King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 52:2 Mean?

Jeremiah 52:2 in the King James Version says “And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 52 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.”

Jeremiah 52:2 · KJV

Context

1

Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. began: Heb. reigned

2

And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.

3

For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, till he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

4

And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it, and built forts against it round about.

Read Jeremiah 52 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done. This epitaph for King Zedekiah is devastating in its brevity. The phrase did that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD (ra' be'einei YHWH, רַע בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה) is the standard formula in Kings and Chronicles for covenant unfaithfulness—not merely political failure but spiritual rebellion against God's revealed will. The comparison to Jehoiakim is particularly damning: Jehoiakim (Zedekiah's predecessor) was notoriously wicked, burning Jeremiah's scroll (Jeremiah 36:23), murdering the prophet Uriah (Jeremiah 26:20-23), and exploiting his own people (Jeremiah 22:13-17).

Zedekiah's specific sins included breaking his oath to Nebuchadnezzar (2 Chronicles 36:13, Ezekiel 17:15-20)—violating a covenant made in God's name, which God considered treachery against Himself. He also imprisoned Jeremiah for prophesying truth (Jeremiah 37:15-21), though personally seeking Jeremiah's counsel privately (Jeremiah 37:17, 38:14-28), showing spiritual cowardice. The tragedy is that Zedekiah seems to have known the right course but lacked courage to follow it. This demonstrates that intellectual knowledge without moral courage leads to destruction.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Jeremiah 52 is a historical appendix nearly identical to 2 Kings 24:18-25:30, providing eyewitness details of Jerusalem's fall. Zedekiah (r. 597-586 BC) was installed by Nebuchadnezzar after deposing Jehoiachin. His original name was Mattaniah; Nebuchadnezzar renamed him Zedekiah ("Righteousness of Yahweh"), ironically, since he proved unrighteous. Despite Jeremiah's repeated counsel to submit to Babylon (Jeremiah 27:12-15, 38:17-18), Zedekiah rebelled, forming alliances with Egypt. This rebellion triggered the Babylonian siege (588-586 BC) that ended in Jerusalem's destruction, the temple's burning, and mass deportation. Zedekiah witnessed his sons' execution, then was blinded and taken to Babylon in chains (Jeremiah 52:10-11)—a horrific end. His failure shows that political expediency and peer pressure are spiritually fatal when they contradict God's word.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does Zedekiah's comparison to Jehoiakim teach about the seriousness of covenant unfaithfulness?
  2. How did Zedekiah's lack of moral courage to obey God's clear word through Jeremiah lead to catastrophic consequences?
  3. In what ways might believers today similarly know the right course yet lack courage to follow it?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 8 words
עָשָׂ֖ה1 of 8

“And he did”

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

הָרַ֖ע2 of 8

“that which was evil”

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

בְּעֵינֵ֣י3 of 8

“in the eyes”

H5869

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

יְהוָ֑ה4 of 8

“of the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

כְּכֹ֥ל5 of 8
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

אֲשֶׁר6 of 8
H834

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

עָשָׂ֖ה7 of 8

“And he did”

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

יְהוֹיָקִֽם׃8 of 8

“according to all that Jehoiakim”

H3079

jehojakim, a jewish king

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 52:2 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 52:2 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 Kings 14:22Ezekiel 21:252 Kings 24:19-20Jeremiah 26:21-23Ezekiel 17:16-20Jeremiah 36:29-31

Test Your Knowledge

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