Jeremiah 52 5

Jeremiah 52:5 kjv

So the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah.

Jeremiah 52:5 nkjv

So the city was besieged until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.

Jeremiah 52:5 niv

The city was kept under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.

Jeremiah 52:5 esv

So the city was besieged till the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.

Jeremiah 52:5 nlt

Jerusalem was kept under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah's reign.

Jeremiah 52 verses

Jeremiah 52 5 meaning

This verse precisely marks the duration of the final, devastating siege against Jerusalem. It details that the city endured this siege, initiated by Babylon, right up to King Zedekiah's eleventh and final year on the throne. More comprehensively, this period culminated in the forced removal and displacement of its people – the captivity of Jerusalem – which definitively occurred in the fifth month of that pivotal year, marking the tragic end of Judah's kingdom and the destruction of its capital city and Temple.

Jeremiah 52 5 Context

Jeremiah chapter 52 serves as an historical appendix to the book of Jeremiah, largely paralleling 2 Kings 24:18-25:30. Its primary purpose is to vividly demonstrate the precise fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecies regarding Jerusalem's fall, destruction, and the ensuing Babylonian captivity due to the persistent rebellion and wickedness of Judah's kings, especially Zedekiah. Verse 5 (and its implied extension into the events of the 11th year and 5th month) firmly anchors the prophecy in verifiable historical time, highlighting the severe judgment that befell Jerusalem. It is not merely a recounting of events but a theological statement about divine justice and the consequences of disregarding God's word. The verse marks the endpoint of the relentless Babylonian siege that led to the city's collapse and the catastrophic removal of its inhabitants.

Jeremiah 52 5 Word analysis

• So the city was besieged: (implied introductory phrase in many translations, e.g., KJV 'So'). This indicates the culmination of earlier actions described, the relentless pressure exerted by Nebuchadnezzar's forces upon Jerusalem's walls, fulfilling prior prophetic warnings.
• until (Hebrew: עַד - `ad`): This preposition signifies a point of termination or culmination, marking the duration up to a specific event or time. It emphasizes the long, arduous nature of the siege endured by the inhabitants.
• the eleventh year: A specific chronological marker within King Zedekiah's reign, dating the ultimate fall. It indicates the end of a multi-year period, as the siege began in Zedekiah's ninth year (Jer 39:1). This implies roughly a 2.5-year siege.
• of King Zedekiah: Identifies the reigning monarch during this catastrophic period. Zedekiah (Hebrew: צִדְקִיָּהוּ - `Tsidqiyahu`) means "My righteousness is Yahweh." This name carries a profound irony, as Zedekiah himself did "that which was evil in the sight of the Lord" (2 Ki 24:19), acting unrighteously and bringing judgment upon Judah by rebelling against Babylon, despite Jeremiah's warnings. He was the last king of Judah before the seventy-year exile.
• until (Hebrew: עַד - `ad`): Repeated use strengthens the emphasis on a definitive endpoint. This points not just to the end of the siege in the eleventh year, but specifically to the ensuing devastating consequences.
• the captivity (Hebrew: גָּלוּת - `galut`, from the root גלה `galah`, to uncover, go into exile): This term signifies forced deportation, removal from one's homeland. It represents the ultimate outcome of the siege—the loss of national independence and presence in the Promised Land. This was the curse for covenant disobedience, fulfilling the warnings in Deuteronomy and Leviticus.
• of Jerusalem: Pinpoints the focal point of God's judgment and the subsequent destruction. Jerusalem, the City of David, the site of the Temple, and once deemed inviolable by many, now faced complete devastation and population removal, demonstrating that God's covenant was conditional.
• in the fifth month: This specific temporal marker places the full realization of the captivity—the destruction of the Temple and city—into a precise timeframe (August 586 BC). This month (Av in the Jewish calendar) became a permanent day of mourning (Tisha B'Av) in Jewish tradition due to this and subsequent destructions.

• "until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah": This phrase precisely defines the duration of the Babylonian siege on Jerusalem. It began in the ninth year of Zedekiah and ended with the city's breach and capture in his eleventh year, totaling about two and a half years (30 months). This extended period indicates intense suffering, famine, and the relentless pressure of a protracted siege.
• "until the captivity of Jerusalem in the fifth month": This further refines the culmination point, linking the end of the siege not just to the year, but to the definitive act of forced exile and the subsequent destruction of the city, especially the Temple. While the city walls were breached in the fourth month of Zedekiah's eleventh year (Jer 52:6-7), the complete plundering, burning of the Temple, and systematic deportation happened in the fifth month (Jer 52:12-13; 2 Ki 25:8-9), marking the true "captivity." This emphasizes the comprehensive and devastating nature of the judgment.

Jeremiah 52 5 Bonus section

The dating in Jeremiah 52:5 (and its extension to 52:12) has been invaluable for archaeologists and historians in correlating biblical events with Mesopotamian chronicles, providing strong external verification for the historical reliability of the biblical narrative regarding the Neo-Babylonian period and the destruction of Jerusalem. The mention of the "fifth month" (Av) became a permanent point of mourning and remembrance (Tisha B'Av) for the Jewish people, linking the first Temple's destruction to subsequent tragedies, symbolizing ongoing lament over national loss and spiritual exile. This level of chronological detail underlines the reality and significance of the covenant curses for a people who turned from their God, serving as a timeless warning against idolatry and disobedience.

Jeremiah 52 5 Commentary

Jeremiah 52:5, along with its full implied context of the 11th year and 5th month events, serves as a crucial chronological and theological anchor, verifying the fulfillment of Jeremiah's dire prophecies. The verse is stark in its presentation, underscoring the duration of the siege that broke Jerusalem. It details the precise endpoint of Zedekiah's reign and the nation's independence, culminating in the complete captivity. The irony of Zedekiah's name ("My righteousness is Yahweh") against his unrighteous actions is particularly poignant, highlighting how Judah's leadership brought about its own downfall. This meticulously recorded historical detail affirms God's faithfulness to His covenant warnings, demonstrating that disobedience to His word carries severe consequences, ultimately leading to the removal from the land promised to Abraham. It leaves no room for doubt about the divine hand in these catastrophic events.