The Bible Says
Jeremiah 37:1—2 Meaning

Jeremiah 37 begins by indicating the new ruler over Judah: Now Zedekiah the son of Josiah whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had made king in the land of Judah, reigned as king in place of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim (v. 1). Zedekiah was the last monarch of Judah, reigning from 597 BC until 586 BC, and was placed on the throne by Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar himself governed Babylon, a significant empire located in the region of Mesopotamia, near the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Jeremiah 37:1 sets the stage for a tumultuous time in Judah’s history, as Babylon was expanding its reach throughout the ancient Near East.

The reference to Josiah places these events late in the kingdom of Judah. King Josiah ruled from approximately 640 BC to 609 BC and was a reformer of worship, restoring the people’s adherence to the covenant. Zedekiah, his son, found himself ruling under Babylonian dominance, and this arrangement signaled the end of Jewish independence in the land. By describing the transition from Coniah (also known as Jeconiah) to Zedekiah, scripture shows how Judah’s disobedience precipitated rapid political shifts.

Because Nebuchadnezzar had the authority to appoint kings and remove them, Judah’s royal lineage was now entangled in Babylon’s agenda. This not only fulfilled prophetic warnings about exile but also highlighted how Judah’s ongoing rebellion against God led to its subjugation (Jeremiah 25). Despite Zedekiah’s royal lineage, his throne was heavily dependent on Babylon instead of the covenant promises granted to earlier kings.

Continuing, Jeremiah 37:2 points to the disregard for God’s message: But neither he nor his servants nor the people of the land listened to the words of the LORD which He spoke through Jeremiah the prophet (v. 2). This paints a stark picture of spiritual neglect. The prophet Jeremiah repeatedly called the nation to repentance and humility, but both the king and his subjects chose to ignore God’s guidance, leading to deeper turmoil.

The mention of servants and the people of the land (v. 2) emphasizes the widespread indifference. Zedekiah’s leadership was marked by a failure to follow God’s instructions, and the officials under him perpetuated this pattern of disobedience. Their collective resistance against the prophet’s message foreshadows the catastrophic fall of Jerusalem that would soon come, illustrating that ignoring God’s word leads to national and personal consequences.

In light of the larger biblical narrative, Jeremiah 37:1—2 is a reminder that genuine faithfulness to God’s word has lasting implications. The warnings given through Jeremiah were not heeded, pointing forward to the ultimate hope found in the redemptive work of Christ, who calls people to listen and obey (John 10:27). The people of Judah had an opportunity to forsake their old ways, but their stubborn hearts ultimately brought about their downfall.