And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land.

2 KINGS 24:14KJV
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2 Kings 24:14 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 24:14 mean?

2 Kings 24:14 describes how the Babylonian king took almost everyone from Jerusalem into captivity, including the leaders, soldiers, skilled workers, and craftsmen—about ten thousand people—leaving only the poorest people behind. This verse highlights the thoroughness of the exile, showing that those with influence, skill, or strength were all taken away.

The verse is part of the account of King Nebuchadnezzar’s conquest of Jerusalem. The writer is explaining to later readers how the Babylonian exile began, focusing on the loss of the city’s key people and resources. By mentioning the removal of "all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour," as well as craftsmen and smiths, the verse shows that Jerusalem was left without its leaders, defenders, and skilled workers, making it powerless and vulnerable.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 24:14

  • "Princes" (שָׂרִים, sarim): This word refers to officials or leaders. Their removal meant Jerusalem lost its political and social leadership.
  • "Mighty men" (גִּבּוֹרִים, gibborim) and "valour" (חַיִל, chayil): These words together point to the city’s strongest warriors and men of ability. Their exile left Jerusalem defenseless.
  • "Craftsmen" (חָרָשִׁים, charashim) and "smiths" (מַסְגֵּרִים, masgerim): These terms refer to skilled workers, especially those who could make weapons or tools. Taking them away crippled the city’s ability to rebuild or defend itself.
  • "Remained" (שָׁאַר, sha’ar) and "poorest sort" (דַּלָּה, dallah): Only the very poorest people were left, emphasizing the completeness of the exile and the city’s utter vulnerability.

Why 2 Kings 24:14 matters

  • This verse clears up that the exile was not just about removing the king or a few leaders; it was a sweeping deportation that stripped Jerusalem of nearly everyone with power, skill, or influence.
  • The focus on craftsmen and smiths shows that Babylon wanted to prevent any future rebellion by removing those who could make weapons or organize resistance.
  • Understanding this verse helps explain why Jerusalem was so weak and devastated in the years that followed, setting the stage for the deeper suffering and loss described in the rest of 2 Kings.

Where else these words appear

“smiths” Hebrew H4525 · used in 7 verses

  • 2 Kings 24:16 And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand, all that were strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon.
  • Isaiah 24:22 And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.
  • Jeremiah 24:1 The LORD shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the LORD, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.

“sort” Hebrew H1803 · used in 8 verses

  • Genesis 41:19 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness:
  • Song of Solomon 7:5 Thine head upon thee is like Carmel, and the hair of thine head like purple; the king is held in the galleries.
  • Jeremiah 40:7 Now when all the captains of the forces which were in the fields, even they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed unto him men, and women, and children, and of the poor of the land, of them that were not carried away captive to Babylon;

“save” Hebrew H2108 · used in 16 verses

  • Deuteronomy 1:36 Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath wholly followed the LORD.
  • 2 Samuel 7:22 Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
  • Isaiah 26:13 O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name.

“craftsmen” Hebrew H2796 · used in 32 verses

  • Exodus 28:11 With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold.
  • 1 Chronicles 22:15 Moreover there are workmen with thee in abundance, hewers and workers of stone and timber, and all manner of cunning men for every manner of work.
  • Isaiah 44:13 The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.