Jeremiah 52 7

Jeremiah 52:7 kjv

Then the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled, and went forth out of the city by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king's garden; (now the Chaldeans were by the city round about:) and they went by the way of the plain.

Jeremiah 52:7 nkjv

Then the city wall was broken through, and all the men of war fled and went out of the city at night by way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king's garden, even though the Chaldeans were near the city all around. And they went by way of the plain.

Jeremiah 52:7 niv

Then the city wall was broken through, and the whole army fled. They left the city at night through the gate between the two walls near the king's garden, though the Babylonians were surrounding the city. They fled toward the Arabah,

Jeremiah 52:7 esv

Then a breach was made in the city, and all the men of war fled and went out from the city by night by the way of a gate between the two walls, by the king's garden, and the Chaldeans were around the city. And they went in the direction of the Arabah.

Jeremiah 52:7 nlt

Then a section of the city wall was broken down, and all the soldiers fled. Since the city was surrounded by the Babylonians, they waited for nightfall. Then they slipped through the gate between the two walls behind the king's garden and headed toward the Jordan Valley.

Jeremiah 52 verses

Jeremiah 52 7 meaning

Jeremiah 52:7 recounts the pivotal moment when Jerusalem's defenses were finally breached by the Babylonian army after a long and devastating siege. It describes the desperate, nocturnal flight of King Zedekiah and his soldiers, attempting to escape through a specific, likely hidden, gate located between the double walls near the king's garden. Despite their stealth, the verse emphasizes the overwhelming reality that the Chaldean forces had completely encircled the city, making any true escape virtually impossible, thereby marking the fall of Judah's last king and its capital.

Jeremiah 52 7 Context

Jeremiah 52 serves as an appendix to the Book of Jeremiah, summarizing and reiterating the account of Jerusalem's final downfall, destruction, and the exile of its people to Babylon. This chapter mostly parallels the narrative found in 2 Kings 25, offering a historical validation and conclusion to the preceding prophetic messages. Verse 7 specifically depicts the climax of the 18-month siege (588-586 BC) under King Zedekiah, the last king of Judah. The city, devastated by famine and continuous assault, was finally breached by Nebuchadnezzar's forces. Jeremiah had consistently warned Zedekiah and the people of this impending judgment due to their idolatry, covenant unfaithfulness, and rebellion against God, urging surrender to Babylon as God's instrument. Zedekiah, however, repeatedly sought alliances and rebelled, bringing about the very destruction Jeremiah had foretold. This verse, therefore, marks the fulfillment of divine judgment and the end of the independent Kingdom of Judah.

Jeremiah 52 7 Word analysis

• Then the city: The Hebrew הָעִיר (ha'ir), "the city," explicitly refers to Jerusalem. Its vulnerability at this moment, after enduring an extended siege, underscores the devastating consequences of rejecting divine counsel and embracing disobedience. This moment signifies the culmination of prophecies and the stripping away of its perceived invincibility, often referred to as "the holy city" or "God's dwelling place."
• was broken into: The Hebrew וַתִּבָּקַע (va-tibbāqaʿ), from בָּקַע (bāqaʿ), implies a violent breaching or tearing open. It suggests not merely an entry, but a forcible penetration, symbolizing the shattering of Jerusalem's defenses and, metaphorically, the final collapse of Judah's spiritual and political integrity. This action represents the irreversible culmination of God's judgment against an unfaithful nation.
• and all the men of war: וְכָל אַנְשֵׁי הַמִּלְחָמָה (ve-chol anshey ha-milchamah), refers to Zedekiah's army and the king himself, as clarified by parallel accounts (Jer 39:4, 2 Ki 25:4). Their presence indicates that even the dedicated defenders, tasked with protecting the city, acknowledged the situation as lost.
• fled: בָּרְחוּ (bārēḥū), denotes a hasty, panicked escape, characteristic of profound fear and the recognition of overwhelming defeat. This flight, executed by the very people expected to fight, underscores the depth of despair and the complete failure of human military efforts against God's determined judgment.
• and went out: וַיֵּצְאוּ (va-yetzu), a simple verb meaning "they went out," but in context, implies exiting the city walls clandestinely, under cover of darkness, in a desperate attempt to evade capture.
• of the city by night: מִן הָעִיר לַיְלָה (min ha'ir laylah), "from the city by night," emphasizes the secrecy and desperation of their flight. Nighttime offers concealment for evasion, highlighting the fugitives' hope of escaping undetected under the cloak of darkness. This detail adds a layer of ignominy to the king's final actions, attempting to slip away rather than confront his fate or the enemy.
• by way of the gate between the two walls: דֶּרֶךְ שַׁעַר בֵּין הַחֹמֹתַיִם (derech sha'ar bein ha-chomotayim), describes a specific and perhaps lesser-known escape route. This architectural detail points to the advanced defenses of ancient Jerusalem, where double wall systems often incorporated postern gates or hidden passages. Archaeological and topographical research suggests this likely refers to a gate in the area of the Ophel ridge, close to the Gihon Spring and Kidron Valley, designed for stealthy egress or resupply during siege. Its specific mention highlights the strategic thought behind their desperate escape attempt.
• which was by the king's garden: אֲשֶׁר עַל גַּן הַמֶּלֶךְ (asher 'al gan ha-melech), provides another specific geographical marker, likely located at the confluence of the Kidron and Tyropoeon Valleys. This royal garden was a recognizable landmark outside the city, affirming the historical accuracy and concrete nature of the events, also implying the proximity to water sources for any garden.
• and the Chaldeans were against the city all around: וְכַשְׂדִּים עַל הָעִיר סָבִיב (ve-Kasdim 'al ha'ir saviv), כַשְׂדִּים (Kasdim) refers to the Babylonians. This concluding phrase serves as a grim counterpoint to the escape attempt. סָבִיב (saviv), "all around," signifies a complete encirclement, confirming the iron grip of the besieging army and emphasizing the utter futility of Zedekiah's efforts. No exit was truly free from surveillance, highlighting divine orchestration of judgment that made escape impossible.

Jeremiah 52 7 Bonus section

The detailed geographical markers in Jeremiah 52:7 — "gate between the two walls" and "the king's garden" — provide concrete evidence of the biblical narrative's rootedness in historical and topographical reality. Ancient Jerusalem, particularly during the Iron Age, possessed complex defensive systems, and these locations have been correlated with archaeological findings. The area south of the Temple Mount, stretching down to the Gihon Spring and the Siloam Pool, where the Kidron and Tyropoeon Valleys converge, aligns well with a strategic escape route out towards the Jordan Rift Valley. The mention of this specific escape route, corroborated by 2 Kings 25:4 and Jeremiah 39:4, emphasizes the profound accuracy of Jeremiah's prophetic messages, not just in broad strokes of doom, but in specific, verifiable details. This event marked a profound paradigm shift: the end of the Davidic monarchy in Jerusalem, the loss of the physical symbol of God's covenant dwelling, and the beginning of a long exile that would reshape Jewish identity and theology for centuries to come, laying the groundwork for the exilic prophets' messages of hope and future restoration.

Jeremiah 52 7 Commentary

Jeremiah 52:7 is a stark portrayal of divine judgment manifested through historical events. It is the narrative crescendo of Judah's long rebellion against God, encapsulating the dramatic final moments of Jerusalem's siege. The breaching of the city walls (וַתִּבָּקַע) represents not just a physical defeat but a symbolic tearing down of every false security. The flight of "all the men of war" (וְכָל אַנְשֵׁי הַמִּלְחָמָה בָּרְחוּ), especially King Zedekiah, signifies the ultimate human failure and desperation. Their attempt to escape under the cover of "night" (לַיְלָה) through a strategic "gate between the two walls... by the king's garden" highlights the clandestine nature of their hopeless endeavor. Yet, this strategic attempt was inherently futile, because the "Chaldeans were against the city all around" (וְכַשְׂדִּים עַל הָעִיר סָבִיב), perfectly fulfilling earlier prophecies (Ezek 12:12-13; Jer 32:4-5). This verse powerfully underscores the unwavering certainty of God's Word: disobedience brings judgment, and no human ingenuity or strength can thwart His predetermined will once patience has run its course. It is a testament to the consequences of persistent unfaithfulness and the inevitability of divine decree.