Then he put out the eyes of Zedekiah; and the king of Babylon bound him in chains, and carried him to Babylon, and put him in prison till the day of his death.

JEREMIAH 52:11KJV
Know the Bible

Jeremiah 52:11 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 52:11 mean?

Jeremiah 52:11 describes the end of Zedekiah’s rule as king of Judah. The king of Babylon’s treatment of him shows that Zedekiah had lost both his throne and his freedom. His captivity in Babylon lasted for the rest of his life.

After the killing of Zedekiah’s sons in verse 10, the account turns to Zedekiah himself. Blinding and chains show the severity of his treatment. The final phrase, “till the day of his death,” gives no fixed length to his imprisonment, but makes its end clear.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 52:11

  • “put out” — עָוַר (ʿavar): This word can mean to blind. Here it describes what was done to Zedekiah’s eyes, rather than a loss of sight through illness or age.
  • “chains” — נְחֹשֶׁת (neḥoshet): This word often refers to bronze or copper. Here it points to metal restraints used to hold Zedekiah.

Why Jeremiah 52:11 matters

  • Zedekiah’s punishment connects with an earlier warning. Jeremiah 34:3 says that Zedekiah would see the king of Babylon and go to Babylon. Jeremiah 52:11 places the blinding before the journey.
  • The account also helps explain the unusual wording of Ezekiel 12:13. That verse says the ruler would be brought to Babylon but would not see it. Jeremiah 52:11 describes how Zedekiah could arrive there without seeing it.

Where else these words appear

“out” Hebrew H5786 · used in 5 verses

  • Exodus 23:8 And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.
  • Deuteronomy 16:19 Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.
  • 2 Kings 25:7 And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon.

“prison” Hebrew H6486 · used in 31 verses

  • Numbers 3:32 And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be chief over the chief of the Levites, and have the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary.
  • 2 Chronicles 23:18 Also Jehoiada appointed the offices of the house of the LORD by the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was ordained by David.
  • Jeremiah 11:23 And there shall be no remnant of them: for I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth, even the year of their visitation.

“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 38:5 Then Zedekiah the king said, Behold, he is in your hand: for the king is not he that can do any thing against you.

“bound” Hebrew H631 · used in 64 verses

  • Genesis 39:20 And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.
  • Judges 15:13 And they spake unto him, saying, No; but we will bind thee fast, and deliver thee into their hand: but surely we will not kill thee. And they bound him with two new cords, and brought him up from the rock.
  • 2 Chronicles 13:3 And Abijah set the battle in array with an army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men: Jeroboam also set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, being mighty men of valour.