King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 52:7 Mean?

Jeremiah 52:7 in the King James Version says “Then the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled, and went forth out of the city by night by the way of the gate...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 52 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Then the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled, and went forth out of the city by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king's garden; (now the Chaldeans were by the city round about:) and they went by the way of the plain.”

Jeremiah 52:7 · KJV

Context

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.

7

Then the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled, and went forth out of the city by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king's garden; (now the Chaldeans were by the city round about:) and they went by the way of the plain.

8

But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho; and all his army was scattered from him.

9

Then they took the king, and carried him up unto the king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath; where he gave judgment upon him.

Read Jeremiah 52 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Then the city was broken up (וַתִּבָּקַע הָעִיר, vatibbaqa ha'ir)—the Hebrew baqa means to split, breach, or burst open, describing the catastrophic moment when Babylon's siege engines finally penetrated Jerusalem's walls after 30 months (52:4-6). All the men of war fled reveals the collapse of Judah's last military resistance. King Zedekiah and his warriors escaped by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, likely a secret passage near the Kidron Valley, which was by the king's garden—a desperate nighttime flight from the doomed city.

The parenthetical note (now the Chaldeans were by the city round about) emphasizes the impossibility of escape—Babylon's army encircled Jerusalem completely, yet Zedekiah attempted to flee anyway. They went by the way of the plain (הָעֲרָבָה, ha'aravah) toward the Jordan valley, heading east toward Jericho. This cowardly flight fulfilled Jeremiah's repeated warnings that resistance was futile and that surrender to Babylon was God's will (Jeremiah 21:8-10, 38:17-23). Zedekiah's refusal to heed God's prophet led to Jerusalem's destruction and his own capture. This verse illustrates that human schemes cannot circumvent divine judgment—fleeing God's appointed discipline only compounds the tragedy.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This event occurred in July 586 BC (the fourth month, ninth day—52:6-7), marking the end of the Davidic monarchy's rule in Jerusalem and the destruction of Solomon's temple. Nebuchadnezzar's forces had besieged Jerusalem since January 588 BC, creating horrific famine conditions described in Lamentations 4:3-10. Zedekiah was Judah's last king, a weak ruler who vacillated between trusting Egypt and submitting to Babylon, ultimately rebelling against Nebuchadnezzar despite sworn allegiance (Ezekiel 17:11-21). Archaeological evidence from the City of David shows massive destruction layers from this period, with arrowheads and burn marks confirming the violence. The 'gate between the two walls' likely exploited a vulnerable point in Jerusalem's eastern defenses. Zedekiah's attempted escape toward the wilderness of Judah shows he hoped to reach territory beyond Babylon's immediate control, possibly to regroup or flee to Egypt—a futile plan that ended in disaster within hours.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Zedekiah's attempted escape demonstrate the futility of fleeing from God's ordained judgment?
  2. What does this verse teach about the consequences of rejecting prophetic warnings and trusting in human schemes?
  3. In what ways might we today attempt to 'flee' from God's corrective discipline rather than submit to His purposes?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 24 words
וַתִּבָּקַ֣ע1 of 24

“was broken up”

H1234

to cleave; generally, to rend, break, rip or open

הָעִ֖יר2 of 24

“Then the city”

H5892

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

וְכָל3 of 24
H3605

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

אַנְשֵׁ֣י4 of 24
H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

הַמִּלְחָמָ֡ה5 of 24

“of war”

H4421

a battle (i.e., the engagement); generally, war (i.e., war-fare)

יִבְרְחוּ֩6 of 24

“fled”

H1272

to bolt, i.e., figuratively, to flee suddenly

וַיֵּצְא֨וּ7 of 24

“and went forth”

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

הָעִ֖יר8 of 24

“Then the city”

H5892

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

לַ֗יְלָה9 of 24

“by night”

H3915

properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e., night; figuratively, adversity

דֶּ֥רֶךְ10 of 24

“by the way”

H1870

a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb

שַׁ֤עַר11 of 24

“of the gate”

H8179

an opening, i.e., door or gate

בֵּין12 of 24
H996

between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or

הַחֹמֹתַ֙יִם֙13 of 24

“between the two walls”

H2346

a wall of protection

אֲשֶׁר֙14 of 24
H834

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

עַל15 of 24
H5921

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

גַּ֣ן16 of 24

“garden”

H1588

a garden (as fenced)

הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ17 of 24

“which was by the king's”

H4428

a king

וְכַשְׂדִּ֥ים18 of 24

“now 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

עַל19 of 24
H5921

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

הָעִ֖יר20 of 24

“Then the city”

H5892

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

סָבִ֑יב21 of 24

“round about”

H5439

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

וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ22 of 24
H1980

to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

דֶּ֥רֶךְ23 of 24

“by the way”

H1870

a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb

הָעֲרָבָֽה׃24 of 24

“of the plain”

H6160

a desert; especially (with the article prefix) the (generally) sterile valley of the jordan and its continuation to the red sea

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 52:7 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 52:7 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 39:4-7Jeremiah 51:322 Kings 25:4Leviticus 26:17Leviticus 26:36Jeremiah 49:26

Places in This Verse

ArabahRegion · Modern: Arabah · 30.42°N, 35.15°E26 verses across 10 books
ChaldeaRegion · Modern: Tell el Muqayyar · 30.96°N, 46.10°E85 verses across 11 books
View all places in Jeremiah 52 →

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