Jeremiah 22:25
And I will give thee into the hand of them that seek thy life, and into the hand of them whose face thou fearest, even into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of the Chaldeans.
Original Language Analysis
וּנְתַתִּ֗יךָ
And I will give
H5414
וּנְתַתִּ֗יךָ
And I will give
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
1 of 15
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
וּבְיַ֥ד
and into the hand
H3027
וּבְיַ֥ד
and into the hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
2 of 15
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
מְבַקְשֵׁ֣י
of them that seek
H1245
מְבַקְשֵׁ֣י
of them that seek
Strong's:
H1245
Word #:
3 of 15
to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after
נַפְשֶׁ֔ךָ
thy life
H5315
נַפְשֶׁ֔ךָ
thy life
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
4 of 15
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
וּבְיַ֥ד
and into the hand
H3027
וּבְיַ֥ד
and into the hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
5 of 15
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
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
6 of 15
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
מִפְּנֵיהֶ֑ם
of them whose face
H6440
מִפְּנֵיהֶ֑ם
of them whose face
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
9 of 15
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
וּבְיַ֥ד
and into the hand
H3027
וּבְיַ֥ד
and into the hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
10 of 15
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
נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֥ר
of Nebuchadrezzar
H5019
נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֥ר
of Nebuchadrezzar
Strong's:
H5019
Word #:
11 of 15
nebukadnetstsar (or nebukadretsts(-ar, or)), king of babylon
בָּבֶ֖ל
of Babylon
H894
בָּבֶ֖ל
of Babylon
Strong's:
H894
Word #:
13 of 15
babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire
Historical Context
Jehoiachin surrendered Jerusalem to Nebuchadnezzar in 597 BC to avoid total destruction. The Babylonian Chronicles confirm this event, stating that Nebuchadnezzar 'captured the king' and 'appointed a king of his own choice.' Jehoiachin was imprisoned in Babylon for decades, archaeological evidence of his rations found in Babylonian records referring to 'Jehoiachin, king of Judah.'
Questions for Reflection
- What are you most afraid of, and how might that fear indicate misplaced trust?
- How does understanding God's active role in judgment affect your view of contemporary crises?
- In what ways might God be 'handing you over' to the consequences of your choices?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And I will give thee into the hand of them that seek thy life (נְתַתִּיךָ בְּיַד מְבַקְשֵׁי נַפְשֶׁךָ, netatikha b'yad m'vakshei nafshekha)—the phrase 'seek your life/soul' means 'seek to kill you.' Specifically, God identifies the agents: into the hand of them whose face thou fearest, even into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of the Chaldeans. The repetition of 'into the hand of' emphasizes the comprehensive nature of this surrender. What Jehoiachin feared would indeed overtake him.
The theological principle here is sobering: God actively delivers His people to judgment, not merely permitting it. The verb נָתַן (natan, 'to give/deliver') indicates divine agency. This challenges simplistic views of God's sovereignty—He uses pagan empires as instruments of covenant discipline. Paul later teaches that God 'gave them over' to sin's consequences (Romans 1:24, 26, 28). The face you fear reveals the idol you've served instead of Yahweh.