2 Kings 25:3 By the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine in the city was so severe that the people of the land had no food.

◄ 2 Kings 25:3 ►

New International Version
By the ninth day of the fourth month the famine in the city had become so severe that there was no food for the people to eat.

New Living Translation
By July 18 in the eleventh year of Zedekiah’s reign, the famine in the city had become very severe, and the last of the food was entirely gone.

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
By the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine in the city was so severe that the people of the land had no food.

King James Bible
And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land.

New King James Version
By the ninth day of the fourth month the famine had become so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land.

New American Standard Bible
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.

NASB 1995
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.

NASB 1977
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.

Legacy Standard Bible
On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was so strong in the city that there was no food for the people of the land.

Amplified Bible
On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine [caused by the siege] was severe in the city; there was no food for the people of the land.

Christian Standard Bible
By the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was so severe in the city that the common people had no food.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
By the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was so severe in the city that the people of the land had no food.

American Standard Version
On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.

English Revised Version
On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
On the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine in the city became so severe that the common people had no food.

Good News Translation
On the ninth day of the fourth month of that same year, when the famine was so bad that the people had nothing left to eat,

International Standard Version
By the ninth day of the fourth month, the resulting famine had become so severe in the city that no food remained for the people who lived in the land.

Majority Standard Bible
By the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine in the city was so severe that the people of the land had no food.

NET Bible
By the ninth day of the fourth month the famine in the city was so severe the residents had no food.

New Heart English Bible
On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was severe in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.

Webster's Bible Translation
And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land.

World English Bible
On the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine was severe in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
On the ninth of the month, when the famine is severe in the city, then there has not been bread for the people of the land.

Young's Literal Translation
on the ninth of the month -- when the famine is severe in the city, and there hath not been bread for the people of the land,

Smith's Literal Translation
In the ninth to the month and the famine will be strong in the city, and there was not bread for the people of the land.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
The ninth day of the month: and a famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land.

Catholic Public Domain Version
on the ninth day of the month. And a famine prevailed in the city; neither was there bread for the people of the land.

New American Bible
On the ninth day of the month, when famine had gripped the city, and the people of the land had no more food,

New Revised Standard Version
On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine became so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And in the eleventh year of King Zedekiah, on the ninth day of the fifth month, the famine was severe in the city and there was no bread for the people of the land.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And in year eleven of King Tsedeqia, in the fifth month, on the ninth of the month, a famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
On the ninth day of the [fourth] month the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Nebuchadnezzar Besieges Jerusalem
…2And the city was kept under siege until King Zedekiah’s eleventh year. 3By the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine in the city was so severe that the people of the land had no food. 4Then the city was breached; and though the Chaldeans had surrounded the city, all the men of war fled by night by way of the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden. They headed toward the Arabah,…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Jeremiah 52:6
By the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine in the city was so severe that the people of the land had no food.

Jeremiah 39:2
And on the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year, the city was breached.

Lamentations 4:9-10
Those slain by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger, who waste away, pierced with pain because the fields lack produce. / The hands of compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.

Ezekiel 4:16-17
Then He told me, “Son of man, I am going to cut off the supply of food in Jerusalem. They will anxiously eat bread rationed by weight, and in despair they will drink water by measure. / So they will lack food and water; they will be appalled at the sight of one another wasting away in their iniquity.

Ezekiel 5:10
As a result, fathers among you will eat their sons, and sons will eat their fathers. I will execute judgments against you and scatter all your remnant to every wind.’

Jeremiah 14:18
If I go out to the country, I see those slain by the sword; if I enter the city, I see those ravaged by famine! For both prophet and priest travel to a land they do not know.’”

Lamentations 2:11-12
My eyes fail from weeping; I am churning within. My heart is poured out in grief over the destruction of the daughter of my people, because children and infants faint in the streets of the city. / They cry out to their mothers: “Where is the grain and wine?” as they faint like the wounded in the streets of the city, as their lives fade away in the arms of their mothers.

Jeremiah 21:7
‘After that,’ declares the LORD, ‘I will hand over Zedekiah king of Judah, his officers, and the people in this city who survive the plague and sword and famine, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to their enemies who seek their lives. He will put them to the sword; he will not spare them or show pity or compassion.’

Ezekiel 7:15
The sword is outside; plague and famine are within. Those in the country will die by the sword, and those in the city will be devoured by famine and plague.

Lamentations 1:11
All her people groan as they search for bread. They have traded their treasures for food to keep themselves alive. Look, O LORD, and consider, for I have become despised.

Matthew 24:19-21
How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! / Pray that your flight will not occur in the winter or on the Sabbath. / For at that time there will be great tribulation, unseen from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again.

Luke 21:23-24
How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! For there will be great distress upon the land and wrath against this people. / They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

Mark 13:17-19
How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! / Pray that this will not occur in the winter. / For those will be days of tribulation unseen from the beginning of God’s creation until now, and never to be seen again.

Revelation 6:5-6
And when the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” Then I looked and saw a black horse, and its rider held in his hand a pair of scales. / And I heard what sounded like a voice from among the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine.”

Deuteronomy 28:52-57
They will besiege all the cities throughout your land, until the high and fortified walls in which you trust have fallen. They will besiege all your cities throughout the land that the LORD your God has given you. / Then you will eat the fruit of your womb, the flesh of the sons and daughters whom the LORD your God has given you, in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you. / The most gentle and refined man among you will begrudge his brother, the wife he embraces, and the rest of his children who have survived, ...

Treasury of Scripture

And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land.

Jeremiah 39:2
And in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, the city was broken up.

Jeremiah 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.

Zechariah 8:19
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace.

the famine.

Leviticus 26:26
And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.

Deuteronomy 28:52,53
And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land: and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which the LORD thy God hath given thee…

Lamentations 4:4-10
The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them…

there was no.

Jeremiah 37:21
Then Zedekiah the king commanded that they should commit Jeremiah into the court of the prison, and that they should give him daily a piece of bread out of the bakers' street, until all the bread in the city were spent. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.

Jeremiah 38:2
Thus saith the LORD, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live.

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2 Kings 25

1. Jerusalem is besieged.
4. Zedekiah taken, his sons slain, his eyes put out.
8. Nebuzaradan defaces the city, exiles the remnant, except a few poor laborers;
13. and carries away the treasures.
18. The nobles are slain at Riblah.
22. Gedaliah, who was over those who remained, being slain, the rest flee into Egypt.
27. Evil-Merodach advances Jehoiachin in his court.

Berean Study Bible

By the ninth day
The phrase "ninth day" is significant in the Hebrew calendar, marking a specific point in time that is often associated with judgment or completion. In the context of 2 Kings 25, this day marks a critical moment in the siege of Jerusalem. The number nine in biblical numerology often symbolizes finality or divine completeness, which is fitting as this day represents the culmination of the city's suffering under siege.

of the fourth month
The fourth month in the Hebrew calendar is Tammuz, a time that traditionally marks the beginning of summer. Historically, this period was associated with agricultural activities, but here it is marked by famine and despair. The mention of the fourth month underscores the unnatural and dire circumstances faced by the people, as this should have been a time of growth and harvest, yet it is instead a time of scarcity and suffering.

the famine in the city
Famine, in biblical terms, is often a sign of divine judgment or a call to repentance. The Hebrew word for famine, "רָעָב" (ra'av), conveys not just a lack of food but a deep, pervasive hunger that affects every aspect of life. In the context of Jerusalem, this famine is a direct result of the Babylonian siege, highlighting the physical and spiritual desolation of the city. It serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of turning away from God's commandments.

was so severe
The severity of the famine is emphasized to convey the extreme conditions faced by the inhabitants of Jerusalem. The Hebrew root "חָזַק" (chazaq) can mean strong or severe, indicating that the famine was not just a lack of food but an overwhelming force that gripped the city. This severity is a reflection of the intense pressure and suffering experienced by the people, underscoring the dire situation and the need for divine intervention.

that the people of the land
This phrase refers to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judah, emphasizing their collective identity and shared suffering. The "people of the land" is a term often used to describe the common folk, those who are directly affected by the events unfolding. It highlights the widespread impact of the famine, affecting every stratum of society and uniting them in their desperation.

had no food
The absence of food is the ultimate expression of the city's plight. In Hebrew, "אֵין לֶחֶם" (ein lechem) literally means "no bread," symbolizing not just physical sustenance but also spiritual nourishment. Bread is a staple in biblical times, representing life and provision. The lack of food signifies a complete breakdown of normal life and a profound need for God's provision and mercy. This dire situation calls the people to recognize their dependence on God and to seek His face in their time of need.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(3) And on the ninth day of the fourth month.--The text is supplemented from Jeremiah 39:2; Jeremiah 52:6. The Syriac, however, has, "And in the eleventh year of King Zedekiah, in the fifth month, on the ninth day of the month, the famine prevailed," &c.; which may be original. (Comp. 2Kings 25:1.)

The famine prevailed.--Not that the scarcity was first felt on that day, but that it then had reached a climax, so that defence was no longer possible. The horrors of the siege are referred to in Lamentations 2:11 seq., Lamentations 2:19 seq., Lamentations 4:3-10; Ezekiel 5:10; Baruch 2:3. As in the famine of Samaria and the last siege of Jerusalem, parents ate their own offspring. (Comp. the prophetic threats of Leviticus 26:29; Deuteronomy 28:53 seq.; Jeremiah 15:2 seq., Jeremiah 27:13; Ezekiel 4:16 seq.) . . .

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 3. - And on the ninth day of the fourth month. The text of Kings is here incomplete, and has to be restored from Jeremiah 52:6. Our translators have supplied the missing words. The famine prevailed in the city (see the comment on ver. 2). As I have elsewhere observed, "The intensity of the suffering endured may be gathered from Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Josephus. The complexions of the men grew black with famine (Lamentations 4:8; Lamentations 5:10); their skin was shrunk and parched (Lamentations 4:8); the rich and noble women searched the dunghills for setups of offal (Lamentations 4:5); the children perished for want, or were even devoured by their parents (Lamentations 2:20; Lamentations 4:3, 4, 10; Ezekiel 5:10); water was scarce, as well as food, and was sold at a price (Lamentations 5:4); third part of the inhabitants died of the famine, and the plague which grew out of it (Ezekiel 5:12)" (see the 'Speaker's Commentary,' vol. it. p. 147). And there was no bread for the people of the land. Bread commonly fails comparatively early in a siege. It was some time before the fall of the city that Ebed-Meleeh expressed his fear that Jeremiah would starve, since there was no more bread in the place (see Jeremiah 38:9).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

By the ninth [day]
בְּתִשְׁעָ֣ה (bə·ṯiš·‘āh)
Preposition-b | Number - masculine singular
Strong's 8672: Nine, ninth

of the [fourth] month,
לַחֹ֔דֶשׁ (la·ḥō·ḏeš)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2320: The new moon, a month

the famine
הָרָעָ֖ב (hā·rā·‘āḇ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7458: Famine, hunger

in the city
בָּעִ֑יר (bā·‘îr)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

was so severe
וַיֶּחֱזַ֥ק (way·ye·ḥĕ·zaq)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2388: To fasten upon, to seize, be strong, obstinate, to bind, restrain, conquer

that the people
לְעַ֥ם (lə·‘am)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

of the land
הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

had
הָ֥יָה (hā·yāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

no
וְלֹא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

food.
לֶ֖חֶם (le·ḥem)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain

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OT History: 2 Kings 25:3 On the ninth day of the fourth (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)