And Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him mouth to mouth, and his eyes shall behold his eyes;

JEREMIAH 32:4KJV
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Jeremiah 32:4 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 32:4 mean?

Jeremiah 32:4 predicts that Zedekiah, the king of Judah, will not escape from the Chaldeans (Babylonians) but will be captured and brought before the king of Babylon, where they will meet face to face. The verse emphasizes that Zedekiah will see the Babylonian king with his own eyes and speak directly with him before being taken away.

In this verse, the prophet Jeremiah is speaking to the people of Judah during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. Jeremiah is making it clear that Zedekiah’s attempts to avoid capture will fail, and he will personally encounter Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king. This prophecy highlights the certainty and personal nature of Zedekiah’s coming judgment, showing that he cannot escape the consequences of his actions.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 32:4

  • "Escape" (מָלַט, malat): This word means to slip away or flee. Its use here underscores that Zedekiah will have no way out, despite any plans to run or hide.
  • "Hand" (יָד, yad): The phrase "hand of the Chaldeans" and "hand of the king of Babylon" both use this word, which often symbolizes power or control. The repetition stresses that Zedekiah will be firmly under Babylonian authority.
  • "Mouth" (פֶּה, peh) and "eyes" (עַיִן, ayin): The verse repeats these words to highlight the direct, personal encounter between Zedekiah and the Babylonian king—Zedekiah will not just hear about his fate; he will experience it firsthand.

Why Jeremiah 32:4 matters

  • This verse clears up any hope that Zedekiah might escape or avoid the coming disaster, making Jeremiah’s warning very specific and personal.
  • The detail that Zedekiah will see and speak with the Babylonian king connects to other prophecies and historical accounts, confirming Jeremiah’s reliability as a prophet.
  • By describing the encounter so vividly, the verse emphasizes the seriousness of ignoring God’s warnings and the reality of coming judgment for Judah’s leaders.

Where else these words appear

“Zedekiah” Hebrew H6667 · used in 62 verses

  • 1 Kings 22:11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them.
  • Jeremiah 27:12 I spake also to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live.
  • Jeremiah 38:14 Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that is in the house of the LORD: and the king said unto Jeremiah, I will ask thee a thing; hide nothing from me.

“Chaldeans” Hebrew H3778 · used in 80 verses

  • Genesis 11:28 And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees.
  • Jeremiah 32:5 And he shall lead Zedekiah to Babylon, and there shall he be until I visit him, saith the LORD: though ye fight with the Chaldeans, ye shall not prosper.
  • Jeremiah 50:1 The word that the LORD spake against Babylon and against the land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet.

“escape” Hebrew H4422 · used in 85 verses

  • Genesis 19:17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
  • 2 Chronicles 16:7 And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.
  • Isaiah 37:38 And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Armenia: and Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.