Jeremiah 44:30
Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give Pharaoh-hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of them that seek his life; as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, his enemy, and that sought his life.
Original Language Analysis
כֹּ֣ה׀
H3541
כֹּ֣ה׀
Strong's:
H3541
Word #:
1 of 28
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
יְהוָ֗ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֗ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 28
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
נָתַ֜תִּי
Behold I will give
H5414
נָתַ֜תִּי
Behold I will give
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
5 of 28
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
6 of 28
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
בְּיַ֨ד
and into the hand
H3027
בְּיַ֨ד
and into the hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
11 of 28
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
בְּיַ֨ד
and into the hand
H3027
בְּיַ֨ד
and into the hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
13 of 28
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
וּמְבַקֵּ֥שׁ
and that sought
H1245
וּמְבַקֵּ֥שׁ
and that sought
Strong's:
H1245
Word #:
14 of 28
to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after
נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃
his life
H5315
נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃
his life
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
15 of 28
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר
H834
כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
16 of 28
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
נָתַ֜תִּי
Behold I will give
H5414
נָתַ֜תִּי
Behold I will give
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
17 of 28
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
18 of 28
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
יְהוּדָ֗ה
of Judah
H3063
יְהוּדָ֗ה
of Judah
Strong's:
H3063
Word #:
21 of 28
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
בְּיַ֨ד
and into the hand
H3027
בְּיַ֨ד
and into the hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
22 of 28
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
נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֧ר
of Nebuchadrezzar
H5019
נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֧ר
of Nebuchadrezzar
Strong's:
H5019
Word #:
23 of 28
nebukadnetstsar (or nebukadretsts(-ar, or)), king of babylon
בָּבֶ֛ל
of Babylon
H894
בָּבֶ֛ל
of Babylon
Strong's:
H894
Word #:
25 of 28
babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire
Cross References
Jeremiah 34:21And 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, which are gone up from you.Ezekiel 30:21Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and, lo, it shall not be bound up to be healed, to put a roller to bind it, to make it strong to hold the sword.
Historical Context
Pharaoh Hophra (Greek: Apries) reigned 589-570 BC. Herodotus (Histories 2.161-169) and Egyptian sources record his overthrow: after military failures (likely including Nebuchadnezzar's 568/7 BC invasion), general Amasis led rebellion, defeated Hophra, and strangled him. The parallel to Zedekiah (captured 586 BC, sons killed before him, eyes put out, taken to Babylon, 39:4-7) was precise—both Judah and Egypt's kings fell to Babylonian power.
Questions for Reflection
- How does trusting human rulers for security that only God can provide inevitably lead to disappointment?
- What does the exact parallel (Zedekiah's fate = Hophra's fate) teach about God's consistent justice across nations?
- When have you seen God fulfill specific prophecies in your lifetime—how does this strengthen confidence in unfulfilled promises?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give Pharaoh-hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies (הִנְנִי נֹתֵן אֶת־פַּרְעֹה חָפְרַע מֶלֶך־מִצְרַיִם בְּיַד אֹיְבָיו)—specific, falsifiable prophecy. Hophra (Pharaoh Apries, 589-570 BC) encouraged Judah's rebellion against Babylon and briefly lifted Jerusalem's siege (37:5-11), making him the remnant's hoped-for protector. God declares: the man you're trusting for security will himself fall to enemies.
And into the hand of them that seek his life (וּבְיַד מְבַקְשֵׁי נַפְשׁוֹ)—adding emphasis: not just military defeat but mortal threat. As I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, his enemy, and that sought his life—the parallel is devastating. They fled Judah's fate under Zedekiah, placing hope in Hophra—but Egypt's Pharaoh will suffer identical doom. Hophra was eventually overthrown by rival Amasis (570 BC) and killed, fulfilling this prophecy within years of its utterance.