Jeremiah 52:15

Then Nebuzar–adan the captain of the guard carried away captive certain of the poor of the people, and the residue of the people that remained in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the multitude.

Jeremiah 52:15 (KJV)

Context

Jeremiah 52:15 sits in the historical appendix to the book of Jeremiah, recording the final fall of Jerusalem to Babylon. The preceding verse describes how the Chaldean army broke down the city walls, and the following verse notes that Nebuzaradan left some of the poorest of the land to tend the vineyards and fields. This verse, then, is part of the sobering account of the city’s destruction and the exile of its people.

Meaning

The verse names Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, as the one who carried away captive four groups: certain of the poor of the people, the residue of the people that remained in the city, those that fell away to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the multitude. The phrase “those that fell away” refers to deserters who had already defected to the Babylonians, likely out of desperation. The listing shows the totality of the deportation—no significant segment of the population was left behind, except the very poorest, who were left to work the land.

Biblical connections

This event fulfills the prophetic warnings Jeremiah had delivered for decades. The judgment is impartial: rich and poor, faithful and unfaithful, all were affected. Yet even in judgment, God preserved a remnant, as seen in the later return from exile. The deportation also points beyond itself to the need for redemption, ultimately fulfilled in Christ, who restores the exiled people of God.

Application

For the reader, this verse is a serious reminder of the consequences of persistent disobedience and the certainty of God’s word. It also demonstrates God’s sovereignty over nations and history, using Babylon as His instrument. The response it calls for is repentance and trust in God’s faithfulness, even when judgment seems complete.

Reflection

Careful attention to the actual words of Jeremiah 52:15 provides a sound foundation for interpretation. The verse joins divine authority to concrete people and events, and it calls readers to listen first for the claim it makes, then to consider the response its setting demands—repentance, faith, endurance, hope, or worship—without claiming more than the text establishes.