Jeremiah 32:4
And Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him mouth to mouth, and his eyes shall behold his eyes;
Original Language Analysis
יְהוּדָ֔ה
of Judah
H3063
יְהוּדָ֔ה
of Judah
Strong's:
H3063
Word #:
3 of 21
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
לֹ֥א
H3808
לֹ֥א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
4 of 21
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יִמָּלֵ֖ט
shall not escape
H4422
יִמָּלֵ֖ט
shall not escape
Strong's:
H4422
Word #:
5 of 21
properly, to be smooth, i.e., (by implication) to escape (as if by slipperiness); causatively, to release or rescue; specifically, to bring forth youn
בְּיַ֣ד
into the hand
H3027
בְּיַ֣ד
into the hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
6 of 21
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
הַכַּשְׂדִּ֑ים
of the Chaldeans
H3778
הַכַּשְׂדִּ֑ים
of the Chaldeans
Strong's:
H3778
Word #:
7 of 21
a kasdite, or descendant of kesed; by implication, a chaldaean (as if so descended); also an astrologer (as if proverbial of that people
כִּ֣י
H3588
כִּ֣י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
8 of 21
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
יִנָּתֵן֙
be delivered
H5414
יִנָּתֵן֙
be delivered
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
9 of 21
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
יִנָּתֵן֙
be delivered
H5414
יִנָּתֵן֙
be delivered
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
10 of 21
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
בְּיַ֣ד
into the hand
H3027
בְּיַ֣ד
into the hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
11 of 21
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
בָּבֶ֔ל
of Babylon
H894
בָּבֶ֔ל
of Babylon
Strong's:
H894
Word #:
13 of 21
babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire
וְדִבֶּר
and shall speak
H1696
וְדִבֶּר
and shall speak
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
14 of 21
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
פִּ֔יו
to mouth
H6310
פִּ֔יו
to mouth
Strong's:
H6310
Word #:
15 of 21
the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos
עִם
H5973
עִם
Strong's:
H5973
Word #:
16 of 21
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
פִּ֔יו
to mouth
H6310
פִּ֔יו
to mouth
Strong's:
H6310
Word #:
17 of 21
the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos
עֵינָ֥ו
and his eyes
H5869
עֵינָ֥ו
and his eyes
Strong's:
H5869
Word #:
18 of 21
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
19 of 21
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
Cross References
Jeremiah 38:18But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon's princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand.Jeremiah 38:23So they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans: and thou shalt not escape out of their hand, but shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon: and thou shalt cause this city to be burned with fire.Jeremiah 37:17Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took him out: and the king asked him secretly in his house, and said, Is there any word from the LORD? And Jeremiah said, There is: for, said he, thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.
Historical Context
This prophecy appeared contradictory to Ezekiel 12:13 ('he shall not see Babylon'), puzzling ancient interpreters. Both were literally fulfilled: Zedekiah was brought to Babylon but blind—he never 'saw' it. Such precise fulfillment of seemingly contradictory prophecies validates Scripture's divine origin.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the detailed fulfillment of this prophecy strengthen confidence in unfulfilled biblical prophecies?
- What does Zedekiah's fate teach about the consequences of resisting God's revealed will?
- How might Zedekiah's life have differed had he surrendered to God's word through Jeremiah?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Shall not escape (לֹא יִמָּלֵט, lo yimmalet)—emphatic negation. Despite Zedekiah's desperate measures, divine decree is inescapable. The phrase mouth to mouth and his eyes shall behold his eyes predicts personal confrontation—fulfilled precisely when Nebuchadnezzar forced Zedekiah to watch his sons' execution before blinding him (Jeremiah 39:6-7, 52:10-11).
This graphic prophecy demonstrates God's meticulous sovereignty over historical details. Zedekiah's final sight would be the Babylonian king's face—a haunting fulfillment of covenant curse (Deuteronomy 28:34). The doubling of sensory language (mouth/mouth, eyes/eyes) emphasizes the personal, unavoidable nature of judgment. Yet even this horrific prophecy contains implicit call to repentance—knowing the inevitable, Zedekiah could have surrendered and lived (38:17-18).