These are the people Nebuchadnezzar carried away:This phrase introduces the list of exiles taken by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The deportation of the Jews was a significant event in biblical history, marking the beginning of the Babylonian Exile. This was a fulfillment of the prophecies given by Jeremiah and other prophets, warning of the consequences of Israel's disobedience and idolatry (
Jeremiah 25:11-12). The exile served as a period of purification and reflection for the Jewish people, emphasizing God's sovereignty and justice.
in the seventh year,
The "seventh year" refers to the seventh year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, which is historically dated to around 598/597 BC. This was the first major deportation of Jews to Babylon, following Nebuchadnezzar's siege of Jerusalem. The timing is significant as it aligns with the historical records of Babylonian campaigns and provides a chronological anchor for the events described in the Book of Jeremiah.
3,023 Jews;
The specific number of 3,023 Jews deported highlights the precision of the biblical record. This figure represents a portion of the population, likely including the leaders, skilled workers, and craftsmen, as mentioned in2 Kings 24:14. The deportation was part of Nebuchadnezzar's strategy to weaken the political and economic structure of Judah, ensuring control over the region. This number also reflects the beginning of the Jewish community in Babylon, which would later play a crucial role in preserving Jewish identity and faith during the exile.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
NebuchadnezzarThe king of Babylon who led the conquest of Jerusalem and the subsequent exile of the Jewish people. His actions were part of God's judgment on Judah for their disobedience.
2.
JewsThe people of Judah who were taken into exile. This group represents the first wave of exiles taken to Babylon, highlighting the beginning of a significant period in Jewish history.
3.
Seventh YearThis refers to the seventh year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, marking a specific time in the historical timeline of the Babylonian exile.
4.
ExileThe forced removal of the Jewish people from their homeland to Babylon, a pivotal event in the Old Testament that fulfilled prophetic warnings and shaped the future of Israel.
5.
BabylonThe empire that conquered Judah and Jerusalem, serving as the instrument of God's judgment and a place of refining and transformation for the Jewish people.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty in JudgmentThe exile was a direct result of Judah's disobedience, yet it was also under God's control. Believers can trust that God is sovereign even in times of discipline.
The Faithfulness of GodDespite the judgment, God promised restoration. This teaches us about His faithfulness and the hope we have in His promises.
The Importance of ObedienceThe exile serves as a reminder of the consequences of disobedience to God. It encourages believers to live in accordance with His will.
God's Presence in ExileEven in Babylon, God was with His people, guiding and protecting them. This reassures us that God is present in our own times of trial and displacement.
Historical Context and Its LessonsUnderstanding the historical context of the exile helps us appreciate the depth of God's plan and the lessons He teaches through history.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Jeremiah 52:28?
2.How does Jeremiah 52:28 illustrate God's judgment on Judah's disobedience?
3.What lessons can we learn from the exile of 3,023 Jews in Jeremiah?
4.How does Jeremiah 52:28 connect with God's covenant promises in Deuteronomy?
5.How can we apply the consequences of disobedience in Jeremiah 52:28 to our lives?
6.What does the exile in Jeremiah 52:28 teach about God's sovereignty and justice?
7.What historical evidence supports the events described in Jeremiah 52:28?
8.How does Jeremiah 52:28 align with archaeological findings?
9.What is the significance of the numbers mentioned in Jeremiah 52:28?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Jeremiah 52?
11.How do we reconcile the differing numbers of exiles listed in Jeremiah 52:28–30 with other biblical accounts?
12.Can we verify the large-scale deportation described in 2 Kings 24:14 through Babylonian records or archaeological data?
13.Jeremiah 39:9–10: How reliable are the claims about who was exiled and who remained in the land, considering possible discrepancies with other historical accounts?
14.Jeremiah 30:7 describes a period of unparalleled distress for Jacob (Israel); what historical or archaeological evidence supports such a catastrophic event?What Does Jeremiah 52:28 Mean
These are the people Nebuchadnezzar carried away– The verse introduces an historical record, not a vague estimate. Scripture repeatedly affirms that the exile happened at the word of the LORD because Judah rejected His covenant (2 Kings 24:13-14;Jeremiah 25:8-9).
– The phrase highlights that the deportations were personal and painful: families uprooted, leaders humbled, worship disrupted (Jeremiah 39:9;2 Chronicles 36:17-20).
– God is still sovereign in the chaos. He promised judgment through Babylon, yet also pledged restoration after seventy years (Jeremiah 29:10-14). The captivity is both discipline and a stage for future hope (Daniel 9:2).
in the seventh year– Babylonian records date Nebuchadnezzar’s seventh regnal year to 598/597 BC, matching the second exile of Judah (2 Kings 24:11-12).
– This precision confirms the reliability of Jeremiah’s chronicle; the Bible is not mythic lore but anchored in verifiable moments of history.
– God’s timing is purposeful: seven often signals completeness. Judah had ignored seventy sabbath-years of rest for the land (2 Chronicles 36:21). Now, in the king’s seventh year, judgment advances toward its full course, underscoring that God’s calendar will not be mocked (Galatians 6:7-8).
3,023 Jews– The headcount shows that the Lord notes every person; exile was not random statistics. “The LORD knows those who are His” (2 Timothy 2:19).
– Most went into Babylon, but a remnant stayed to keep the flame of faith alive in the land (Jeremiah 40:7-10). God always preserves a faithful lineage, preparing for Messiah’s coming (Isaiah 10:20-22;Matthew 1:12).
– The exact figure also answers skeptics who claim the Bible inflates events. Later verses total 4,600 captives over three deportations (Jeremiah 52:29-30), which aligns with the numbers of skilled leaders and nobles listed elsewhere (2 Kings 24:14-16). Counting men of influence separately from the general populace explains why the numbers are smaller than the multitudes implied inDaniel 1:3-4; both records are true, just measuring different groups.
summaryJeremiah 52:28 is a concise census that validates God’s prophetic warnings and His meticulous care for His covenant people. It roots the exile in real time (the seventh year), real numbers (3,023), and a real conqueror (Nebuchadnezzar), proving that every word the LORD speaks comes to pass and assuring believers that His promises of discipline and eventual restoration can be trusted with equal certainty.
(28)
This is the people . . .--Here the parallelism with 2 Kings 25, which goes on to give a brief summary of the history of Gedaliah and Ishmael, as narrated in Jeremiah 40-43, ceases, and the writer of the appendix goes on to give particulars as to the various stages of the deportation of the captives. It presents some difficulties in detail. (1) The date given here, the "seventh year" of Nebuchadnezzar, does not agree with
2Kings 24:12, which gives the "eighth year" as the time of the first deportation after the defeat of Jehoiachin. (2) The number of the captives then carried into exile, given in
2Kings 24:14 at 10,000, besides the craftsmen and the smiths, is given here as 3,023. The precision of the number seems to imply reference to a register or record of some kind, and so far bears
prima facieevidence of accuracy. Probably the word "ten" has dropped out before "seven," and we have here the record of a second deportation in the
seventeenthyear of Nebuchadnezzar, while the siege of Jerusalem was going on, and made up in part of prisoners taken in skirmishes, and partly of the numerous Jews who "fell away to the Chaldaeans" (
Jeremiah 37:13).
Verse 28. -
In the seventh year. As Ewald and Keil agree, we should correct "seventh" into "seventeenth" (just as in
2 Chronicles 36:9, for "eight" we should read "eighteen"). On the small number of Jews deported Ewald remarks, "Nothing so clearly shows the extent to which the best men from the upper classes had been already despatched by the Chaldeans across the Euphrates, as the fact that in all the years of the second, and, if it be insisted on, of the third revolt, put together, they found only 4600 men more whom they thought worth the trouble of transporting" ('History of Israel,' 4:265). As to the third deportation, see on Jeremiah 41:1.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
Theseזֶ֣ה(zeh)Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088:This, thatare the peopleהָעָ֔ם(hā·‘ām)Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971:A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flockNebuchadnezzarנְבֽוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֑ר(nə·ḇū·ḵaḏ·reṣ·ṣar)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5019:Nebuchadnezzar -- 'Nebo, protect the boundary', a Babylonian kingcarried away:הֶגְלָ֖ה(heḡ·lāh)Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1540:To denude, to exile, to revealin the seventhשֶׁ֕בַע(še·ḇa‘)Number - feminine singular
Strong's 7651:Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite numberyear,בִּשְׁנַת־(biš·naṯ-)Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8141:A year3,023 {}שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת(šə·lō·šeṯ)Number - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7969:Three, third, thriceJews;יְהוּדִ֕ים(yə·hū·ḏîm)Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3064:Jews -- Jewish
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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 52:28 This is the people whom Nebuchadnezzar carried (Jer.) 
