Jeremiah 34:7
New International Version
while the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and the other cities of Judah that were still holding out—Lachish and Azekah. These were the only fortified cities left in Judah.

New Living Translation
At this time the Babylonian army was besieging Jerusalem, Lachish, and Azekah—the only fortified cities of Judah not yet captured.

English Standard Version
when the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and against all the cities of Judah that were left, Lachish and Azekah, for these were the only fortified cities of Judah that remained.

Berean Standard Bible
as the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and the remaining cities of Judah—against Lachish and Azekah. For these were the only fortified cities remaining in Judah.

King James Bible
When the king of Babylon's army fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of Judah that were left, against Lachish, and against Azekah: for these defenced cities remained of the cities of Judah.

New King James Version
when the king of Babylon’s army fought against Jerusalem and all the cities of Judah that were left, against Lachish and Azekah; for only these fortified cities remained of the cities of Judah.

New American Standard Bible
when the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and all the remaining cities of Judah, that is, Lachish and Azekah, for they alone remained as fortified cities among the cities of Judah.

NASB 1995
when the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and against all the remaining cities of Judah, that is, Lachish and Azekah, for they alone remained as fortified cities among the cities of Judah.

NASB 1977
when the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and against all the remaining cities of Judah, that is, Lachish and Azekah, for they alone remained as fortified cities among the cities of Judah.

Legacy Standard Bible
when the military force of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and against all the cities of Judah that were left, that is, Lachish and Azekah, for they alone remained as fortified cities among the cities of Judah.

Amplified Bible
when the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and against all the remaining cities of Judah, against Lachish and Azekah, for these were the [only] fortified cities among the cities of Judah.

Christian Standard Bible
while the king of Babylon’s army was attacking Jerusalem and all of Judah’s remaining cities—that is, Lachish and Azekah, for they were the only ones left of Judah’s fortified cities.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
while the king of Babylon’s army was attacking Jerusalem and all of Judah’s remaining cities—against Lachish and Azekah, for they were the only ones left of Judah’s fortified cities.

American Standard Version
when the king of Babylon's army was fighting against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of Judah that were left, against Lachish and against Azekah; for these alone remained of the cities of Judah as fortified cities.

Contemporary English Version
Meanwhile, the king of Babylonia was trying to break through the walls of Lachish, Azekah, and Jerusalem, the only three towns of Judah that had not been captured.

English Revised Version
when the king of Babylon's army fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of Judah that were left, against Lachish and against Azekah; for these alone remained of the cities of Judah as fenced cities.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He did this when the army of the king of Babylon was attacking Jerusalem and the cities of Lachish and Azekah. These were the only fortified cities of Judah that were left.

Good News Translation
while the army of the king of Babylonia was attacking the city. The army was also attacking Lachish and Azekah, the only other fortified cities left in Judah.

International Standard Version
while the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and all the cities of Judah that were left, namely Lachish and Azekah. (They were the only fortified cities that remained among the cities of Judah.)

Majority Standard Bible
as the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and the remaining cities of Judah—against Lachish and Azekah. For these were the only fortified cities remaining in Judah.

NET Bible
He did this while the army of the king of Babylon was attacking Jerusalem and the cities of Lachish and Azekah. He was attacking these cities because they were the only fortified cities of Judah which were still holding out.

New Heart English Bible
when the king of Babylon's army was fighting against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of Judah that were left, against Lachish and against Azekah; for these alone remained of the cities of Judah as fortified cities.

Webster's Bible Translation
When the king of Babylon's army fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of Judah that were left, against Lachish, and against Azekah: for these fortified cities remained of the cities of Judah.

World English Bible
when the king of Babylon’s army was fighting against Jerusalem and against all the cities of Judah that were left, against Lachish and against Azekah; for these alone remained of the cities of Judah as fortified cities.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the forces of the king of Babylon are fighting against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of Judah that are left—against Lachish, and against Azekah, for these have been left among the cities of Judah, cities of fortresses.

Young's Literal Translation
and the forces of the king of Babylon are fighting against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of Judah that are left -- against Lachish, and against Azekah, for these have been left among the cities of Judah, cities of fortresses.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the strength of the king of Babel warred against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of Judah being left against Lachish, and against Azekah: for these remained of the cities of Judah, fortified cities.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the army of the king of Babylon fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of Juda that were left, against Lachis, and against Azecha: for these remained of the cities of Juda, fenced cities.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the army of the king of Babylon fought against Jerusalem and against all the cities of Judah that remained, against Lachish and against Azekah. For only these remained out of the cities of Judah that were fortified cities.

New American Bible
while the army of the king of Babylon was attacking Jerusalem and the remaining cities of Judah, Lachish, and Azekah. Only these fortified cities were left standing out of all the cities of Judah!

New Revised Standard Version
when the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and against all the cities of Judah that were left, Lachish and Azekah; for these were the only fortified cities of Judah that remained.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
When the king of Babylon's army was fighting against Jerusalem and against all the cities of Judah that were left, against Lachish and against Azekah; for these were the only fortified cities that remained of the cities of Judah.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the army of the King of Babel was fighting against Jerusalem and against all the cities of Judea that are left, against Lakish and against Azqa, because these fortified cities were left in the villages of Judea
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
when the king of Babylon's army fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of Judah that were left, against Lachish and against Azekah; for these alone remained of the cities of Judah as fortified cities.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the host of the king of Babylon warred against Jerusalem, and against the cities of Juda, and against Lachis, and against Azeca: for these strong cities were left among the cities of Juda.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Prophecy Against Zedekiah
6In Jerusalem, then, Jeremiah the prophet relayed all these words to Zedekiah king of Judah 7as the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and the remaining cities of Judah— against Lachish and Azekah. For these were the only fortified cities remaining in Judah.

Cross References
2 Kings 25:1-2
So in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his entire army. They encamped outside the city and built a siege wall all around it. / And the city was kept under siege until King Zedekiah’s eleventh year.

2 Chronicles 36:17-19
So He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who put their young men to the sword in the sanctuary, sparing neither young men nor young women, neither elderly nor infirm. God gave them all into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, / who carried off everything to Babylon—all the articles of the house of God, both large and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king and his officials. / Then the Chaldeans set fire to the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem. They burned down all the palaces and destroyed every article of value.

Jeremiah 39:1-2
In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his entire army and laid siege to the city. / And on the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year, the city was breached.

Jeremiah 52:4-5
So in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his entire army. They encamped outside the city and built a siege wall all around it. / And the city was kept under siege until King Zedekiah’s eleventh year.

Ezekiel 21:22
In his right hand appears the portent for Jerusalem, where he is to set up battering rams, to call for the slaughter, to lift a battle cry, to direct the battering rams against the gates, to build a ramp, and to erect a siege wall.

Ezekiel 24:2
“Son of man, write down today’s date, for on this very day the king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem.

Lamentations 1:15
The Lord has rejected all the mighty men in my midst; He has summoned an army against me to crush my young warriors. Like grapes in a winepress, the Lord has trampled the Virgin Daughter of Judah.

Lamentations 2:2
Without pity the Lord has swallowed up all the dwellings of Jacob. In His wrath He has demolished the fortified cities of the Daughter of Judah. He brought to the ground and defiled her kingdom and its princes.

Zechariah 14:2
For I will gather all the nations for battle against Jerusalem, and the city will be captured, the houses looted, and the women ravished. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be removed from the city.

Matthew 24:2
“Do you see all these things?” He replied. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

Luke 19:43-44
For the days will come upon you when your enemies will barricade you and surround you and hem you in on every side. / They will level you to the ground—you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.”

Luke 21:20-24
But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you will know that her desolation is near. / Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country stay out of the city. / For these are the days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. ...

Mark 13:2
“Do you see all these great buildings?” Jesus replied. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

Revelation 11:2
But exclude the courtyard outside the temple. Do not measure it, because it has been given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months.

Revelation 18:2
And he cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons and a haunt for every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, and every detestable beast.


Treasury of Scripture

When the king of Babylon's army fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of Judah that were left, against Lachish, and against Azekah: for these defended cities remained of the cities of Judah.

fought against.

Jeremiah 34:1
The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and all his army, and all the kingdoms of the earth of his dominion, and all the people, fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities thereof, saying,

Jeremiah 4:5
Declare ye in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defenced cities.

Jeremiah 8:14
Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD.

Lachish.

Joshua 10:3,11
Wherefore Adonizedek king of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying, …

Joshua 12:11
The king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one;

Joshua 15:35,39
Jarmuth, and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah, …

for.

2 Chronicles 11:5-10
And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah…

2 Chronicles 27:4
Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.

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Alone Army Azekah Aze'kah Babylon Babylon's Cities Defenced Fighting Fortified Fought Jerusalem Judah Lachish Remaining
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Jeremiah 34
1. Jeremiah prophesies the captivity of Zedekiah and the city.
8. The princes and the people having dismissed their bond-servants,
11. contrary to the covenant of God, re-assume them.
12. Jeremiah gives them and Zedekiah into the hands of their enemies.














as the army of the king of Babylon
The phrase highlights the formidable military force of Babylon, led by King Nebuchadnezzar. Historically, Babylon was a dominant power in the ancient Near East, known for its military prowess and strategic conquests. The Hebrew term for "army" (חַיִל, chayil) often denotes strength and valor, emphasizing the might of Babylon's forces. This context underscores the dire situation for Judah, facing an overwhelming adversary.

was fighting against Jerusalem
Jerusalem, the spiritual and political heart of Judah, was under siege. The Hebrew root for "fighting" (לָחַם, lacham) conveys a sense of intense struggle and warfare. This siege was a fulfillment of prophetic warnings given by Jeremiah, illustrating the consequences of Judah's disobedience to God. The city's resistance symbolizes the last stand of a nation that had repeatedly turned away from divine guidance.

and the remaining cities of Judah
This phrase indicates that much of Judah had already fallen to Babylon. The "remaining cities" were the last bastions of hope for the kingdom. Historically, Judah's landscape was dotted with fortified cities, but by this time, most had succumbed to Babylonian might. This remnant status serves as a poignant reminder of the nation's diminished state due to its spiritual and moral decline.

against Lachish and Azekah
Lachish and Azekah were significant fortified cities in Judah, strategically important due to their locations. Archaeological excavations at Lachish have uncovered evidence of the Babylonian siege, including the famous Lachish Letters, which provide insight into the desperate situation. Azekah, mentioned in other biblical accounts, was also a key defensive site. These cities' mention highlights their role as critical defensive outposts, now under severe threat.

For these were the only fortified cities remaining in Judah
This statement underscores the gravity of Judah's situation. The Hebrew word for "fortified" (בָּצוּר, batsur) implies strength and protection, yet only these cities remained as such. The emphasis on "only" indicates the near-total conquest of Judah, with Jerusalem, Lachish, and Azekah as the last holdouts. This scenario reflects the fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecies and serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of forsaking God's covenant. The historical context of these sieges illustrates the relentless advance of Babylon and the impending judgment upon Judah, calling for reflection on the importance of faithfulness and obedience to God.

(7) Against Lachish, and against Azekah . . .--The two cities are named in this book for the first time. Lachish was one of the strongest towns of the Amorites in the time of Joshua (Joshua 10:3; Joshua 10:5), and was situated in the Shephelah, or lowland district (Joshua 15:39). It was restored or fortified by Rehoboam, as a defence against the northern kingdom (2Chronicles 11:9). Amaziah took refuge there on his flight from the conspiracy at Jerusalem (2 Chron. 14:19; 2Chronicles 25:27). It was taken by Sennacherib on his way from Assyria to Egypt, and made the monarch's headquarters (2Chronicles 32:9; 2Kings 18:17). A slab at Kouyunjik (Layard's Nineveh and Babylon, 149-152; Monuments of Nineveh, 2nd Series, Plates xxi, 24) represents the siege of Lakhisha by the armies of Sennacherib, and gives something like a ground-plan of the city. Its site has not been identified with certainty, but ruins still known as Um-lakis are found between Gaza and Eleutheropolis. It is mentioned here as being, next to Jerusalem, one of the strongest fortresses of the kingdom of Judah, which as yet had resisted the attack of Nebuchadnezzar's armies. Azekah, less conspicuous in history, was also in the Shephelah region, and is named with other cities in Joshua 10:10-11; Joshua 15:35. The Philistines were encamped between it and Shochoh in the days of Saul (1Samuel 17:1). It also was fortified by Rehoboam (2Chronicles 11:9). Its site has not been ascertained, but Eusebius and Jerome speak of it as lying between Eleutheropolis and Jerusalem. . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
as the army
וְחֵ֣יל (wə·ḥêl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2428: A force, an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength

of the king
מֶֽלֶךְ־ (me·leḵ-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of Babylon
בָּבֶ֗ל (bā·ḇel)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 894: Babylon -- an eastern Mediterranean empire and its capital city

was fighting
נִלְחָמִים֙ (nil·ḥā·mîm)
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 3898: To feed on, to consume, to battle

against
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

Jerusalem
יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (yə·rū·šā·lim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3389: Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel

and the remaining
הַנּֽוֹתָר֑וֹת (han·nō·w·ṯā·rō·wṯ)
Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine plural
Strong's 3498: To jut over, exceed, to excel, to remain, be left, to leave, cause to abound, preserve

cities
עָרֵ֥י (‘ā·rê)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 5892: Excitement

of Judah—
יְהוּדָ֖ה (yə·hū·ḏāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites

against
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Lachish
לָכִישׁ֙ (lā·ḵîš)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3923: Lachish -- a Canaanite city Southwest of Jerusalem

and Azekah.
עֲזֵקָ֔ה (‘ă·zê·qāh)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 5825: Azekah -- a place in Judah

For
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

these
הֵ֗נָּה (hên·nāh)
Pronoun - third person feminine plural
Strong's 2007: Themselves

were the only remaining
נִשְׁאֲר֛וּ (niš·’ă·rū)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7604: To swell up, be, redundant

fortified
מִבְצָֽר׃ (miḇ·ṣār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4013: A fortification, castle, fortified city, a defender

cities
בְּעָרֵ֥י (bə·‘ā·rê)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 5892: Excitement

left
עָרֵ֥י (‘ā·rê)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 5892: Excitement

in Judah.
יְהוּדָ֖ה (yə·hū·ḏāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 34:7 When the king of Babylon's army was (Jer.)
Jeremiah 34:6
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