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Jeremiah 34:21

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 34:21 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And Zedekiah king of Judah and his princes will I give into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life, and into the hand of the king of Babylon`s army, that are gone away from you.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And Zedekiah king of Judah and his princes will I give into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life, and into the hand of the king of Babylon`s army, that are gone away from you.
Jeremiah 34:21 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 34

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
18And I will give the men that have transgressed my covenant, that have not performed the words of the covenant which they made before me, when they cut the calf in twain and passed between the parts thereof;
19the princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, and the priests, and all the people of the land, that passed between the parts of the calf;
20I will even give them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life; and their dead bodies shall be for food unto the birds of the heavens, and to the beasts of the earth.
21And Zedekiah king of Judah and his princes will I give into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life, and into the hand of the king of Babylon`s army, that are gone away from you.
22Behold, I will command, saith Jehovah, and cause them to return to this city; and they shall fight against it, and take it, and burn it with fire: and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant.
← Jeremiah 34:20Jeremiah 34:22 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And Zedekiah king of Judah, and his princes, etc.] These were either the princes of the blood, the sons of Zedekiah, and his nobles and courtiers, as distinct from the princes in (<243419>Jeremiah 34:19); these shall not be spared, neither the king, nor his sons, nor those of the privy council: but those will I give I to the hands of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life; as in (<243420>Jeremiah 34:20); and into the hand of the king of Babylon’s army; or, “even into the hand”f676 etc. and so this is an explanation of the former, and shows who their enemies were, and those that sought their life. The accomplishment of this may be seen in (<245209>Jeremiah 52:9-11);…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“gone up--that is, raised the siege in order to meet Pharaoh-hophra (Jer 37:7-10). The departure of the Chaldeans was a kind of manumission of the Jews; but as their manumission of their bond-servants was recalled, so God revoked His manumission of them from the Chaldeans.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“It is usual with commentators to say that, the laws dealing with the emancipation of the Hebrew slaves, as also that of the land resting during the sabbatical year, were not observed. The narrative teaches us the exact contrary. The manumission of the slaves on the present occasion was the spontaneous act of Zedekiah and the people. They knew of the law, and acknowledged its obligation. The observance of it was, no doubt, lax: the majority let their own selfish interests prevail; but the minority made might give way to right, and Zedekiah supported their efforts though only in a weak way. Early in January, in the ninth year of Zedekiah, the Chaldaean army approached Jerusalem. The people…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“34:21-22 Pharaoh Hophra had a treaty with Zedekiah to help him if he were attacked (Isa 30:1-3; 31:1-3). The Babylonians left Jerusalem to fight against Pharaoh Hophra (Jer 37:5-7), but their departure was temporary.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Zedekiah: Jer 34:3-5, Jer 39:6, Jer 52:10, Jer 52:24-27; Kg2 25:18-21; Lam 4:20; Eze 17:16 which are: Jer 37:5-11 Jeremiah 34:22”
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Related study paths

Read Jeremiah 34 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification