Zedekiah's Appeal and Jeremiah's Warning
Jeremiah 34:1-7
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Jer.34.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- הדבר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- היה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- ירמיהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מאת: PREP
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ונבוכדראצר: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- בבל: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- חילו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+pr3ms
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- ממלכות: NOUN,f,pl,cs
- ארץ: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ממשלת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- ידו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- העמים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- נלחמים: VERB,qal,ptcp,3,m,pl
- על: PREP
- ירושלם: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ועל: CONJ+PREP
- כל: DET
- עריה: NOUN,f,pl,abs+3f
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
Parallels
- Jeremiah 25:9 (thematic): Announces Nebuchadnezzar as the instrument of God summoned to punish nations and bring judgment — thematically anticipates the Babylonian campaign against Jerusalem.
- Jeremiah 27:6–7 (verbal): God declares he has given lands and peoples into Nebuchadnezzar’s hand and that nations will serve him, echoing the language of ‘all the kingdoms’ and peoples under his rule in Jer 34:1.
- Jeremiah 39:1–2 (structural): Narrative account of Nebuchadnezzar’s siege and capture of Jerusalem and its leaders; a direct continuation/fulfillment of the conflict described in Jer 34:1.
- 2 Kings 25:1–2 (quotation): Parallel historical report of Nebuchadnezzar’s siege of Jerusalem, providing the Deuteronomistic counterpart to Jeremiah’s description of the Babylonian assault.
- Jeremiah 52:4–7 (quotation): Another parallel account within Jeremiah’s book (and an appendix to Kings) recounting the siege and capture of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar and his forces, closely corresponding to the events introduced in 34:1.
Alternative generated candidates
- The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army, and all the kingdoms of the earth under his dominion, and all the peoples are fighting against Jerusalem and against all its cities, saying—
- The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD concerning Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and concerning all his army, and concerning all the kingdoms of the earth that were under his rule, and concerning all the peoples fighting against Jerusalem and all its cities, saying:
Jer.34.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כה: ADV
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הלך: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ואמרת: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- צדקיהו: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- ואמרת: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- אליו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- כה: ADV
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- הנני: PRT+PRON,1,sg
- נתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- העיר: NOUN,f,sg,def
- הזאת: DEM,f,sg,def
- ביד: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- בבל: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ושרפה: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- באש: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Jeremiah 21:10 (verbal): Nearly identical prophetic formula: God declares He will give the city into the hand of the king of Babylon and it will be burned with fire (close verbal parallel).
- Jeremiah 32:28-29 (thematic): Another Jeremiah passage where YHWH announces He will give the city into the hand of its enemies (the Chaldeans/Babylonians) to destroy it by sword, famine and pestilence — same theme of divine judgment by Babylon.
- Jeremiah 39:8-10 (structural): Narrative account of the fall of Jerusalem and Zedekiah’s capture and blinding; describes the Babylonian assault and the city’s destruction, serving as the historical fulfillment of the prophecy.
- 2 Kings 25:9 (structural): Historical report that Nebuchadnezzar (and his forces) burned the house of the LORD and the city of Jerusalem — a parallel fulfillment of the prediction that the city would be given to Babylon and burned.
- 2 Chronicles 36:19-20 (thematic): Chronicles’ account of Jerusalem’s destruction, the temple being burned, and the exile to Babylon, echoing the prophetic declaration that the city would be delivered to Babylon and consumed by fire.
Alternative generated candidates
- Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Go and say to Zedekiah king of Judah, 'Thus says the LORD: Behold, I will deliver this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will burn it with fire.'
- Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Go and tell Zedekiah king of Judah, and say to him, Thus says the LORD: Behold, I have given this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.
Jer.34.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואתה: CONJ+PRON,2,m,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- תמלט: VERB,qal,imf,2,m,sg
- מידו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- תפש: VERB,qal,imf,3,m,sg
- תתפש: VERB,niphal,imf,2,m,sg
- ובידו: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- תנתן: VERB,niphal,impf,3,f,sg
- ועיניך: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs+suff(2ms)
- את: PRT,acc
- עיני: NOUN,f,pl,cons+1s
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- בבל: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- תראינה: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,pl
- ופיהו: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs,3ms
- את: PRT,acc
- פיך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+2ms
- ידבר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ובבל: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תבוא: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Jeremiah 39:5-7 (structural): Narrative fulfillment of the prophecy: Babylon captures Jerusalem, Zedekiah is seized, brought before the king of Babylon, his sons are killed and his eyes are put out—echoing the seizure and being given into the king’s hand in Jer 34:3.
- Jeremiah 52:11 (structural): Parallel account of Jerusalem’s fall that repeats the fulfillment details (Zedekiah’s capture, blinding, and transport to Babylon), directly corresponding to the prediction in Jer 34:3.
- 2 Kings 25:7 (structural): Royal chronicle recounting Zedekiah’s capture and the putting out of his eyes by the Babylonian king, paralleling the imagery of being seized and brought to Babylon in Jer 34:3.
- Isaiah 39:5-7 (thematic): Prophecy to Hezekiah that his descendants and treasures will be carried to Babylon and that they will serve the Babylonian king—themewise linked to Jer 34:3’s forecast of exile and personal subjection before the king of Babylon.
- Ezekiel 12:13 (thematic): Uses captivity imagery (spreading a net and being taken) to describe exile; thematically parallels Jer 34:3’s emphasis on seizure, transfer into another’s hand, and deportation to Babylon.
Alternative generated candidates
- And you shall not escape from his hand; you shall be seized—seized; you shall be delivered into his hand. Your eyes shall behold the eyes of the king of Babylon, and his mouth shall speak to your mouth; and you shall go to Babylon.
- And you shall not escape from his hand; you shall be seized and delivered into his hand. Your eyes will look on the eyes of the king of Babylon; his mouth will speak to your mouth; and to Babylon you shall go.
Jer.34.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אך: PART
- שמע: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- צדקיהו: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- כה: ADV
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- עליך: PREP+2ms
- לא: PART_NEG
- תמות: VERB,qal,yiqtol,2,m,sg
- בחרב: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Jeremiah 39:6–7 (structural): Narrative fulfillment in Jeremiah: Zedekiah is captured, his sons are put to death before him, he is blinded and bound, and taken to Babylon—showing he did not die by the sword but was carried off, fulfilling the promise in Jer 34:4.
- 2 Kings 25:7 (structural): Parallel royal annal of Zedekiah’s capture and blinding; provides the same historical fulfillment of the prophecy that he would not die by the sword.
- Jeremiah 52:10–11 (structural): Another parallel account (cf. 2 Kings) recounting Zedekiah’s sons being slain, his eyes put out, and his being taken to Babylon—confirming the outcome implied in Jer 34:4.
- Isaiah 38:5 (cf. 2 Kings 20:6) (thematic): Thematic parallel of a prophetic word to a Judean king about the manner/length of his life (God personally announces the king’s fate)—compare God’s direct address to Hezekiah promising years of life with the direct oracle to Zedekiah in Jer 34:4.
Alternative generated candidates
- But hear the word of the LORD, Zedekiah king of Judah: Thus says the LORD concerning you, You shall not die by the sword.
- Yet hear the word of the LORD, O Zedekiah king of Judah: Thus says the LORD concerning you, You shall not die by the sword.
Jer.34.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בשלום: PREP
- תמות: VERB,qal,yiqtol,2,m,sg
- וכמשרפות: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- אבותיך: NOUN,m,pl,cons,2,m,sg
- המלכים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- הראשנים: ADJ,m,pl,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- היו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- לפניך: PREP+PRON,2,m,sg
- כן: ADV
- ישרפו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- והוי: CONJ+INTERJ
- אדון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יספדו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אני: PRON,1,sg
- דברתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,c,sg
- נאם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 2 Kings 25:7 (structural): The historical fate of King Zedekiah is recorded here (sons slain before him, his eyes put out, taken to Babylon), providing a stark real-world contrast to Jeremiah’s formulaic death-proclamation in 34:5 ('you shall die in peace').
- Jeremiah 22:18–19 (thematic): Another Jeremiah oracle pronouncing a king’s ignoble end and shameful burial (Jehoiakim). Both passages are royal judgment sayings that predict death/humiliation as the Lord’s verdict.
- Ezekiel 26:16–18 (thematic): Ezekiel’s oracle against Tyre speaks of nations lamenting over a fallen city/leader. This parallels Jeremiah 34:5’s image of others mourning and lamenting over the doomed ruler.
- Ezekiel 21:25–27 (thematic): Ezekiel pronounces the removal and overthrow of a prince ('overturn, overturn'), a motif of displacement and lament that parallels Jeremiah’s announcement of a king’s end and the surrounding lamentation.
Alternative generated candidates
- You shall die in peace; and like the burnings of your fathers, the former kings who were before you, so shall they burn for you. 'Alas, my lord!' they shall cry, and they shall lament for you; for I have spoken the word, declares the LORD.
- You shall die in peace; you shall die in peace. Like the burning of your fathers, the former kings who were before you, so shall they make a funerary pyre for you, and they shall lament over you, “Alas, my lord!” For I have spoken the word, declares the LORD.
Jer.34.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וידבר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ירמיהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הנביא: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אל: NEG
- צדקיהו: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- את: PRT,acc
- כל: DET
- הדברים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- האלה: DEM,pl
- בירושלם: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Jeremiah 21:1–7 (thematic): Both passages record Jeremiah’s messages in the context of Zedekiah and Jerusalem’s fate—prophetic speech addressing the king about surrender, judgment, and the city under siege.
- Jeremiah 37:17–21 (verbal): Another episode of direct interaction between Jeremiah and Zedekiah during the siege; like 34:6 it situates the prophet’s words addressed to the king in Jerusalem and shows the tense royal–prophet dynamic.
- Jeremiah 38:14–28 (structural): Narrative parallel in which Zedekiah summons Jeremiah to the palace and receives prophetic warnings in Jerusalem; similar setting and function to 34:6 (prophet speaking to the king within the city).
- 2 Kings 25:6–7 (thematic): Reports the capture and humiliation of Zedekiah after the fall of Jerusalem—this event serves as the historical fulfilment/background to Jeremiah’s warnings spoken to the king in Jerusalem.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Jeremiah the prophet spoke all these words to Zedekiah king of Judah in Jerusalem.
- And Jeremiah the prophet spoke all these words to Zedekiah king of Judah in Jerusalem.
Jer.34.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וחיל: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- בבל: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- נלחמים: VERB,qal,ptcp,3,m,pl
- על: PREP
- ירושלם: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ועל: CONJ+PREP
- כל: DET
- ערי: NOUN,f,pl,cons
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- הנותרות: ART+VERB,qal,ptcp,f,pl
- אל: NEG
- לכיש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ואל: CONJ+PREP
- עזקה: NOUN,prop,f,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- הנה: PART
- נשארו: VERB,qal,perf,3,mp
- בערי: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,const
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- ערי: NOUN,f,pl,cons
- מבצר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Jeremiah 32:1-5 (structural): Same prophet describing the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem—Jeremiah is confined during the siege and the military threat to the city and surrounding Judean strongholds is explicitly narrated.
- Jeremiah 39:1-10 (thematic): Narrative account of Nebuchadnezzar’s capture of Jerusalem, the fall of the city, and its aftermath—complements 34:7’s depiction of Babylonian operations against Jerusalem and other Judean fortified towns.
- 2 Kings 25:1-10 (thematic): Historical account of the Babylonian siege and capture of Jerusalem, the burning of the city and temple, and the deportation—parallels the military actions and outcome implied in Jeremiah 34:7.
- 2 Chronicles 36:17-20 (thematic): Summary of Judah’s punishment by Nebuchadnezzar—records the siege, destruction of the temple and exile to Babylon, echoing the circumstances described in Jeremiah 34:7.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the army of the king of Babylon fought against Jerusalem and against all the remaining cities of Judah as far as Lachish and Azekah, for behold, there remained in the cities of Judah fortified towns.
- And the army of the king of Babylon fought against Jerusalem and against all the remaining cities of Judah, as far as Lachish and Azekah; for behold, there were left in the cities of Judah fortified towns.
The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his host, and all the kingdoms of the earth under his rule, and all the peoples, are fighting against Jerusalem and against all its cities, saying: Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Go and tell Zedekiah king of Judah, and say to him, Thus says the LORD: Behold, I give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will burn it with fire.
You shall not escape from his hand; you will be taken—captured and delivered into his hand—and your eyes shall see the eyes of the king of Babylon, and his mouth shall speak to your mouth; to Babylon you shall go. But hear the word of the LORD, O Zedekiah king of Judah: Thus says the LORD concerning you, You shall not die by the sword.
You shall die in peace. As for the funeral rites for your fathers, the former kings who were before you, so shall they perform rites for you, and the nobles shall lament for you, 'Alas, my lord!'—for I have spoken, declares the LORD.
Jeremiah the prophet spoke all these words to Zedekiah king of Judah in Jerusalem. And the army of the king of Babylon fought against Jerusalem and against all the remaining cities of Judah as far as Lachish and Azekah, for behold, there remained in the cities of Judah fortified towns.