Jeremiah 52:16
Jeremiah 52:16 in Multiple Translations
But Nebuzaradan captain of the guard left behind some of the poorest of the land to tend the vineyards and fields.
But Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard left certain of the poor of the land for vinedressers and for husbandmen.
But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left of the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen.
But Nebuzaradan, the captain of the armed men, let the poorest of the land go on living there, to take care of the vines and the fields.
But Nebuzaradan allowed others of the poor people who were left in the country to stay and take care of the vineyards and the fields.
But Nebuzar-adan the chiefe steward left certaine of the poore of the lande, to dresse the vines, and to till the land.
and of the poor of the land hath Nebuzar-Adan, chief of the executioners, left for vine-dressers and for husbandmen.
But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left of the poorest of the land to be vineyard keepers and farmers.
But Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard left certain of the poor of the land for vine-dressers and for husbandmen.
But of the poor of the land, Nabuzardan the general left some for vinedressers, and for husbandmen.
But Nebuzaradan allowed some of the very poor people to remain in Judah to take care of the vineyards and fields.
Berean Amplified Bible — Jeremiah 52:16
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Jeremiah 52:16 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וּ/מִ/דַּלּ֣וֹת
הָ/אָ֔רֶץ
הִשְׁאִ֕יר
נְבוּזַרְאֲדָ֖ן
רַב
טַבָּחִ֑ים
לְ/כֹרְמִ֖ים
וּ/לְ/יֹגְבִֽים
וּ/מִ/דַּלּ֣וֹת
dallâh
H1803
hair
Conj | Prep | N-fp
הָ/אָ֔רֶץ
ʼerets
H776
land
Art | N-cs
הִשְׁאִ֕יר
shâʼar
H7604
to remain
V-Hiphil-Perf-3ms
נְבוּזַרְאֲדָ֖ן
Nᵉbûwzarʼădân
H5018
Nebuzaradan
N-proper
רַב
rab
H7227
many
N-ms
טַבָּחִ֑ים
ṭabbâch
H2876
guard
N-mp
לְ/כֹרְמִ֖ים
kôrêm
H3755
to tend vineyards
Prep | N-mp
וּ/לְ/יֹגְבִֽים
yâgab
H3009
to till
Conj | Prep | V-Qal
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Jeremiah 52:16
וּ/מִ/דַּלּ֣וֹת
dallâh
H1803
"hair"
Conj | Prep | N-fp
This word describes someone who is poor or helpless, like a loose thread hanging by itself. It is often used to describe people who are struggling or in need.
Definition: hair, threads, thrum (threads of warp hanging in loom)
Usage: Occurs in 8 OT verses. KJV: hair, pining sickness, poor(-est sort). See also: Genesis 41:19; Isaiah 38:12; Jeremiah 40:7.
הָ/אָ֔רֶץ
ʼerets
H776
"land"
Art | N-cs
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Definition: : soil 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth 1e) (almost wholly late in usage) 1e1) lands, countries 1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan
Usage: Occurs in 2190 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 42:13.
הִשְׁאִ֕יר
shâʼar
H7604
"to remain"
V-Hiphil-Perf-3ms
To remain or be left over, as in Joshua 10:20. It can also mean to spare or reserve something, like God sparing Noah in Genesis 7:23. This word is used to describe the remnant of Israel.
Definition: 1) to remain, be left over, be left behind 1a) (Qal) to remain 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be left over, be left alive, survive 1b1a) remainder, remnant (participle) 1b2) to be left behind 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to leave over, spare 1c2) to leave or keep over 1c3) to have left 1c4) to leave (as a gift)
Usage: Occurs in 123 OT verses. KJV: leave, (be) left, let, remain, remnant, reserve, the rest. See also: Genesis 7:23; 1 Kings 22:47; Isaiah 4:3.
נְבוּזַרְאֲדָ֖ן
Nᵉbûwzarʼădân
H5018
"Nebuzaradan"
N-proper
Nebuzaradan was a Babylonian general who served under King Nebuchadnezzar. He is mentioned in the Bible as the leader of the army that captured Jerusalem.
Definition: A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.25.8 § Nebuzaradan = "Nebo has given seed" a general of Nebuchadnezzar's army at the capture of Jerusalem
Usage: Occurs in 15 OT verses. KJV: Nebuzaradan. See also: 2 Kings 25:8; Jeremiah 40:1; Jeremiah 39:9.
רַב
rab
H7227
"many"
N-ms
This Hebrew word means a chief or captain, someone in charge. It is used in 2 Samuel 23:19 to describe a great and powerful man. The idea is one of leadership and authority.
Definition: adj 1) much, many, great 1a) much 1b) many 1c) abounding in 1d) more numerous than 1e) abundant, enough 1f) great 1g) strong 1h) greater than adv 1i) much, exceedingly
Usage: Occurs in 443 OT verses. KJV: (in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly), captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man, one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold, things, a time), (ship-)master, mighty, more, (too, very) much, multiply(-tude), officer, often(-times), plenteous, populous, prince, process (of time), suffice(-lent). See also: Genesis 6:5; 1 Kings 11:1; Psalms 3:2.
טַבָּחִ֑ים
ṭabbâch
H2876
"guard"
N-mp
This Hebrew word originally meant a butcher, but came to describe a lifeguardsman or executioner, and even a cook who slaughtered animals for food. It is used to describe various roles in the Bible, including a bodyguard or cook. The word has an Aramaic equivalent.
Definition: 1) executioner, cook, bodyguard, guardsman 1a) cook (who also killed the animal for food) 1b) guardsmen, bodyguard Aramaic equivalent: tab.bach (טַבָּח "guardsman" H2877)
Usage: Occurs in 32 OT verses. KJV: cook, guard. See also: Genesis 37:36; Jeremiah 39:10; Jeremiah 39:9.
לְ/כֹרְמִ֖ים
kôrêm
H3755
"to tend vineyards"
Prep | N-mp
A vinedresser tends vineyards, caring for the vines and grapes, as seen in the Bible's descriptions of wine production. This occupation was crucial in ancient Israel. The KJV translates it as 'vine dresser'.
Definition: 1) to tend vines or vineyards, to dress vines or vineyards 1a) (Qal) vinedressers (participle)
Usage: Occurs in 5 OT verses. KJV: vine dresser (as one or two words). See also: 2 Kings 25:12; Isaiah 61:5; Jeremiah 52:16.
וּ/לְ/יֹגְבִֽים
yâgab
H3009
"to till"
Conj | Prep | V-Qal
This Hebrew word means to dig or plow, and is used to describe farming or working the land. It is translated as husbandman in the KJV, referring to a person who works with the earth.
Definition: (Qal) to till, be a husbandman
Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: husbandman. See also: Jeremiah 52:16.
Study Notes — Jeremiah 52:16
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — The Temple Destroyed
14And the whole army of the Chaldeans under the captain of the guard broke down all the walls around Jerusalem.
15Then Nebuzaradan captain of the guard carried into exile some of the poorest people and those who remained in the city, along with the deserters who had defected to the king of Babylon and the rest of the craftsmen.
16But Nebuzaradan captain of the guard left behind some of the poorest of the land to tend the vineyards and fields.
17Moreover, the Chaldeans broke up the bronze pillars and stands and the bronze Sea in the house of the LORD, and they carried all the bronze to Babylon. 18They also took away the pots, shovels, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, dishes, and all the articles of bronze used in the temple service.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 Kings 25:12 | But the captain of the guard left behind some of the poorest of the land to tend the vineyards and fields. |
| 2 | Jeremiah 39:9–10 | Then Nebuzaradan captain of the guard carried away to Babylon the remnant of the people who had remained in the city, along with the deserters who had defected to him. But Nebuzaradan left behind in the land of Judah some of the poor people who had no property, and at that time he gave them vineyards and fields. |
| 3 | Jeremiah 40:5–7 | But before Jeremiah turned to go, Nebuzaradan added, “Return to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah, and stay with him among the people, or go anywhere else that seems right.” Then the captain of the guard gave him a ration and a gift and released him. So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and stayed with him among the people who were left in the land. When all the commanders and men of the armies in the field heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam over the land and that he had put him in charge of the men, women, and children who were the poorest of the land and had not been exiled to Babylon, |
| 4 | Ezekiel 33:24 | “Son of man, those living in the ruins in the land of Israel are saying, ‘Abraham was only one man, yet he possessed the land. But we are many; surely the land has been given to us as a possession.’ |
Jeremiah 52:16 Summary
[This verse tells us that even though the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem, they didn't take everyone away - some of the poorest people were left behind to take care of the land. This shows that God is always looking out for those in need, just like He promises in Psalm 138:8. It also reminds us that our daily work and responsibilities are important to God, as seen in Colossians 3:23-24.]
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Nebuzaradan leave some of the poorest people behind in Jerusalem?
Nebuzaradan left some of the poorest people behind to tend to the vineyards and fields, indicating that even in conquest, there was a practical consideration for the ongoing maintenance of the land, much like the instructions given to the Israelites regarding the care of the land in Leviticus 25:4 and Deuteronomy 15:1-2.
What does this verse reveal about God's sovereignty over all nations?
This verse shows that God is sovereign over all nations, including Babylon, and that He allows certain events to occur for His own purposes, as seen in Jeremiah 27:6 where God gives the nations over to Nebuchadnezzar.
How does this act of Nebuzaradan compare to the commands given to the Israelites when they entered the Promised Land?
This act contrasts with the commands given to the Israelites to drive out all the inhabitants of the land when they entered the Promised Land, as seen in Deuteronomy 7:1-2, highlighting the different context and purposes of each event.
What does the fact that Nebuzaradan was a captain of the guard indicate about his role in the Babylonian army?
The fact that Nebuzaradan was a captain of the guard indicates that he was a high-ranking officer with significant responsibilities, possibly similar to those described in Jeremiah 39:9-10 where he is tasked with overseeing the deportation of the people.
Reflection Questions
- What can we learn from the way Nebuzaradan carried out his duties as a captain of the guard, and how can we apply those lessons to our own lives?
- In what ways do we see God's mercy and provision in the fact that some of the poorest people were left behind to tend the vineyards and fields?
- How does this verse encourage us to think about the relationship between faith and everyday life, including our work and responsibilities?
- What does this verse reveal about the complexities of human decision-making and the interplay between human choices and divine sovereignty?
Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 52:16
But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left [certain] of the poor of the land,.... Of the land of Judea, who lived in the country, and had not been concerned in defending the city against the
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 52:16
But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left certain of the poor of the land for vinedressers and for husbandmen. No JFB commentary on this verse.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Jeremiah 52:16
See Poole "", See Poole "", See Poole "", See Poole "", See Poole "" where all this is related, only with a small difference as to the day of the month when Nebuzar-adan came to Jerusalem and burned the temple. In the Kings it is said he came the seventh day, here it is said he came the tenth day. See the solution of it in the annotations on 2Ki 25. Probably he might come into Jerusalem the seventh day, and not burn the temple till the tenth. Much of it also is related by Jeremiah 39. The provost-marshal, about a month after the taking of the city, returned with a part of the army, burned the temple, the great men’ s houses in the city, and many other houses, and carried away divers prisoners, but left some of the poorer sort of the people to dress the vineyards and till the grounds, which is a thing very usual with conquerors, for their own advantage, that their conquests may yield them some revenue.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Jeremiah 52:16
Verse 16. The poor of the land] See Clarke on Jeremiah 39:10.
Barnes' Notes on Jeremiah 52:16
Husbandmen - Men who tilled little plots of ground with the mattock.