Jeremiah 52 24

Jeremiah 52:24 kjv

And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door:

Jeremiah 52:24 nkjv

The captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the second priest, and the three doorkeepers.

Jeremiah 52:24 niv

The commander of the guard took as prisoners Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest next in rank and the three doorkeepers.

Jeremiah 52:24 esv

And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest and the three keepers of the threshold;

Jeremiah 52:24 nlt

Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, took with him as prisoners Seraiah the high priest, Zephaniah the priest of the second rank, and the three chief gatekeepers.

Jeremiah 52 24 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Jer 52:24"the chief priest Zephaniah... three other priests of the second rank;"Consequence of disobedience
2 Kings 25:18"and took from them the second priest, Shallum the son of ...Similar deportation
2 Chr 36:14"and the priests and the people multiplied unfaithfully, ...Cause of judgment
Jer 20:1"Now Pashhur the son of Immer, who was the chief officer ...Accountability of priests
Jer 21:1"The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD when King Zedekiah...Prophetic pronouncement
Jer 37:3"But... Pharaoh's army had come up from Egypt..."External influences
Jer 38:1"Shephatiah the son of Mattan, Gedaliah the son of Pashhur..."Opposition to Jeremiah
Jer 48:7"For because you have trusted in your works and your treasures, you ...Judgment on pride
Jer 50:29"Call together against her all that bend the bow, say to Babel...Retribution for Babylon
Ezek 7:26"Disaster upon disaster is happening; report follows report..."Escalating judgment
Ezek 44:31"No priest shall drink wine or strong drink when they go into the ...Purity requirements for priests
Zech 7:3"to speak to the priests who were in the house of the LORD of hosts..."Post-exilic questions
Mal 2:8"But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to ...Sins of the priests
Matt 21:12"And Jesus entered the temple of God and drove out all who sold ...Temple cleansing
John 2:16"and said to those who sold doves, 'Take these things away from here...Temple cleansing
Acts 6:7"And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of ...Growth despite opposition
Rev 1:6"and has made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father..."Identity of believers
Rev 2:2"‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance...Church accountability
Deut 28:36"The LORD will bring you and your king, whom you set over you, to a...Consequence of exile
Ps 137:1"By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down and wept when we...Lament of exiles

Jeremiah 52 verses

Jeremiah 52 24 Meaning

Jeremiah 52:24 describes the removal of specific priestly and temple officials by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, during the destruction of Jerusalem. It details the specific ranks and numbers of these individuals taken captive, signifying the disruption and desolation of Judah's religious and administrative structure.

Jeremiah 52 24 Context

This verse is situated in Jeremiah chapter 52, which serves as a historical appendix to the book. It reiterates the account of the final destruction of Jerusalem and the deportation of its people, echoing information found in 2 Kings 25 and 2 Chronicles 36. The immediate context is the aftermath of the Babylonian siege and conquest of Jerusalem, a fulfillment of decades of prophetic warnings delivered by Jeremiah concerning the nation's disobedience and idolatry. The chapter focuses on the fall of Jerusalem and the subsequent treatment of Zedekiah and the remaining populace, detailing the systematic dismantling of the kingdom and its leadership, including key religious figures.

Jeremiah 52 24 Word Analysis

  • uḇa·‘arə·’ū (וּבָעֲר֛וּ) - "and they burned" (Qal imperfect 3rd person plural of בער). This signifies complete destruction by fire, a common method of divine judgment and conquest in the ancient Near East.
  • ṯô·ḵu (תּוֹכֶ֖ךָ) - "within it" (prepositional phrase, meaning inside). This points to the destruction occurring inside the very city of Jerusalem.
  • ‘aḵă·dê·hêw (אַחֲדֵיהֶ֑ם) - "among them" (conjunction "and" + preposition "after" + suffix 3rd person plural masculine of them). Refers to a specific segment of the captured individuals.
  • lə·ma‘ă·ṯê (לִמְעַתֵּ֔ה) - "about fifty" (literally "towards fifty," indicating a numerical approximation). This provides a specific, albeit approximate, count of individuals.
  • mî·‘al (מִן) - "from" (preposition). Indicates extraction or selection from a larger group.
  • ‘am·hâ (עַמָּ֖ה) - "its people" (noun with 3rd person feminine singular possessive suffix). Refers to the people of Jerusalem.
  • šêḵ–hêm (שֵׁקְּהֶ֖ם) - "their security" or "their chief men" (potentially related to root meaning to support or be firm). It refers to important or prominent individuals.
  • za·qê·ne — Yə·hû·ḏāh (זִקְנֵ֖י יְהוּדָ֑ה) - "the elders of Judah" (masculine plural noun + possessive genitive). Refers to the respected and senior figures of the ruling council or influential families.

Words/Group Analysis:

  • The phrase "and they burned it" points to the totality of destruction wrought by the Babylonians, encompassing not only the people but also the city itself and its vital institutions.
  • "three other priests of the second rank" highlights the hierarchical structure of the Levitical priesthood and indicates that Nebuchadnezzar’s focus was on dismantling the leadership and administration, not just random destruction. The "second rank" refers to important officials subordinate to the high priest, likely serving crucial administrative or ceremonial roles.

Jeremiah 52 24 Bonus Section

The "third" mention of Zephaniah in the book of Jeremiah (this verse, Jer 21:1, and Jer 29:25) serves to reinforce the narrative of divine judgment extending even to the highest echelons of the religious leadership. Zephaniah himself had a prophetic role, prophesying against Judah (Zephaniah 1:1), making his capture and deportation a somber fulfillment of the judgments he himself proclaimed. This emphasizes that no one, regardless of position, was exempt from the consequences of prolonged disobedience.

Jeremiah 52 24 Commentary

Jeremiah 52:24 illustrates the brutal effectiveness of Babylonian conquest in stripping a nation of its leadership, both civil and religious. The capture of prominent priests, particularly Zephaniah, signifies the disruption of the covenant relationship and the void left in spiritual guidance. This action underscores God's judgment on a nation that had persistently strayed from His commands, culminating in the utter dismantling of its capacity to function as a theocracy. The verse highlights the consequence of national sin: the scattering of leadership and the end of an era.