On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse highlights a specific, devastating date—the ninth day of the fourth month—which would become a memorial fast, marking a point where the hunger in Jerusalem became absolute, leaving no food even for the common people. It's not just a mention of famine, but a precise pinpointing of a nadir, emphasizing the utter desolation that had gripped the city.
On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage details the dire circumstances surrounding Jerusalem's final days before its fall to Babylon. The intensifying famine, marked by the utter lack of food, highlights the desperation of the people who had taken refuge within the city walls. This grim reality sets the stage for the ultimate breach and destruction that follows.
This verse pinpoints a specific day in Jerusalem's history. Why is this particular date so significant, and what does it tell us about the severity of the situation?
Jeremiah 52:6 highlights the ninth day of the fourth month. This date, known as Tammuz, became a somber reminder of the suffering in Jerusalem.
A Day of National Mourning
Commentators note that this day was later marked by a fast, commemorating the terrible events that unfolded. It wasn't just any day of hunger; it was a day when the very sustenance of life, bread, was completely absent for the common people.
The Crushing Reality
The phrase 'famine was sore' paints a stark picture of intense suffering. This wasn't a temporary shortage but a devastating, prolonged crisis that left people with nothing to eat. It speaks to the utter collapse of resources and hope within the city walls.
The verse states there was 'no food for the people of the land.' What does this specific phrase reveal about who was suffering the most and the scale of the disaster?
The phrase 'the people of the land' in this context doesn't refer to everyone in the nation, but specifically to the common citizens and poorer classes within Jerusalem.
The Vulnerable Hit Hardest
While the king and nobles might have had some reserves, this verse underscores that for the majority – the everyday people who had taken refuge in the city or lived there – the situation was hopeless. Their lack of food meant they were weakened, disheartened, and unable to resist.
Ask a follow-up
A Complete Societal Breakdown
'No food' signifies more than just hunger pangs; it represents a total breakdown of the social and economic order. The systems that provided sustenance had collapsed, leading to desperation and ultimately contributing to the city's fall.
Understand the original words
ra'ab · Hebrew Noun
A state of extreme scarcity of food, often used in Scripture as a sign of divine judgment against a nation or individual for disobedience or covenant unfaithfulness.
This verse pinpoints a specific, devastating day within the broader tragedy of Jerusalem's siege. The mention of the ninth day of the fourth month connects directly to a somber fast day in Jewish tradition, underscoring how this historical moment of extreme hunger became a lasting memorial of divine judgment.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
As part of Nebuchadnezzar's campaign, a group of Jewish exiles, including members of the royal family and skilled individuals like Daniel, were taken to Babylon. This event marked the beginning of the Babylonian exile and signaled a decline in Judah's sovereignty.
597 BC
Second Deportation and Jehoiachin's Exile
Following a revolt, Nebuchadnezzar deported more Judeans to Babylon, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel. This deepened the crisis in Jerusalem and weakened the kingdom further.
588 BC
Siege of Jerusalem Begins
Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem after King Zedekiah rebelled against Babylonian rule. The siege would last for about two years, causing immense suffering within the city.
c. July 587/586 BC— this verse
Famine Grips Jerusalem
During the lengthy siege, severe famine afflicted Jerusalem. Food became incredibly scarce, leading to starvation and desperation among the inhabitants, as vividly described in Lamentations.
c. July 587/586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Third Deportation
The walls of Jerusalem were breached, and the city was captured by the Babylonians. King Zedekiah was captured, and most of the remaining population was deported to Babylon, ending the Davidic monarchy.
After 586 BC
Establishment of a Jewish Fast Day
In memory of the city's fall and the terrible famine, a fast was instituted on the ninth day of the fourth month, a date that would be observed for centuries to come.
This passage vividly describes the same horrific famine in Jerusalem, highlighting the suffering of mothers and children due to the lack of food.
Ezekiel 4:16Ezekiel prophesied about a siege with severe food shortages, directly paralleling the conditions Jeremiah describes as the city's judgment.
Zechariah 8:19This verse points to a fast observed in remembrance of the famine and the destruction of the temple, marking the fourth month as a time of sorrowful commemoration.
Jeremiah 38:9This earlier account within Jeremiah shows that the famine was already a dire crisis, showing how the situation progressively worsened to the point described in chapter 52.
clarkeJeremiah 52:6: "And in the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land."
And in the fourth month - See the notes on Jeremiah 39:1 , etc. The fourth month answers nearly to our July.
ellicottJeremiah 52:6: "And in the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land."
(6) And in the fourth month. —Omitted in the Hebrew of 2Kings 25:3 , but supplied in the English version.
This verse highlights a specific, devastating date—the ninth day of the fourth month—which would become a memorial fast, marking a point where the hunger in Jerusalem became absolute, leaving no food even for the common people. It's not just a mention of famine, but a precise pinpointing of a nadir, emphasizing the utter desolation that had gripped the city.
This passage details the dire circumstances surrounding Jerusalem's final days before its fall to Babylon. The intensifying famine, marked by the utter lack of food, highlights the desperation of the people who had taken refuge within the city walls. This grim reality sets the stage for the ultimate breach and destruction that follows.
This passage details the dire circumstances surrounding Jerusalem's final days before its fall to Babylon. The intensifying famine, marked by the utter lack of food, highlights the desperation of the people who had taken refuge within the city walls. This grim reality sets the stage for the ultimate breach and destruction that follows.
"On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land." — This verse highlights a specific, devastating date—the ninth day of the fourth month—which would become a memorial fast, marking a point where the hunger in Jerusalem became absolute, leaving no food…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026