King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 32:24 Mean?

Jeremiah 32:24 in the King James Version says “Behold the mounts, they are come unto the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans, that fi...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 32 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Behold the mounts, they are come unto the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans, that fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence: and what thou hast spoken is come to pass; and, behold, thou seest it. mounts: or, engines of shot”

Jeremiah 32:24 · KJV

Context

22

And hast given them this land, which thou didst swear to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey;

23

And they came in, and possessed it; but they obeyed not thy voice, neither walked in thy law; they have done nothing of all that thou commandedst them to do: therefore thou hast caused all this evil to come upon them:

24

Behold the mounts, they are come unto the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans, that fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence: and what thou hast spoken is come to pass; and, behold, thou seest it. mounts: or, engines of shot

25

And thou hast said unto me, O Lord GOD, Buy thee the field for money, and take witnesses; for the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans. for the: or, though the

26

Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying,

Read Jeremiah 32 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Behold the mounts, they are come unto the city to take it (הִנֵּה הַסֹּלְלוֹת בָּאוּ הָעִיר)—The siege sollot (ramparts, siege mounds) were earthwork ramps built by attackers to breach city walls. Jeremiah acknowledges God's prophetic word has come to pass: what thou hast spoken is come to pass. The threefold judgment—sword, famine, pestilence (חֶרֶב רָעָב דֶּבֶר)—represents complete divine judgment, a formula repeated throughout Jeremiah (14:12, 21:7, 24:10).

Jeremiah's prayer reveals the tension between God's command to buy the field (v. 25) and the visible reality of Babylon's siege. This paradox of faith-obedience in the face of impending doom illustrates that God's promises transcend immediate circumstances. The prophet's honest questioning models faithful wrestling with divine providence.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Written in 587 BC during the final Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. Archaeological evidence confirms Babylonian siege tactics included massive earthen ramps (sollot) to scale city walls. Jeremiah was imprisoned in the court of the guard during this crisis (32:2), making his land purchase even more countercultural.

Reflection Questions

  1. When has God asked you to act in faith despite contradictory circumstances?
  2. How does Jeremiah's honest prayer to God model healthy spiritual wrestling versus unbelief?
  3. What 'siege mounds' of opposition threaten your obedience to God's clear commands?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 20 words
הִנֵּ֣ה1 of 20
H2009

lo!

הַסֹּלְל֗וֹת2 of 20

“Behold the mounts”

H5550

a military mound, i.e., rampart of besiegers

בָּ֣אוּ3 of 20

“they are come”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

וְהָעִ֣יר4 of 20

“it and the city”

H5892

a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)

לְלָכְדָהּ֒5 of 20

“to take”

H3920

to catch (in a net, trap or pit); generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by lot); figuratively, to cohere

וְהָעִ֣יר6 of 20

“it and the city”

H5892

a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)

נִתְּנָ֗ה7 of 20

“is given”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

בְּיַ֤ד8 of 20

“into the hand”

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

הַכַּשְׂדִּים֙9 of 20

“of the Chaldeans”

H3778

a kasdite, or descendant of kesed; by implication, a chaldaean (as if so descended); also an astrologer (as if proverbial of that people

הַנִּלְחָמִ֣ים10 of 20

“that fight”

H3898

to feed on; figuratively, to consume

עָלֶ֔יהָ11 of 20
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

מִפְּנֵ֛י12 of 20

“against it because”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

הַחֶ֥רֶב13 of 20

“of the sword”

H2719

drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement

וְהָרָעָ֖ב14 of 20

“and of the famine”

H7458

hunger (more or less extensive)

וְהַדָּ֑בֶר15 of 20

“and of the pestilence”

H1698

a pestilence

וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר16 of 20
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

דִּבַּ֛רְתָּ17 of 20

“and what thou hast spoken”

H1696

perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue

הָיָ֖ה18 of 20
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

וְהִנְּךָ֥19 of 20
H2005

lo!; also (as expressing surprise) if

רֹאֶֽה׃20 of 20

“is come to pass and behold thou seest”

H7200

to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Jeremiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Jeremiah 32:24 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Jeremiah 32:24 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 33:4Deuteronomy 4:26Jeremiah 32:36Joshua 23:15-16Jeremiah 21:4-7Ezekiel 21:22

Places in This Verse

ChaldeaRegion · Modern: Tell el Muqayyar · 30.96°N, 46.10°E85 verses across 11 books
View all places in Jeremiah 32 →

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