Jeremiah 39
English Standard Version
The Fall of Jerusalem
39 (A)In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 In the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, on the ninth day of the month, a breach was made in the city. 3 Then all (B)the officials of the king of Babylon came (C)and sat in the middle gate: Nergal-sar-ezer of Samgar, Nebu-sar-sekim (D)the Rab-saris, Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag, with all the rest of the officers of the king of Babylon. 4 When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled, going out of the city at night by way of the king's garden through the gate between the two walls; and they went toward (E)the Arabah. 5 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in (F)the plains of Jericho. And when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, at (G)Riblah, in the land of Hamath; (H)and he passed sentence on him. 6 The king of Babylon (I)slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah at (J)Riblah before his eyes, and the king of Babylon (K)slaughtered all the nobles of Judah. 7 (L)He put out the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him in chains to take him to Babylon. 8 (M)The Chaldeans burned the king's house and the house of the people, (N)and broke down the walls of Jerusalem. 9 Then (O)Nebuzaradan, the (P)captain of the guard, carried into exile to Babylon the rest of the people who were left in the city, (Q)those who had deserted to him, and the people who remained. 10 Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, (R)left in the land of Judah some of the poor people who owned nothing, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.
The Lord Delivers Jeremiah
11 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave command concerning Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, saying, 12 (S)“Take him, look after him well, and do him no harm, but deal with him as he tells you.” 13 So (T)Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, Nebushazban the Rab-saris, Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag, (U)and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon 14 sent and took Jeremiah from (V)the court of the guard. They entrusted him to (W)Gedaliah the son of (X)Ahikam, son of (Y)Shaphan, that he should take him home. So (Z)he lived among the people.
15 The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah (AA)while he was shut up in the court of the guard: 16 “Go, and say to (AB)Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: (AC)Behold, I will fulfill my words against this city for harm and (AD)not for good, and they shall be accomplished before you on that day. 17 But I will deliver you on that day, declares the Lord, and you shall not be given into the hand of the men (AE)of whom you are afraid. 18 For I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but you shall have your (AF)life as a prize of war, (AG)because you have put your trust in me, declares the Lord.’”
Jeremiah 39
Evangelical Heritage Version
The Fall of Jerusalem
39 In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem with his whole army and laid siege to it. 2 In the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, on the ninth day of the month, a breach was made in the city wall. 3 All the officers of the king of Babylon entered and sat down in the middle gate: Nergal Sharezer the staff officer,[a] Nebo Sarsekim a chief officer,[b] Nergal Sharezer a high official,[c] and all the other officials of the king of Babylon. 4 When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled and left the city at night by way of the king’s garden through the gate between the two walls. Then they went toward the Arabah.
5 But the Chaldean army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains by Jericho. After they had captured him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath and passed judgment on him. 6 The king of Babylon killed Zedekiah’s sons in front of his eyes at Riblah, and he also killed the nobles of Judah. 7 Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him with bronze shackles and sent him to Babylon. 8 The Chaldeans burned down the king’s palace and the houses of the people. They also broke down the walls of Jerusalem. 9 Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard,[d] carried into exile the rest of the people who remained in the city, along with those who had deserted, as well as the rest of the people. 10 But Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, left behind in the land of Judah some of the poor people, who owned nothing, and he then gave them vineyards and fields.
Jeremiah Is Released
11 Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave orders to Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, concerning Jeremiah. He said, 12 “Take him, look after him, and do him no harm. Do for him whatever he wants.”
13 So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, Nebushazban the chief officer,[e] Nergal Sharezer a high official,[f] and all the other officials of the king of Babylon 14 sent for Jeremiah and had him taken out of the courtyard of the guard. They entrusted him to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, to take him to his house. So he remained among his people.
15 While Jeremiah had still been imprisoned in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the Lord had come to him: 16 “Go and tell Ebed Melek the Cushite that this is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says. Watch, I am going to fulfill my words against this city for evil and not for good. They are going to be fulfilled before your eyes. 17 But I will deliver you on that day, declares the Lord, and you will not be handed over to those you fear. 18 I will certainly save you. You will not fall by the sword. You will escape with your life, because you have put your trust in me, declares the Lord.”
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 39:3 Hebrew samgar, or in Akkadian sin magir. Samgar may be a title or a title based on a place name.
- Jeremiah 39:3 Hebrew rab saris
- Jeremiah 39:3 Hebrew rab mag. Jeremiah uses accurate Akkadian titles and personal names that have been found in Babylonian cuneiform tablets. This demonstrates that Jeremiah had firsthand knowledge about the Babylonian personnel involved in the destruction of Jerusalem.
- Jeremiah 39:9 Or the chief executioner
- Jeremiah 39:13 Hebrew rab saris
- Jeremiah 39:13 Hebrew rab mag
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.