בָּתֵּי הָעָם הַגָּדוֹל" (vayyisərəpū 'et beyt haMeleḵ wə'et-bāttēy hā'ām haGāḏôl) - "and they burned the house of the king and the great houses of the people". This phrase indicates that the destruction was not limited to the Temple alone but extended to the royal palace and the dwellings of prominent citizens, symbolizing a complete subjugation and desolation of the city's leadership and prosperity.
- "אֶת־כָּל־בַּיִת יְרוּשָׁלִַם בָּאֵשׁ" ('et-kol- bayit Yərûšāləm bā'ēš) - "all the house of Jerusalem with fire". This encapsulates the totality of the destruction, specifically highlighting "Jerusalem" as the subject of this complete annihilation by fire, signifying the utter devastation of the city's core and its very existence as perceived by its inhabitants and enemies.
Jeremiah 52 14 Bonus section
The Babylonian captain's action, meticulously detailed in Jeremiah 52, was part of a systematic policy of subjugation. Burning the "great houses" and "all the house of Jerusalem with fire" demonstrates an intent to crush the people's hope and identity. This event aligns with broader historical patterns of imperial conquest where symbols of national power and worship were deliberately desecrated to demoralize and control conquered populations. The prophet Ezekiel, exiled to Babylon, received visions that speak of God’s glory departing from the Temple due to the people's sin (Ezek 10), a prelude to the physical destruction described here. Jeremiah 52 serves as a somber historical record, grounding the prophecies of judgment in concrete events, and reminding readers of the serious consequences of covenant unfaithfulness. The chapter underscores the theological truth that God’s presence is conditional upon obedience, and His judgment is righteous when nations persist in sin.
Jeremiah 52 14 Commentary
This verse marks the climactic point of the Babylonian conquest, where the physical and symbolic heart of the nation, the Temple in Jerusalem, is consumed by fire. Nebuzaradan, the Babylonian captain, ensures complete devastation, burning the royal palace and the houses of the populace. This act represents more than just material destruction; it is the obliteration of God's dwelling place on earth as understood by Israel, a visible manifestation of divine judgment for generations of sin. The fire symbolizes cleansing and purging, albeit through severe discipline. For the Jewish people, this was a devastating blow, a testament to the stark consequences of turning away from God. Jesus' words in the Gospels about the destruction of the Temple (Matt 24:2, Mark 13:2, Luke 21:6) resonate deeply with this event, linking it to a future, greater tribulation and a different kind of spiritual fulfillment. The destruction of the Temple, prophesied by Jeremiah and witnessed in this chapter, foreshadows the ultimate need for a spiritual temple and a purified people, centered not in stone but in the presence of God through His Son.