Jeremiah 37:7-8
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The verse highlights that King Zedekiah sent messengers to inquire of God, not just to ask for prayers, but to know the outcome. However, God's answer immediately crushes any hope for relief from Egypt, revealing their army's imminent departure and the Chaldeans' inevitable return.
“Thus says the LORD, God of Israel: Thus shall you say to the king of Judah who sent you to me to inquire of me, ‘Behold, Pharaoh’s army that came to help you is about to return to Egypt, to its own land. And the Chaldeans shall come back and fight against this city. They shall capture it and burn it with fire.
English Standard Version (ESV)
King Zedekiah, facing the Babylonian siege, sent messengers to Jeremiah seeking divine counsel and prayers, desperate for hope. Jeremiah's response shatters this hope, revealing that the Egyptian army, which had come to their aid, will retreat to Egypt, leaving Jerusalem vulnerable. This news directly precedes the prophet's further declaration that the Babylonians will return and conquer the city.
In desperate times, we crave good news. But what happens when the news God sends isn't what we want to hear?
King Zedekiah was in a tight spot. The Babylonian army was besieging Jerusalem, and he'd sent messengers to Jeremiah, not just to pray, but to 'inquire' – to get a divine update on the situation.
Jeremiah's message is stark: the Egyptian army, sent to help Judah, is turning back. This wasn't just a temporary setback; it meant the lifting of the siege was over before it truly began. The hope they were clinging to was about to evaporate.
This highlights a crucial point: God’s truth often confronts our illusions. We might seek God when we're in trouble, but if we're only looking for confirmation of our own desires rather than God's reality, we're setting ourselves up for disappointment. The prophet’s job isn't to spin comfortable lies, but to deliver God's unvarnished truth, no matter how difficult.
Judah was looking to Egypt for salvation. What does this verse reveal about relying on human power over divine protection?
In this critical moment, Judah's king turned to Pharaoh's army as their strategic lifeline. They believed this foreign military power would break the siege and save them from Nebuchadnezzar's grip.
But God's word, delivered through Jeremiah, shatters this reliance. The Egyptian army's return signifies the absolute failure of their political and military strategy. It underscores a timeless principle: human alliances, however powerful they seem, are ultimately insufficient when set against God's sovereign will.
Even if the Egyptians had somehow fought and won, it wouldn't have mattered. The commentators highlight that God's judgment was set, and no earthly power could ultimately thwart it. This teaches us to anchor our security not in treaties or armies, but in the Lord.
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Understand the original words
Elohey Yisrael · Hebrew Noun Phrase
A title emphasizing God's unique covenantal relationship with the descendants of Jacob; it highlights His sovereignty, protection, and the spiritual authority He exercises over His chosen people.
Kasdim · Hebrew Noun
A title used in Scripture to designate the Neo-Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar II, whom God used as an instrument of His judgment against the nations, specifically Judah, for their covenant unfaithfulness.
Jeremiah's prophecy in this verse highlights the desperate, but ultimately futile, hope placed in foreign alliances. King Zedekiah's inquiry, driven by fear rather than repentance, is met with the grim reality that Egypt's aid is temporary and the Babylonian return is inevitable, underscoring God's judgment.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, deports Judean captives, including members of the royal family and skilled workers, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of Judea's subjugation.
597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports more Judeans, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon. Zedekiah is installed as a puppet king.
c. 588 BC
Siege of Jerusalem Begins
Nebuchadnezzar lays siege to Jerusalem after King Zedekiah breaks his treaty by seeking an alliance with Egypt.
c. 587 BC— this verse
Egyptian Army Arrives
Pharaoh's army arrives in Judea, intending to relieve Jerusalem and fight the Babylonians. This causes the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem to temporarily lift as their forces confront the Egyptians.
c. 587 BC
Egyptian Army Retreats
The Egyptian forces are defeated or discouraged by the Babylonian army and retreat back to Egypt. This leaves Jerusalem vulnerable and the siege resumes.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
The Babylonians breach the walls of Jerusalem, capture the city, loot the Temple, and deport the remaining population to Babylon, marking the end of the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
This passage directly parallels Jeremiah's prophecy by stating that Pharaoh's army would not provide effective aid, and that Zedekiah's reliance on Egypt was a breach of his treaty with Babylon.
Jeremiah 21:4-7This earlier prophecy from Jeremiah to Zedekiah delivered a similar message of doom, explaining that even weakened Chaldean forces would conquer Jerusalem, highlighting God's unwavering judgment.
2 Kings 24:7This verse speaks to the broader context of the Egyptian-Babylonian conflict, noting that the king of Egypt's forces were indeed defeated and pushed back, supporting Jeremiah's prophecy of their return to Egypt.
Isaiah 31:1-3This passage from Isaiah rebukes reliance on Egypt for help, emphasizing that true strength and deliverance come from the Lord alone, which directly addresses the false hope Zedekiah placed in Pharaoh's army.
barnesJeremiah 37:7: "Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say to the king of Judah, that sent you unto me to inquire of me; Behold, Pharaoh's army, which is come forth to help you, shall return to Egypt into their own land."
Jeremiah's answer here is even more unfavorable than that which is given in Jeremiah 21:4-7 . So hopeless is resistance that the disabled men among the Chaldaeans would alone suffice to capture the city and burn it to the ground.
pooleJeremiah 37:7: "Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say to the king of Judah, that sent you unto me to inquire of me; Behold, Pharaoh's army, which is come forth to help you, shall return to Egypt into their own land."
The word inquire lets us know that Zedekiah did not send to the prophet only to pray for him, but to inquire of God what the issue would be of this future contingency; it may be more desirous to know that, than that Jeremiah should intercede with God for them. T…
The verse highlights that King Zedekiah sent messengers to inquire of God, not just to ask for prayers, but to know the outcome. However, God's answer immediately crushes any hope for relief from Egypt, revealing their army's imminent departure and the Chaldeans' inevitable return.
King Zedekiah, facing the Babylonian siege, sent messengers to Jeremiah seeking divine counsel and prayers, desperate for hope. Jeremiah's response shatters this hope, revealing that the Egyptian army, which had come to their aid, will retreat to Egypt, leaving Jerusalem vulnerable. This news directly precedes the prophet's further declaration that the Babylonians will return and conquer the city.
King Zedekiah, facing the Babylonian siege, sent messengers to Jeremiah seeking divine counsel and prayers, desperate for hope. Jeremiah's response shatters this hope, revealing that the Egyptian army, which had come to their aid, will retreat to Egypt, leaving Jerusalem vulnerable. This news directly precedes the prophet's further declaration that the Babylonians will return and conquer the city.
"“Thus says the LORD, God of Israel: Thus shall you say to the king of Judah who sent you to me to inquire of me, ‘Behold, Pharaoh’s army that came to help you is about to return to Egypt, to its own land. And the Chaldeans shall come back…" — The verse highlights that King Zedekiah sent messengers to inquire of God, not just to ask for prayers, but to know the outcome. However, God's answer immediately crushes any hope for relief from Egy…
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Last reviewed October 2026
