Jeremiah 52:31 kjv
And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the five and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the first year of his reign lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and brought him forth out of prison.
Jeremiah 52:31 nkjv
Now it came to pass in the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-fifth day of the month, that Evil-Merodach king of Babylon, in the first year of his reign, lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him out of prison.
Jeremiah 52:31 niv
In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the year Awel-Marduk became king of Babylon, on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month, he released Jehoiachin king of Judah and freed him from prison.
Jeremiah 52:31 esv
And in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-fifth day of the month, Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, graciously freed Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him out of prison.
Jeremiah 52:31 nlt
In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of King Jehoiachin of Judah, Evil-merodach ascended to the Babylonian throne. He was kind to Jehoiachin and released him from prison on March 31 of that year.
Jeremiah 52 31 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 52:31 | And it came to pass in the thirty and seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah | Provides the chronological setting |
| 2 Kgs 24:15 | And he carried Jehoiachin captive to Babylon | Record of Jehoiachin's initial exile |
| 2 Chron 36:10 | And when the year was expired, Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought him to Babylon | Another account of the exile |
| Jer 22:24-28 | Prophecy concerning Jehoiachin's inability to reign as king | Underscores Jehoiachin's dethronement |
| Jer 24:1 | Visions of two baskets of figs | Foreshadowing exile and restoration |
| Jer 29:10 | Prophecy of return after seventy years | Promise of eventual restoration |
| Jer 30:10 | "Fear not, O Jacob my servant," saith the LORD | Assurance of future deliverance |
| Jer 32:42 | "For as I have brought all this great evil upon this people..." | God's sovereignty in judgment/restoration |
| Jer 33:14-15 | Promises of a righteous branch arising from David | Messianic hope |
| Jer 46:27-28 | Promise to Jacob, to discipline but not destroy | God's faithfulness to His covenant people |
| Psa 105:18 | His feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron | Describing Joseph's unjust suffering |
| Psa 107:10-14 | Describes captives in darkness and chains finding relief | Parallel experience of oppression/release |
| Isa 11:1 | And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse | Messianic prophecy linked to David's line |
| Isa 49:24-26 | The Lord will contend with those who contend with Israel | God's protective power |
| Isa 61:1-3 | The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me... to proclaim liberty to the captives | Christ's mission echoes this theme |
| Luke 1:54-55 | He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy | Mary's song emphasizes God's remembrance |
| Acts 17:26 | And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth | God's universal sovereignty |
| Rom 8:20-22 | For the creation was subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him that hath subjected it | Hope for liberation from bondage |
| Rev 18:10 | Babylon's fall and destruction | Contrasts with Babylon's eventual fate |
| Eze 34:22-24 | The Lord will save his flock, and raise up one shepherd, even David | Restoration under a Davidic leader |
| Eze 37:24-25 | My servant David shall be king over them | Future reign of a Davidic king |
Jeremiah 52 verses
Jeremiah 52 31 Meaning
This verse marks the conclusion of Jeremiah’s lengthy account of the Babylonian conquest and exile of Jerusalem. It specifically states that Jehoiachin, the former king of Judah, was released from prison by Evil-Merodach, the new king of Babylon. Jehoiachin had been held captive for 37 years. This act signified a potential shift in Babylonian policy towards exiled royalty.
Jeremiah 52 31 Context
Jeremiah chapter 52 concludes the book, serving as a historical appendix to the prophetic messages. It recounts the final days of Jerusalem, its destruction by the Babylonians, and the subsequent exile. The earlier verses detail the siege, the breaking through of the city walls, the capture of King Zedekiah, and the plundering of the temple. This verse, however, shifts focus to the fate of the deported king Jehoiachin, providing a note of unexpected clemency and hope at the very end of a somber historical narrative. The original audience, living through or having experienced the devastation, would have found this small detail about Jehoiachin's release significant, perhaps as a glimmer of God's continued care for David's line.
Jeremiah 52 31 Word Analysis
- And it came to pass (וַיְהִי - way-hi): A common narrative opening, indicating the progression of events. It signifies that an event occurred, setting the stage for the specific detail.
- in the thirty and seventh year (בִּשְׁנַ֥ת שִׁבְעָ֨ה וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֤ים - bishnat shiv'ah u'shloshim): This specifies a precise temporal marker, grounding the event within a historical timeline relative to Jehoiachin's captivity.
- of the captivity (לְשִׁבְי֖וֹ - leshivyo): Refers to the state of being taken captive, being exiled from one's homeland.
- of Jehoiachin king of Judah ( - yehoia·khīn melech yəhûḏāh): Identifies the specific individual and his royal lineage, emphasizing his former status as king. This is crucial because the restoration of a Davidic king was a significant aspect of Messianic hope.
- Evil-Merodach (עֵ֥יל מְרֹאדַ֖ךְ - ‘êyl məro·ḏaḵ): The name of the Babylonian king, son and successor of Nebuchadnezzar. The name itself likely derives from Mesopotamian deities, "‘ēyl" referring to a god.
- the king of Babylon (מֶ֣לֶךְ בָּבֶ֑ל - meleḵ bav·vel): Designates the ruler of the empire that had conquered Jerusalem and exiled its people.
- spake kindly unto him (הֵיטִ֧יב לְיִהֽוֹיָכִ֛ין - heyṭîv lə·yə·ho·ya·khīn): The Hebrew word "heytiv" means to do good, to treat kindly, to show favor. This contrasts sharply with the previous harsh treatment.
- and brought him forth out of prison ( - way-hôṣiʼēhû ·mib·bêṯ hassôhar): Means to release or take out from the house of confinement or prison. This signifies a tangible act of liberation.
- and brought him forth out of prison: The "house of confinement" or prison signifies the removal from a state of bondage and deprivation.
- and his former estate (וַיִּתֵּן ל֔וֹ כִּסְא֖וֹ מֵעַ֥ל כִּסְא֖וֹת וּמֵעַ֣ל כִּסְא֖וֹת וְעִמּוֹ - way·yit·tên ·lô ·ki·sɔ’ ·mê·‘al ·ki·sɔ’ɔ·w): "Kitsto" means his seat or throne. The phrase implies that he was given a position of honor and authority, a seat of status equal to or among other prominent people ("above the thrones of those who were with him"). This denotes restored dignity and standing.
Word Group Analysis:
- The specific mention of the "thirty and seventh year" is important as it precisely dates Jehoiachin's release, extending beyond Nebuchadnezzar's reign. This detail is unique to Jeremiah among the canonical accounts.
- The juxtaposition of "Jehoiachin king of Judah" with "Evil-Merodach the king of Babylon" highlights the reversal of fortunes: a dethroned king of a conquered nation is granted favor by the ruler of the conquering empire.
- "Spake kindly unto him and brought him forth out of prison" and "gave him a seat above the seats of those who were with him" describe a progression from incarceration to elevation, demonstrating a significant change in status.
Jeremiah 52 31 Bonus Section
The historical accuracy of this verse is supported by Babylonian chronicles, which confirm Evil-Merodach's reign and his general clemency policies towards conquered royalty. While Nebuchadnezzar had deposed and exiled Jehoiachin, his son Evil-Merodach, who reigned from 562 to 560 BC, released many prisoners. This event at the end of Jeremiah shows that God's mercy and faithfulness can extend even through foreign rulers and amidst profound desolation, hinting at the continuity of God's purposes for His people and the Davidic line, ultimately fulfilled in Christ.
Jeremiah 52 31 Commentary
This final verse of Jeremiah offers a note of subdued hope amidst the recounting of national disaster. Jehoiachin, despite his deposition and long imprisonment, receives an unexpected act of mercy from the new Babylonian king, Evil-Merodach. This release from prison and restoration to a position of honor is significant because Jehoiachin was a descendant of David. God’s covenant with David promised an enduring line. While Jehoiachin would never regain the throne of Judah, his favor and elevated status, even under a foreign ruler, can be seen as a testament to God's remembrance of His covenant promises, echoing the larger theme of eventual restoration promised throughout Jeremiah and the Old Testament. It subtly points towards a future hope for the Davidic dynasty and the restoration of God's people, even after severe judgment.