King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 52:4 Mean?

Jeremiah 52:4 in the King James Version says “And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadrezz...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 52 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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.”

Jeremiah 52:4 · KJV

Context

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.

5

So the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah.

6

And in the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.

Read Jeremiah 52 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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. This verse provides precise chronological detail for Jerusalem's final siege—the ninth year of his reign (Zedekiah's), tenth month, tenth day corresponds to January 15, 588 BC by modern reckoning. Such precision emphasizes the historicity of this catastrophic event. The date became a perpetual fast day in Jewish observance (Zechariah 8:19), commemorating when Babylon's noose began tightening around Jerusalem.

Nebuchadrezzar (an alternate spelling of Nebuchadnezzar) came with all his army, indicating overwhelming force. They pitched against it (chanu, חָנוּ, meaning to encamp) and built forts (dayeq, דָּיֵק, siege works/ramparts) round about, completely encircling Jerusalem to prevent escape or resupply. Ancient siege warfare involved constructing earthworks, siege towers, battering rams, and perimeter walls to starve the city into submission. This siege lasted approximately 30 months (until 586 BC), causing terrible famine described in Lamentations (Lamentations 4:9-10). The siege fulfilled Deuteronomy 28:52-57's covenant curses for disobedience.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Nebuchadnezzar's siege of Jerusalem (588-586 BC) was his response to Zedekiah's rebellion. After Egypt encouraged Zedekiah to revolt (Jeremiah 37:5-7), Nebuchadnezzar marched his army from Babylon to crush the rebellion. Archaeological evidence from the Lachish Letters (ostraca found at Tel Lachish) provides contemporary documentation of Babylonian forces systematically conquering Judean fortresses before focusing on Jerusalem. The siege was temporarily lifted when an Egyptian relief force approached (Jeremiah 37:5), giving false hope, but the Babylonians returned to complete the siege. The famine conditions became so severe that mothers reportedly ate their own children (Lamentations 2:20, 4:10). The Babylonian siege techniques were ruthlessly effective—archaeological excavations show evidence of massive destruction layers from this period at multiple Judean sites. The tenth of Tevet remains a Jewish fast day commemorating the siege's beginning.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the precise historical documentation of Jerusalem's siege strengthen confidence in Scripture's reliability?
  2. What does the nearly 30-month siege's horror teach about the serious consequences of covenant unfaithfulness?
  3. How should we understand the relationship between human military action (Nebuchadnezzar's siege) and divine judgment in this event?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 23 words
וַיְהִי֩1 of 23
H1961

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

בַשָּׁנָ֨ה2 of 23

“year”

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

הַתְּשִׁעִ֜ית3 of 23

“And it came to pass in the ninth”

H8671

ninth

לְמָלְכ֗וֹ4 of 23

“of his reign”

H4427

to reign; hence (by implication) to take counsel

לַחֹדֶשׁ֒5 of 23

“day of the month”

H2320

the new moon; by implication, a month

הָעֲשִׂירִי֮6 of 23

“in the tenth”

H6224

tenth; by abbreviation, tenth month or (feminine) part

בֶּעָשׂ֣וֹר7 of 23

“in the tenth”

H6218

ten; by abbreviated form ten strings, and so a decachord

לַחֹדֶשׁ֒8 of 23

“day of the month”

H2320

the new moon; by implication, a month

בָּ֠א9 of 23

“came”

H935

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

נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֨ר10 of 23

“that Nebuchadrezzar”

H5019

nebukadnetstsar (or nebukadretsts(-ar, or)), king of babylon

מֶֽלֶךְ11 of 23

“king”

H4428

a king

בָּבֶ֜ל12 of 23

“of Babylon”

H894

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

ה֤וּא13 of 23
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

וְכָל14 of 23
H3605

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

חֵילוֹ֙15 of 23

“he and all his army”

H2428

probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength

עַל16 of 23
H5921

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

יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם17 of 23

“against Jerusalem”

H3389

jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine

וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ18 of 23

“and pitched”

H2583

properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening); specifically, to pitch a tent; generally to encamp (for abode or s

עָלֶ֑יהָ19 of 23
H5921

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

וַיִּבְנ֥וּ20 of 23

“against it and built”

H1129

to build (literally and figuratively)

עָלֶ֛יהָ21 of 23
H5921

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

דָּיֵ֖ק22 of 23

“forts”

H1785

a battering-tower

סָבִֽיב׃23 of 23

“against it round about”

H5439

(as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around

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 52:4 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 52:4 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 39:1Zechariah 8:19Ezekiel 24:1-2Jeremiah 32:24Jeremiah 52:7Ezekiel 21:22

Places in This Verse

Babylon 1Settlement · Modern: Babylon · 32.54°N, 44.42°E296 verses across 15 books
JerusalemSettlement · Modern: Jerusalem · 31.78°N, 35.23°E955 verses across 37 books
View all places in Jeremiah 52 →

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