King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 32:4 Mean?

Jeremiah 32:4 in the King James Version says “And Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be delivered into the han... — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 32 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him mouth to mouth, and his eyes shall behold his eyes;

Jeremiah 32:4 · KJV


Context

2

For then the king of Babylon's army besieged Jerusalem: and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison, which was in the king of Judah's house.

3

For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, Wherefore dost thou prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it;

4

And Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him mouth to mouth, and his eyes shall behold his eyes;

5

And he shall lead Zedekiah to Babylon, and there shall he be until I visit him, saith the LORD: though ye fight with the Chaldeans, ye shall not prosper.

6

And Jeremiah said, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying,


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Shall not escape (לֹא יִמָּלֵט, lo yimmalet)—emphatic negation. Despite Zedekiah's desperate measures, divine decree is inescapable. The phrase mouth to mouth and his eyes shall behold his eyes predicts personal confrontation—fulfilled precisely when Nebuchadnezzar forced Zedekiah to watch his sons' execution before blinding him (Jeremiah 39:6-7, 52:10-11).

This graphic prophecy demonstrates God's meticulous sovereignty over historical details. Zedekiah's final sight would be the Babylonian king's face—a haunting fulfillment of covenant curse (Deuteronomy 28:34). The doubling of sensory language (mouth/mouth, eyes/eyes) emphasizes the personal, unavoidable nature of judgment. Yet even this horrific prophecy contains implicit call to repentance—knowing the inevitable, Zedekiah could have surrendered and lived (38:17-18).

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

This prophecy appeared contradictory to Ezekiel 12:13 ('he shall not see Babylon'), puzzling ancient interpreters. Both were literally fulfilled: Zedekiah was brought to Babylon but blind—he never 'saw' it. Such precise fulfillment of seemingly contradictory prophecies validates Scripture's divine origin.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the detailed fulfillment of this prophecy strengthen confidence in unfulfilled biblical prophecies?
  2. What does Zedekiah's fate teach about the consequences of resisting God's revealed will?
  3. How might Zedekiah's life have differed had he surrendered to God's word through Jeremiah?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 21 words
וְצִדְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙1 of 21

And Zedekiah

H6667

tsidkijah, the name of six israelites

מֶֽלֶךְ2 of 21

king

H4428

a king

יְהוּדָ֔ה3 of 21

of Judah

H3063

jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

לֹ֥א4 of 21
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

יִמָּלֵ֖ט5 of 21

shall not escape

H4422

properly, to be smooth, i.e., (by implication) to escape (as if by slipperiness); causatively, to release or rescue; specifically, to bring forth youn

בְּיַ֣ד6 of 21

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

הַכַּשְׂדִּ֑ים7 of 21

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

כִּ֣י8 of 21
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

יִנָּתֵן֙9 of 21

be delivered

H5414

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

יִנָּתֵן֙10 of 21

be delivered

H5414

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

בְּיַ֣ד11 of 21

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

מֶֽלֶךְ12 of 21

king

H4428

a king

בָּבֶ֔ל13 of 21

of Babylon

H894

babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire

וְדִבֶּר14 of 21

and shall speak

H1696

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

פִּ֔יו15 of 21

to mouth

H6310

the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos

עִם16 of 21
H5973

adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then

פִּ֔יו17 of 21

to mouth

H6310

the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos

עֵינָ֥ו18 of 21

and his eyes

H5869

an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)

אֶת19 of 21
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

עֵינָ֥ו20 of 21

and his eyes

H5869

an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)

תִּרְאֶֽינָה׃21 of 21

shall behold

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 32:4 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 32:4 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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