For Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him, saying, “Why do you prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the LORD: Behold, I am giving this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall capture it;
English Standard Version (ESV)
Zedekiah's question, "Why do you prophesy…?" reveals the king's desperate attempt to silence God's truth rather than confront its reality. Despite being imprisoned, Jeremiah's message remained unbound, boldly declaring that no human authority could truly stop God's word from being proclaimed.
For Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him, saying, “Why do you prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the LORD: Behold, I am giving this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall capture it;
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah is imprisoned by King Zedekiah for proclaiming that Jerusalem will be captured by the Babylonians. This imprisonment happens in the tenth year of Zedekiah's reign, during the ongoing siege of the city. Despite being locked up, Jeremiah receives a divine message about purchasing a field, which seems like a baffling act in the face of impending destruction.
Jeremiah was thrown in prison for speaking God's truth. But did that stop God's message?
Even when God's messengers are silenced by worldly powers, the Word of God itself cannot be bound.
The king of Judah threw Jeremiah in jail for his message. What does this tell us about Zedekiah's heart?
Zedekiah's imprisonment of Jeremiah reveals a deep-seated refusal to heed God's warnings, even in the face of impending doom.
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Understand the original words
naba' · Hebrew Verb
The act of communicating a message from God to humanity. Prophecy often involves declaring divine judgment, salvation, or instruction, functioning under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Jeremiah's imprisonment by King Zedekiah occurs at the height of the Babylonian siege, a moment of intense crisis for Jerusalem. Despite being silenced and confined, God's message of future restoration through a land purchase is given to Jeremiah, highlighting that God's plans transcend human limitations and immediate despair.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar deports thousands of Jewish captives, including members of the royal family and skilled workers, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of Judah's Babylonian exile.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation
Following a revolt, Nebuchadnezzar deports more Judeans, including King Jehoiachin, to Babylon. Zedekiah is installed as king, but he is a vassal of Babylon.
c. 588-587 BC
Siege of Jerusalem Begins
Nebuchadnezzar lays siege to Jerusalem after King Zedekiah rebels against Babylon. The siege will last for approximately two years.
c. 587 BC— this verse
Jeremiah Imprisoned
During the siege, Jeremiah is imprisoned by King Zedekiah's officials for prophesying the city's imminent fall and capture by the Babylonians. He is placed in the court of the prison.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Third Deportation
The Babylonians breach Jerusalem's walls. The city is destroyed, the Temple is burned, and the remaining population is deported to Babylon.
This passage provides more detail about Jeremiah's imprisonment, showing the specific circumstances and accusations that led to him being shut up, directly illuminating the reason for Zedekiah's anger in chapter 32.
2 Timothy 2:9Paul echoes Jeremiah's situation, stating that the 'word of God is not chained,' even when the messenger is imprisoned, highlighting the enduring power of God's message despite human opposition.
Acts 4:18-20Peter and John, like Jeremiah, are silenced by authorities for their preaching, but they boldly declare their allegiance to obeying God rather than humans, mirroring Jeremiah's unwavering prophetic stance.
Ezekiel 3:24-27Ezekiel also experiences a period of being divinely silenced and then bound, demonstrating a parallel between prophets facing severe opposition and the isolation that can accompany divine commission.
Jeremiah 38:1-13This later account shows Jeremiah being thrown into a cistern and left to die, illustrating the escalating severity of the opposition he faced from the Judean leadership, even after the events in chapter 32.
calvinJeremiah 32:1-3: "The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar."
For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, Wherefore dost thou prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it;
Quia incluserat ipsum Zedechias rex Jehudab, dicendo, Quare tu prophetizas dicendo, sic dicit Jehova, Ecce ego trado urbem hanc in m…
pooleJeremiah 32:3: "For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, Wherefore dost thou prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it;"
We no where read that Zedekiah immediately commanded Jeremiah to be imprisoned, he seemeth rather to have been favourable to Jeremiah, and judicious interpreters think his present prison was a favourable prison; but God accounteth princes to do that which their ministers or subor…
Zedekiah's question, "Why do you prophesy…?" reveals the king's desperate attempt to silence God's truth rather than confront its reality. Despite being imprisoned, Jeremiah's message remained unbound, boldly declaring that no human authority could truly stop God's word from being proclaimed.
Jeremiah is imprisoned by King Zedekiah for proclaiming that Jerusalem will be captured by the Babylonians. This imprisonment happens in the tenth year of Zedekiah's reign, during the ongoing siege of the city. Despite being locked up, Jeremiah receives a divine message about purchasing a field, which seems like a baffling act in the face of impending destruction.
Jeremiah is imprisoned by King Zedekiah for proclaiming that Jerusalem will be captured by the Babylonians. This imprisonment happens in the tenth year of Zedekiah's reign, during the ongoing siege of the city. Despite being locked up, Jeremiah receives a divine message about purchasing a field, which seems like a baffling act in the face of impending destruction.
"For Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him, saying, “Why do you prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the LORD: Behold, I am giving this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall capture it;" — Zedekiah's question, "Why do you prophesy…?" reveals the king's desperate attempt to silence God's truth rather than confront its reality. Despite being imprisoned, Jeremiah's message remained unboun…
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Last reviewed October 2026