KJV ORIGINAL
And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
They killed Zedekiah's sons right in front of him, then gouged out Zedekiah's eyes, chained him with bronze shackles, and took him away to Babylon.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse describes the brutal punishment of King Zedekiah - forced to watch his sons die before being blinded and taken captive to Babylon.
📚 Historical Context
This occurred in 586 BC when the Babylonian army under Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem after a long siege. King Zedekiah had rebelled against Babylon despite being warned by the prophet Jeremiah. This cruel punishment was typical of ancient Near Eastern warfare, designed to break a ruler's spirit and serve as a warning to others who might rebel.
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