Jeremiah 52:29

In the eighteenth yeere of Nebuchad-rezzar hee caried away captiue from Ierusalem eight hundredth, thirtie and two persons. Jeremiah 52:29 (KJV)

Jeremiah 52:29 belongs to the closing chapter of the book of Jeremiah, a work that records the prophetic warnings and the tragic events of the Babylonian exile. The verse records a specific deportation that occurred during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and it provides a concrete historical datum for the larger narrative of Jerusalem’s fall.

Historical context

To understand the significance of this verse it is essential to view it against the backdrop of Nebuchadnezzar’s third invasion of Jerusalem. The Babylonian army captured the city, razed its walls and temple, and began a systematic removal of its inhabitants to Babylon. This deportation was part of God’s judgment on Judah for persistent disobedience, a theme that runs throughout Jeremiah.

Nebuzaradan’s role

The verse names Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, as the official who carried out the deportation. He is identified in the text as the chief officer responsible for the execution of the king’s orders, and his actions are recorded as a key element in the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of its people.

Numbers of the exiles

The verse itself records that 832 persons were taken captive from Jerusalem in that year. Other passages in Jeremiah 52 note that 745 Jews were among those carried away, and that the overall number of captives taken at that time amounted to 4,600. These figures together give a fuller picture of the scale of the deportation, indicating both a specific group and the broader total of those removed.

Theological significance

Jeremiah 52:29 serves as a historical record that underscores the consequences of Judah’s covenant breach. The deportation illustrates the fulfillment of divine judgment through the agency of the Babylonian empire. It reminds readers that disobedience brings tangible repercussions, while also pointing to the larger hope of restoration that Jeremiah later promises.

In sum, Jeremiah 52:29 provides a precise datum of the Babylonian exile, identifies the official who executed the deportation, and situates the event within the larger narrative of judgment and eventual hope for the people of Judah.