Jeremiah 52:5 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 52:5 mean?

Jeremiah 52:5 states that Jerusalem was surrounded and cut off by enemy forces until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah’s reign. This verse marks the duration of the Babylonian siege that eventually led to the city’s fall.

The book of Jeremiah records the prophet’s account of Jerusalem’s final days before its destruction by Babylon. Here, the focus is on the relentless siege that began under King Zedekiah, Judah’s last king, showing how long the city endured before it was overtaken. This detail sets the stage for the coming disaster and highlights the seriousness of the situation faced by the people inside the city.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 52:5

• The word for "besieged" is מָצוֹר (matsor), which refers to a military blockade or encirclement. This term emphasizes that Jerusalem was completely surrounded, cutting off supplies and escape.
• The word for "city" is עִיר (ʿir), pointing specifically to Jerusalem in this context, the central place of worship and national identity for Judah.
• The phrase "eleventh year" uses two Hebrew numbers: עַשְׁתֵּי (ʿashtei, "eleven") and עָשָׂר (ʿasar, "ten"), combined to indicate the exact year of Zedekiah’s reign, giving a precise historical marker.

Why Jeremiah 52:5 matters

• This verse clarifies the length and intensity of the Babylonian siege, helping readers understand the suffering and desperation inside Jerusalem before its fall.
• By naming the eleventh year of Zedekiah, Jeremiah 52:5 ties the event to a specific moment in Judah’s history, connecting it to other biblical and historical records.
• The verse sets up the following narrative, where the consequences of the siege—famine, breach of the walls, and exile—are described, showing the fulfillment of Jeremiah’s earlier warnings.