New English Translation
Jeremiah 34:7
7He did this while the army of the king of Babylon was attacking Jerusalem and the cities of Lachish and Azekah. He was attacking these cities because they were the only fortified cities of Judah which were still holding out.
Jeremiah 34:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)When the king of Babylon’s army fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of Judah that were left, against Lachish, and against Azekah: for these defenced cities remained of the cities of Judah.
- New International Version (NIV)while the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and the other cities of Judah that were still holding out—Lachish and Azekah. These were the only fortified cities left in Judah.
- English Standard Version (ESV)when the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and against all the cities of Judah that were left, Lachish and Azekah, for these were the only fortified cities of Judah that remained.
- New King James Version (NKJV)when the king of Babylon’s army fought against Jerusalem and all the cities of Judah that were left, against Lachish and Azekah; for only these fortified cities remained of the cities of Judah.
Context of Jeremiah 34:7
5You will die a peaceful death. They will burn incense at your burial just as they did at the burial of your ancestors, the former kings who preceded you. They will mourn for you, saying, “Poor, poor master!” Indeed, you have my own word on this. I, the Lord, affirm it!’” 6The prophet Jeremiah told all this to King Zedekiah of Judah in Jerusalem. He did this while the army of the king of Babylon was attacking Jerusalem and the cities of Lachish and Azekah. He was attacking these cities because they were the only fortified cities of Judah which were still holding out. 8The Lord spoke to Jeremiah after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to grant their slaves their freedom. 9Everyone was supposed to free their male and female Hebrew slaves. No one was supposed to keep a fellow Judean enslaved.
Read all of Jeremiah 34Jeremiah 34:7 word by word
וְחֵ֣יל מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֗ל נִלְחָמִים֙ עַל־יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם וְעַ֛ל כָּל־עָרֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה הַנּֽוֹתָר֑וֹת אֶל־לָכִישׁ֙ וְאֶל־עֲזֵקָ֔ה כִּ֣י הֵ֗נָּה נִשְׁאֲר֛וּ בְּעָרֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה עָרֵ֥י מִבְצָֽר׃ פRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- When the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- of Babylon’sבָּבֶ֫ל, בָּבֶלbâbel · BabylonH894
- armyחַ֫יִלchayil · armyH2428
- foughtלָחַםlâcham · to fightH3898
- against Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵםyerûshâlaim yerûshâlayim · JerusalemH3389
- and against all the citiesעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
- of Judahיְהוּדָהyehûdâh · JudahH3063
- that were leftיָתַרyâthar · to remainH3498
- against Lachishלָכִישׁlâkîysh · LachishH3923
- and against Azekahעֲזֵקָה‛ăzêqâh · AzekahH5825
- for these defencedמִבְצָרmibtsâr mibtsârâh · fortificationH4013
- remainedשָׁאַרshâ'ar · to remainH7604
Cross-references for Jeremiah 34:7
- Jeremiah 34:1The Lord spoke to Jeremiah while King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon was attacking Jerusalem and the towns around it with a large army. This army consisted of troops from his own army and from the kingdoms and peoples of the lands under his dominion.
- Jeremiah 4:5The Lord said, “Announce this in Judah and proclaim it in Jerusalem: ‘Sound the trumpet throughout the land!’ Shout out loudly, ‘Gather together! Let us flee into the fortified cities!’
- Jeremiah 8:14The people say, “Why are we just sitting here? Let us gather together inside the fortified cities. Let us at least die there fighting, since the Lord our God has condemned us to die. He has condemned us to drink the poison waters of judgment because we have sinned against him.
- Jeremiah 11:12Then those living in the towns of Judah and in Jerusalem will go and cry out for help to the gods to whom they have been sacrificing. However, those gods will by no means be able to save them when disaster strikes them.
- Deuteronomy 28:52They will besiege all of your villages until all of your high and fortified walls collapse – those in which you put your confidence throughout the land. They will besiege all your villages throughout the land the Lord your God has given you.
- Joshua 10:3So King Adoni-Zedek of Jerusalem sent this message to King Hoham of Hebron, King Piram of Jarmuth, King Japhia of Lachish, and King Debir of Eglon:
- Joshua 12:11the king of Jarmuth (one), the king of Lachish (one),
- Joshua 15:35Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,
- 2 Kings 18:13In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah’s reign, King Sennacherib of Assyria marched up against all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them.
- 2 Kings 19:8When the chief adviser heard the king of Assyria had departed from Lachish, he left and went to Libnah, where the king was campaigning.
- Micah 1:13Residents of Lachish, hitch the horses to the chariots! You influenced Daughter Zion to sin, for Israel’s rebellious deeds can be traced back to you!
- 2 Chronicles 11:5Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem; he built up these fortified cities throughout Judah:
- 2 Chronicles 27:4He built cities in the hill country of Judah and fortresses and towers in the forests.
Commentaries on Jeremiah 34:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7Against Lachish, and against Azekah - These were two cities of Judah of considerable importance: they had been strongly fortified by Rehoboam, 2 Chronicles 11:9-11; 2 Chronicles 32:9.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7This marks the exact time, that it was early in the campaign, while the outlying fortresses still occupied the attention of Nebuchadnezzars army. Lachish and Azekah were strong cities in the plain toward Egypt and must be taken before the Chaldseans could march upon Jerusalem: otherwise the Egyptians might collect there and fall upon them.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6-7King Rehoboam transformed Lachish and Azekah into forts (2 Chronicles 11:5–10). These towns, on low hills southwest of Jerusalem, protected important roads from the coastal highway into Judah's heartland. Archaeologists found military messages on pottery pieces in Lachish's gateway. These messages reported the Babylonians' advance toward the town.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. these ... retained--alone (compare 2Ch 11:5, 9).Read the comment
Topics related to Jeremiah 34:7
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Jeremiah 34
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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Commentaries