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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;

Jeremiah 32:4 · King James Version

Meaning

Here, the verse is predicting the fate of Zedekiah, the king of Judah, at the hands of the Chaldeans. It is foretold that he will not be able to escape the Chaldeans but instead will be handed over to the king of Babylon. The phrase "mouth to mouth" signifies direct communication or dialogue between Zedekiah and the Babylonian king. This close interaction indicates a significant encounter or exchange between the two rulers, emphasizing the intimate nature of their meeting. Additionally, the mention of their eyes meeting suggests a personal and intense encounter, where Zedekiah will come face to face with the king of Babylon. Overall, this verse foreshadows the imminent capture and confrontation faced by Zedekiah, highlighting the inevitability of his demise at the hands of the Chaldeans.

Theological Overview

In the theological interpretation of the verse, the defeat and capture of King Zedekiah by the Chaldeans, also known as the Babylonians, serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of disobedience to God's commands. Zedekiah's failure to heed the warnings of the prophets and his refusal to submit to the will of God led to his ultimate downfall and capture by the Babylonian king. The phrase "mouth to mouth" and "eyes shall behold his eyes" signify the direct confrontation and judgment that Zedekiah will face at the hands of the king of Babylon. This emphasizes the personal nature of the punishment that Zedekiah will experience, as he will come face to face with the consequences of his actions. The word studies on this verse reveal the depth of the interaction between Zedekiah and the king of Babylon, highlighting the severity of the judgment that will befall the king of Judah.

Jeremiah 32:4 in other translations

American Standard Version

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;

World English Bible

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 see his eyes;

Douay-Rheims

And Sedecias king of Juda shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans: but he shall be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon: and he shall speak to him mouth to mouth, and his eyes shall see his eyes.

Geneva Bible (1599)

And Zedekiah the King of Iudah shall not escape out of the hande of the Caldeans, but shall surely be deliuered into the handes of the King of Babel, and shall speake with him mouth to mouth, and his eyes shall beholde his face,