Jeremiah 27:22

Authorized King James Version

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They shall be carried to Babylon, and there shall they be until the day that I visit them, saith the LORD; then will I bring them up, and restore them to this place.

Original Language Analysis

בָּבֶ֥לָה to Babylon H894
בָּבֶ֥לָה to Babylon
Strong's: H894
Word #: 1 of 15
babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire
יוּבָ֖אוּ They shall be carried H935
יוּבָ֖אוּ They shall be carried
Strong's: H935
Word #: 2 of 15
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
וְשָׁ֣מָּה H8033
וְשָׁ֣מָּה
Strong's: H8033
Word #: 3 of 15
there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence
יִֽהְי֑וּ H1961
יִֽהְי֑וּ
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 4 of 15
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
עַ֠ד H5704
עַ֠ד
Strong's: H5704
Word #: 5 of 15
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
י֣וֹם and there shall they be until the day H3117
י֣וֹם and there shall they be until the day
Strong's: H3117
Word #: 6 of 15
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
פָּקְדִ֤י that I visit H6485
פָּקְדִ֤י that I visit
Strong's: H6485
Word #: 7 of 15
to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc
אֹתָם֙ H853
אֹתָם֙
Strong's: H853
Word #: 8 of 15
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
נְאֻם them saith H5002
נְאֻם them saith
Strong's: H5002
Word #: 9 of 15
an oracle
יְהוָ֔ה the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֔ה the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 10 of 15
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וְהַֽעֲלִיתִים֙ then will I bring H5927
וְהַֽעֲלִיתִים֙ then will I bring
Strong's: H5927
Word #: 11 of 15
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
וַהֲשִׁ֣יבֹתִ֔ים them up and restore H7725
וַהֲשִׁ֣יבֹתִ֔ים them up and restore
Strong's: H7725
Word #: 12 of 15
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
אֶל H413
אֶל
Strong's: H413
Word #: 13 of 15
near, with or among; often in general, to
הַמָּק֖וֹם them to this place H4725
הַמָּק֖וֹם them to this place
Strong's: H4725
Word #: 14 of 15
properly, a standing, i.e., a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind)
הַזֶּֽה׃ H2088
הַזֶּֽה׃
Strong's: H2088
Word #: 15 of 15
the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

Analysis & Commentary

They shall be carried to Babylon, and there shall they be until the day that I visit them, saith the LORD; then will I bring them up, and restore them to this place (בָּבֶלָה יוּבָאוּ וְשָׁמָּה יִהְיוּ עַד־יוֹם פָּקְדִי אֹתָם נְאֻם־יְהוָה וְהַעֲלִתִים וַהֲשִׁבֹתִים אֶל־הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה, bavelah yuva'u v'shammah yihyu ad-yom poqdi otam ne'um-YHWH v'ha'alitim vahashivotim el-hammaqom hazzeh). The verb יָבוֹא (yavo, 'come/be brought') in Hophal form indicates passive transportation—they shall be carried. But the prophecy includes hope: until the day that I visit them (עַד־יוֹם פָּקְדִי, ad-yom poqdi).

The verb פָּקַד (paqad) means both 'visit' and 'attend to,' indicating future divine intervention for restoration. The paired verbs—העֲלָה (he'elah, 'bring up') and שׁוּב (shuv, 'restore/return')—promise eventual return. Judgment isn't final; exile has expiration date. This balances realism about immediate judgment with hope for ultimate restoration. God's visiting (פְּקֻדָּה, p'quddah) can be either judgment or salvation depending on timing. The 70-year exile (Jeremiah 29:10) provided the timeframe.

Historical Context

The bronze temple furnishings were indeed carried to Babylon when Jerusalem fell in 586 BC (2 Kings 25:13-17). They remained there until Cyrus's decree (539 BC) allowed Jewish return and temple rebuilding. Ezra 1:7-11 describes Cyrus returning 5,400 temple articles. Though not all original items returned, the prophecy's core—exile then restoration—was fulfilled. The vessels' journey mirrored Israel's—exiled, preserved, restored.

Questions for Reflection

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