And I will give thee into the hand of them that seek thy life, and into the hand of them whose face thou fearest, even into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of the Chaldeans.
JEREMIAH 22:25KJVWhat does Jeremiah 22:25 mean?
Jeremiah 22:25 says that God will hand over the king of Judah to his enemies, specifically to those who want to kill him and to Nebuchadrezzar, the king of Babylon, as well as to the Chaldeans. This is a warning that the king’s fears will come true, and he will lose control and protection.
In this verse, the prophet Jeremiah is delivering God’s message to the king of Judah, likely King Jehoiachin or his predecessor. The situation is one of national crisis: Babylon is threatening Jerusalem, and the king is afraid of being captured or killed. God’s message is that the king’s fate is sealed—he will be given over to the very people he fears most.
The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 22:25
- The word “hand” (יָד, yad, H3027) appears several times, emphasizing the idea of being under someone’s control or power. In Hebrew, being given into someone’s “hand” often means total authority or domination.
- The word “seek” (בָּקַשׁ, baqash, H1245) means to search for or pursue, often with intent to harm. Here, it highlights that these enemies are actively trying to take the king’s life.
- The phrase “whose face thou fearest” uses the Hebrew word for “face” (פָּנִים, panim, H6440) and “fearest” (יָגֹר, yagor, H3016), together painting a picture of dread or terror toward these enemies.
- “Nebuchadrezzar” (נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּר, Nevukhadretzar, H5019) and “Chaldeans” (כַּשְׂדִּים, Kasdim, H3778) are named specifically, leaving no doubt about who the threat is.
Why Jeremiah 22:25 matters
- Jeremiah 22:25 makes it clear that the king’s downfall is not just political misfortune but a direct result of God’s decision; the repeated use of “hand” underscores that this is about being completely given over to another’s power.
- The verse clarifies that the king’s greatest fears—being captured by Nebuchadrezzar and the Chaldeans—are exactly what will happen, showing the seriousness of ignoring God’s warnings.
- This verse connects to the larger message of Jeremiah 22, where God warns Judah’s leaders that injustice and unfaithfulness will lead to disaster, not just for them but for the whole nation.