Zedekiah will receive an honorable end, demonstrating the Lord’s mercy in a period of severe turmoil.
“You will die in peace; and they will make a burning for you like the burnings for your fathers, the former kings who were before you, so they will burn spices for you; and they will lament for you, ‘Alas, lord!’ For I have spoken the word,” declares the LORD. (v.5) Jeremiah conveys a message from the Lord to King Zedekiah, informing him that, though the kingdom of Judah is under threat from Babylon, he will not suffer a violent death. Instead, the Lord promises he will die in a manner befitting a monarch, with customary rituals of honor such as the burning of spices. In the ancient Near East, lavish funerals were often done for kings to commemorate their rule, and the burning of spices served as a sign of reverence and mourning (2 Chronicles 16:14). By stating, “You will die in peace” (v.5), God assures Zedekiah that there is still dignity and respect reserved for him, even in the midst of the judgment coming upon Jerusalem.
Zedekiah was the last king of Judah, reigning from around 597 to 586 BC. He was installed by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, and he ruled in Jerusalem, the historic and spiritual center of the kingdom of Judah. Jerusalem stands atop hills in the southern region of Israel, roughly 2500 feet above sea level, and it served as the heart of Jewish worship, housing the temple built by Solomon. Despite Judah’s disobedience and impending exile, Jeremiah’s prophecy indicates that the Lord cares for His people’s leaders and provides a measure of grace, even when the atmosphere seems hopeless.
The phrase “they will make a burning for you like the burnings for your fathers” (v.5) highlights the deep respect that will be accorded to this embattled king, paralleling the memorials of the kings before him. This promise showcases God’s faithfulness—He remains consistent in dealing with His covenant people (Psalm 89:33). Though Zedekiah ultimately faced exile and hardship, the Lord’s word reached beyond his circumstances, offering him a peaceful passing. Christians often see in God’s faithfulness a foreshadowing of Christ’s role in securing peace for believers (John 14:27), reminding us that divine assurances endure regardless of human trials.
Set to dark mode
Jeremiah 34:5 meaning
“You will die in peace; and they will make a burning for you like the burnings for your fathers, the former kings who were before you, so they will burn spices for you; and they will lament for you, ‘Alas, lord!’ For I have spoken the word,” declares the LORD. (v.5) Jeremiah conveys a message from the Lord to King Zedekiah, informing him that, though the kingdom of Judah is under threat from Babylon, he will not suffer a violent death. Instead, the Lord promises he will die in a manner befitting a monarch, with customary rituals of honor such as the burning of spices. In the ancient Near East, lavish funerals were often done for kings to commemorate their rule, and the burning of spices served as a sign of reverence and mourning (2 Chronicles 16:14). By stating, “You will die in peace” (v.5), God assures Zedekiah that there is still dignity and respect reserved for him, even in the midst of the judgment coming upon Jerusalem.
Zedekiah was the last king of Judah, reigning from around 597 to 586 BC. He was installed by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, and he ruled in Jerusalem, the historic and spiritual center of the kingdom of Judah. Jerusalem stands atop hills in the southern region of Israel, roughly 2500 feet above sea level, and it served as the heart of Jewish worship, housing the temple built by Solomon. Despite Judah’s disobedience and impending exile, Jeremiah’s prophecy indicates that the Lord cares for His people’s leaders and provides a measure of grace, even when the atmosphere seems hopeless.
The phrase “they will make a burning for you like the burnings for your fathers” (v.5) highlights the deep respect that will be accorded to this embattled king, paralleling the memorials of the kings before him. This promise showcases God’s faithfulness—He remains consistent in dealing with His covenant people (Psalm 89:33). Though Zedekiah ultimately faced exile and hardship, the Lord’s word reached beyond his circumstances, offering him a peaceful passing. Christians often see in God’s faithfulness a foreshadowing of Christ’s role in securing peace for believers (John 14:27), reminding us that divine assurances endure regardless of human trials.