Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Go and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire:

JEREMIAH 34:2KJV
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Jeremiah 34:2 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 34:2 mean?

Jeremiah 34:2 records God’s message to Zedekiah, the king of Judah: God is declaring that He will hand over Jerusalem to the king of Babylon, who will destroy the city by fire. This is a direct warning that Jerusalem’s defeat and destruction are certain.

In this verse, God speaks through the prophet Jeremiah, instructing him to deliver this message to King Zedekiah. The situation is dire—Babylon’s army is besieging Jerusalem, and God is making it clear that the city will not be saved. The verse is a solemn announcement of judgment, showing that the fate of Jerusalem is sealed because of decisions already made.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 34:2

  • "give" (נָתַן, natan): This word means to hand over or deliver. Here, it emphasizes that Jerusalem’s fall is not just a military event but something God Himself is allowing to happen.
  • "burn" (שָׂרַף, saraf): This word means to burn or consume with fire. The use of this word highlights the total destruction that awaits the city, not just defeat but devastation.
  • "hand" (יָד, yad): Often used to mean power or control. Saying the city will be given into the "hand" of Babylon’s king stresses that Babylon will have complete authority over Jerusalem.

Why Jeremiah 34:2 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Jerusalem’s destruction is not just the result of Babylon’s strength but is happening because God has decided to allow it, shifting the focus from politics to divine judgment.
  • The direct address to Zedekiah underlines personal responsibility and the seriousness of ignoring God’s warnings, which is a recurring theme in Jeremiah.
  • Understanding this verse helps make sense of the rest of the chapter, where the consequences of ignoring God’s commands unfold for both the king and the people.

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.

“burn” Hebrew H8313 · used in 107 verses

  • Genesis 11:3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.
  • Joshua 7:15 And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel.
  • Nehemiah 4:2 And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?