Jeremiah 52 6

Jeremiah 52:6 kjv

And in the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.

Jeremiah 52:6 nkjv

By the fourth month, on the ninth day of the month, the famine had become so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land.

Jeremiah 52:6 niv

By the ninth day of the fourth month the famine in the city had become so severe that there was no food for the people to eat.

Jeremiah 52:6 esv

On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land.

Jeremiah 52:6 nlt

By July 18 in the eleventh year of Zedekiah's reign, the famine in the city had become very severe, and the last of the food was entirely gone.

Jeremiah 52 verses

Jeremiah 52 6 meaning

Jeremiah 52:6 precisely marks the moment when Jerusalem's dire situation during the Babylonian siege reached its climax due to an acute and devastating famine. It describes the physical agony and starvation among the city's inhabitants, specifically highlighting that the common people were entirely deprived of food. This intense suffering paved the way for the city's final breach and conquest by Nebuchadnezzar's forces, directly fulfilling the earlier prophecies of judgment against disobedient Judah.

Jeremiah 52 6 Context

Jeremiah 52 serves as an appendix to the Book of Jeremiah, providing a historical account of Jerusalem's fall to Babylon, parallel to 2 Kings 24-25 and Jeremiah 39. This verse specifically describes the penultimate stage of Jerusalem's destruction during the nearly two-year siege (beginning 588 BCE, ending 586 BCE). For the original audience, it starkly reminded them of the tragic culmination of their nation's rebellion against God. Jeremiah, throughout his ministry, consistently warned of such judgments – sword, famine, and plague – as consequences for Judah's persistent idolatry and unfaithfulness. The prolonged siege and the described severe famine were direct fulfillments of these prophecies, underscoring God's righteous judgment and the absolute certainty of His word. The cultural context involved ancient siege warfare, where starvation was a common and brutal tactic, ultimately leading to the surrender or collapse of a city's defenses. There are no direct polemics here, but the event itself implicitly polemicizes against the false security placed in the Jerusalem Temple and alliances, rather than in fidelity to Yahweh.

Jeremiah 52 6 Word analysis

• On the ninth day of the fourth month: This provides a very precise chronological marker, common in biblical historical narratives, emphasizing the exact fulfillment of prophecy. The Hebrew phrase is בַּתִּשְׁעִי לַחֹדֶשׁ הָרְבִיעִי (ba-tiš‘î la-ḥōḏeš hā-rəḇî‘î), "on the ninth to the month, the fourth." This level of detail highlights the historical accuracy and significance of the event.
• when the famine was severe: The Hebrew for "famine" is רָעָב (ra'av), a common word referring to a lack of food, often used as an instrument of divine judgment (e.g., Lev 26:26). The word for "severe" is חָזָק (chazaq), meaning "strong," "mighty," "hard," or "fierce." Here, it vividly conveys the intensity and overwhelming nature of the hunger, indicating a point beyond mere scarcity to a crisis that crippled daily life and endangered survival. This isn't just hunger; it's a crushing, potent force.
• in the city: הָעִיר (ha'iyr) specifically refers to Jerusalem, the capital and religious center of Judah. This emphasizes that even within the most sacred and supposedly protected urban center, divine judgment could not be averted, and human suffering was immense.
• and there was no food: אֵין לֶחֶם ('eyn lechem), literally "no bread." Lechem often signifies "bread" but frequently serves as a metonym for food in general, the staple of life. The phrase "no bread" underscores the complete absence of even the most basic sustenance, highlighting extreme deprivation. This situation signifies the complete breakdown of provision systems.
• for the people of the land: עַם הָאָרֶץ ('am hā'āreṣ), referring to the common people, ordinary inhabitants. In earlier contexts, this phrase could sometimes refer to the collective body of citizens or those of non-aristocratic status. Here, it stresses that the famine was not restricted to a specific group but affected the broad population, demonstrating widespread and indiscriminate suffering throughout society, not just the besieged military or elite. This suffering encompassed everyone, indicating total societal collapse due to hunger.

Jeremiah 52 6 Bonus section

The famine described in Jer 52:6 highlights a significant aspect of ancient siege warfare and its theological implications: God's control over sustenance. The ability to provide or withhold "bread" (life's basic necessity) was often attributed to God in the Hebrew Bible. The fact that the famine was "severe" indicates not a minor inconvenience, but a complete societal breakdown. This level of detail and repetition across different biblical accounts (Jeremiah 39 and 2 Kings 25) attests to the factual historical horror and the profound theological conviction that these events were divinely orchestrated. The precise dating also serves as a benchmark for correlating these historical events with the timelines given in other prophetic books, thereby reinforcing the Bible's historical credibility and prophetic fulfillment. The 'famine' element specifically contrasts with the biblical picture of God as a provider (e.g., manna in the wilderness), showcasing how His blessings can be withheld as a consequence of national sin, reversing the covenantal promise of abundance (Deut 28:1-14, 15-68).

Jeremiah 52 6 Commentary

Jeremiah 52:6 is a somber and concise historical marker, not merely providing a date but encapsulating the extreme suffering that characterized the end of Judah's independence. It speaks to the terrifying efficacy of divine judgment when relentlessly pursued: God’s warning of famine, uttered generations before, became a palpable, agonizing reality. The vivid phrase "no food for the people of the land" reveals the utter destitution and widespread despair, emphasizing that the famine was not just inconvenient, but utterly crippling. This level of physical suffering stripped Jerusalem of its ability to resist, serving as a powerful and grim illustration of the wages of national rebellion against Yahweh's covenant. It undergirds Jeremiah's prophetic message that genuine security lay not in fortifications or political alliances, but in obedience and fidelity to God. The verse’s stark depiction reminds believers of the severe consequences of spiritual disobedience and God’s commitment to His word, both in judgment and ultimately in redemption.