Bible Strands
Jeremiah 39:6
There at Riblah the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and he also killed all the nobles of Judah.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The narrator records the execution of Zedekiah’s family and Judah’s leadership following the Chaldean pursuit. The event takes place at Riblah in Hamath immediately after Nebuchadnezzar pronounces judgment on the captured king.
The words — The verb וַיִּשְׁחַט (va.yishchat) means formal slaughter, and the phrase לְעֵינָיו (le'einav) translates literally as "to his eyes." These terms specify that the king was compelled to watch the executions firsthand.
The thread — The Riblah execution is parallel in 2 Kings 25:7 and Jeremiah 52:10. The motif of forced witnessing aligns with the covenant curses in Deuteronomy 28:34.
Why it lands — The text documents the systematic removal of Judah’s royal and noble class as a direct consequence of the preceding siege. It requires the reader to acknowledge the finality of the judgment without softening the historical account.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes: also the king of Babylon slew all the nobles of Judah.
Cross-references
- Jeremiah 52:10 There at Riblah the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and he also killed all the officials of Judah.
- Deuteronomy 28:34 You will be driven mad by the sights you see.
- 2 Kings 25:7 And they slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. Then they put out his eyes, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon.
- Jeremiah 21:7 ‘After that,’ declares the LORD, ‘I will hand over Zedekiah king of Judah, his officers, and the people in this city who survive the plague and sword and famine, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to their enemies who seek their lives. He will put them to the sword; he will not spare them or show pity or compassion.’
- Jeremiah 24:8 But like the bad figs, so bad they cannot be eaten,’ says the LORD, ‘so will I deal with Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials, and the remnant of Jerusalem—those remaining in this land and those living in the land of Egypt.
- Jeremiah 34:19 The officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the court officials, the priests, and all the people of the land who passed between the pieces of the calf,
- Genesis 21:16 Then she went off and sat down nearby, about a bowshot away, for she said, “I cannot bear to watch the boy die!” And as she sat nearby, she lifted up her voice and wept.
- Genesis 44:34 For how can I go back to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the misery that would overwhelm him.”
- 2 Kings 22:20 ‘Therefore I will indeed gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the calamity that I will bring on this place.’” So they brought her answer back to the king.
- 2 Chronicles 34:28 ‘Now I will indeed gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the calamity that I will bring on this place and on its people.’” So they brought her answer back to the king.