2 Chronicles 36:21
New International Version
The land enjoyed its sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah.

New Living Translation
So the message of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah was fulfilled. The land finally enjoyed its Sabbath rest, lying desolate until the seventy years were fulfilled, just as the prophet had said.

English Standard Version
to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. All the days that it lay desolate it kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.

Berean Standard Bible
So the land enjoyed its Sabbath rest all the days of the desolation, until seventy years were completed, in fulfillment of the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah.

King James Bible
To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.

New King James Version
to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her Sabbaths. As long as she lay desolate she kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.

New American Standard Bible
to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. All the days of its desolation it kept the Sabbath until seventy years were complete.

NASB 1995
to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its sabbaths. All the days of its desolation it kept sabbath until seventy years were complete.

NASB 1977
to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its sabbaths. All the days of its desolation it kept sabbath until seventy years were complete.

Legacy Standard Bible
to fulfill the word of Yahweh by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had made up for its sabbaths. All the days of its desolation it kept sabbath until seventy years were fulfilled.

Amplified Bible
to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had restored its Sabbaths; for as long as the land lay desolate it kept Sabbath until seventy years were complete.

Christian Standard Bible
This fulfilled the word of the LORD through Jeremiah, and the land enjoyed its Sabbath rest all the days of the desolation until seventy years were fulfilled.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
This fulfilled the word of the LORD through Jeremiah and the land enjoyed its Sabbath rest all the days of the desolation until 70 years were fulfilled.

American Standard Version
to fulfil the word of Jehovah by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its sabbaths: for as long as it lay desolate it kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.

Contemporary English Version
Judah was an empty desert, and it stayed that way for 70 years, to make up for all the years it was not allowed to rest. These things happened just as Jeremiah the LORD's prophet had said.

English Revised Version
to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfill threescore and ten years.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
This happened so that the LORD's words spoken through Jeremiah would be fulfilled. The land had its years of rest and was made acceptable [again]. While it lay in ruins, [the land had its] 70 years of rest.

Good News Translation
And so what the LORD had foretold through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: "The land will lie desolate for seventy years, to make up for the Sabbath rest that has not been observed."

International Standard Version
All of this fulfilled what the LORD had predicted through Jeremiah. And so the land enjoyed its Sabbaths, and the length of the land's desolation lasted until a 70-year long Sabbath had been completed.

Majority Standard Bible
So the land enjoyed its Sabbath rest all the days of the desolation, until seventy years were completed, in fulfillment of the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah.

NET Bible
This took place to fulfill the LORD's message delivered through Jeremiah. The land experienced its sabbatical years; it remained desolate for seventy years, as prophesied.

New Heart English Bible
to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. As long as it lay desolate it kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.

Webster's Bible Translation
To fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.

World English Bible
to fulfill Yahweh’s word by Jeremiah’s mouth, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. As long as it lay desolate, it kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
to fulfill the word of YHWH in the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land has enjoyed its Sabbaths; all the days of the desolation it kept Sabbath—to the fullness of seventy years.

Young's Literal Translation
to fulfil the word of Jehovah in the mouth of Jeremiah, till the land hath enjoyed its sabbaths; all the days of the desolation it kept sabbath -- to the fulness of seventy years.

Smith's Literal Translation
To fill up the word of Jehovah in the mouth of Jeremiah, till the land delighted in her Sabbaths: all the days she was laid waste she rested, to complete seventy years.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
That the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremias might be fulfilled, and the land might keep her sabbaths: for all the days of the desolation she kept a sabbath, till the seventy years were expired.

Catholic Public Domain Version
and the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah would be fulfilled, and the land would celebrate her Sabbaths. For during all the days of the desolation, she kept a Sabbath, until the seventy years were completed.

New American Bible
All this was to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah: Until the land has retrieved its lost sabbaths, during all the time it lies waste it shall have rest while seventy years are fulfilled.

New Revised Standard Version
to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had made up for its sabbaths. All the days that it lay desolate it kept sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah the prophet until the land had enjoyed its sabbaths, all the days that it lay desolate until the seventy years were completed.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
That the word of LORD JEHOVAH that Jeremiah the Prophet had spoken would come to fulfillment, until the land would rest in its Sabbaths all the days, that it would be deserted to complete seventy years
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
to fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had been paid her sabbaths; for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
That the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremias might be fulfilled, until the land should enjoy its sabbaths in resting and sabbath keeping all the days of its desolation, till the accomplishment of seventy years.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Fall of Jerusalem
20Those who escaped the sword were carried by Nebuchadnezzar into exile in Babylon, and they became servants to him and his sons until the kingdom of Persia came to power. 21So the land enjoyed its Sabbath rest all the days of the desolation, until seventy years were completed, in fulfillment of the word of the LORD through Jeremiah.

Cross References
Jeremiah 25:11-12
And this whole land will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years. / But when seventy years are complete, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their guilt, declares the LORD, and I will make it an everlasting desolation.

Jeremiah 29:10
For this is what the LORD says: “When Babylon’s seventy years are complete, I will attend to you and confirm My promise to restore you to this place.

Leviticus 26:34-35
Then the land shall enjoy its Sabbaths all the days it lies desolate, while you are in the land of your enemies. At that time the land will rest and enjoy its Sabbaths. / As long as it lies desolate, the land will have the rest it did not receive during the Sabbaths when you lived in it.

Daniel 9:2
in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the sacred books, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years.

Isaiah 13:19-22
And Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah. / She will never be inhabited or settled from generation to generation; no nomad will pitch his tent there, no shepherd will rest his flock there. / But desert creatures will lie down there, and howling creatures will fill her houses. Ostriches will dwell there, and wild goats will leap about. ...

Ezekiel 36:21
But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they had gone.

Leviticus 26:43
For the land will be abandoned by them, and it will enjoy its Sabbaths by lying desolate without them. And they will pay the penalty for their iniquity, because they rejected My ordinances and abhorred My statutes.

Zechariah 1:12
Then the angel of the LORD said, “How long, O LORD of Hosts, will You withhold mercy from Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, with which You have been angry these seventy years?”

Ezra 1:1
In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to send a proclamation throughout his kingdom and to put it in writing as follows:

Nehemiah 1:8-9
Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses when You said, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, / but if you return to Me and keep and practice My commandments, then even if your exiles have been banished to the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for My Name.’

Matthew 24:15-16
So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand), / then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

Luke 21:20-24
But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you will know that her desolation is near. / Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country stay out of the city. / For these are the days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. ...

Romans 11:25-27
I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. / And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come from Zion; He will remove godlessness from Jacob. / And this is My covenant with them when I take away their sins.”

Revelation 18:2
And he cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons and a haunt for every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, and every detestable beast.

Isaiah 44:28
who says of Cyrus, ‘My shepherd will fulfill all that I desire,’ who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘Let its foundation be laid.’”


Treasury of Scripture

To fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfill three score and ten years.

To fulfil

Jeremiah 25:9,12
Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations…

Jeremiah 26:6,7
Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth…

Jeremiah 27:12,13
I spake also to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live…

until the land

Leviticus 25:4-6
But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard…

Leviticus 26:34,35,43
Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, and ye be in your enemies' land; even then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths…

Zechariah 1:12
Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?

Jump to Previous
Complete Completed Desolate Desolation Enjoyed Fulfil Fulfill Fulfillment Jeremiah Kept Lay Mouth Paid Pleasure Rested Rests Sabbath Sabbaths Seventy Ten Threescore Time True. Waste Word Words
Jump to Next
Complete Completed Desolate Desolation Enjoyed Fulfil Fulfill Fulfillment Jeremiah Kept Lay Mouth Paid Pleasure Rested Rests Sabbath Sabbaths Seventy Ten Threescore Time True. Waste Word Words
2 Chronicles 36
1. Jehoahaz succeeding, is deposed by Pharaoh, and carried into Egypt
5. Jehoiakim reigning ill, is carried bound into Babylon
9. Jehoiachin succeeding, reigns ill, and is brought into Babylon
11. Zedekiah succeeding, reigns ill, despite the prophets, and rebels against Nebuchadnezzar
14. Jerusalem, for the sins of the priests and the people, is wholly destroyed
22. The proclamation of Cyrus














So the land enjoyed its Sabbath rest
This phrase refers to the land of Judah lying fallow during the Babylonian exile. According to Levitical law, every seventh year was to be a Sabbath year, a time when the land was to rest and not be cultivated (Leviticus 25:4). The Israelites had neglected this command, and the exile served as a period for the land to receive its due rest. This concept underscores the importance of obedience to God's commands and the consequences of neglecting them.

all the days of the desolation,
The desolation refers to the period when the land of Judah was uninhabited following the Babylonian conquest. This was a time of judgment and purification, as the land was left to recover from the overuse and neglect of the Sabbath years. The desolation also symbolizes the spiritual barrenness that results from disobedience to God.

until seventy years were completed,
The seventy years of exile were prophesied by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 25:11-12; 29:10) and represent a complete cycle of judgment and restoration. This period is significant in biblical prophecy and history, marking the time from the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC to the decree of Cyrus allowing the Jews to return in 538 BC. The seventy years also reflect God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises and His sovereignty over history.

in fulfillment of the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah.
Jeremiah's prophecies about the Babylonian exile and the subsequent return of the Jews highlight the role of prophecy in the biblical narrative. Jeremiah 29:10 specifically mentions the seventy-year period, demonstrating the accuracy and reliability of God's word. This fulfillment also points to the broader theme of redemption and restoration found throughout Scripture, ultimately culminating in the work of Jesus Christ, who fulfills the law and the prophets (Matthew 5:17).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jeremiah
A major prophet in the Old Testament who prophesied the Babylonian exile and the seventy years of desolation for the land of Judah.

2. The Land of Judah
The southern kingdom of Israel, which was taken into captivity by Babylon. The land was left desolate to observe the Sabbaths it had missed.

3. Babylonian Exile
A significant event where the people of Judah were taken captive by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, fulfilling Jeremiah's prophecy.

4. Sabbath Rest for the Land
The concept of the land observing a Sabbath rest, as commanded in Leviticus 25:4, which was neglected by the Israelites.

5. Seventy Years
The period of desolation and rest for the land, corresponding to the years of missed Sabbaths, as prophesied by Jeremiah.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Obedience
The Israelites' failure to observe the Sabbath years led to severe consequences. This teaches us the importance of obeying God's commands and the repercussions of neglect.

God's Sovereignty and Faithfulness
Despite the disobedience of His people, God remains sovereign and faithful to His word, fulfilling His promises and prophecies as seen in the seventy years of desolation.

Rest and Restoration
The concept of Sabbath rest is not only for individuals but also for the land. This highlights the importance of rest and restoration in God's creation, encouraging us to incorporate rest into our lives.

Consequences of Neglect
The seventy years of desolation serve as a reminder of the consequences of neglecting God's commands. It challenges us to examine areas in our lives where we may be neglecting God's instructions.

Hope in Prophecy
The fulfillment of prophecy in 2 Chronicles 36:21 provides hope that God's plans are perfect and will come to pass, encouraging us to trust in His timing and promises.(21) To fulfil.--l?mal-th (an Aramaised form).

The word . . . Jeremiah.--The seventy years of Babylonian exile are predicted in Jeremiah 25:11-12. (Comp. also Jeremiah 29:10 : "Thus saith the Lord, After seventy years be accomplished for Babylon, I will visit you.")

Until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths.--"Enjoyed" is r?c?th?h, which Gesenius renders persolvit, "made good," "discharged," as a debt. The meaning is that during the long years of the exile, the land would enjoy that rest of which it had been defrauded by the neglect of the law concerning the sabbatical years (Leviticus 25:1-7). The following words, "as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath" (literally, all the days of the desolation she rested) are taken from Leviticus 26:34-35.

To fulfil threescore and ten years.--i.e., in order to fulfil the seventy years of exile foretold by Jeremiah. . . .

Verse 21. - The word of the Lord. Note marginal references (Jeremiah 25:9-12; Jeremiah 29:10). The three score and ten years of desolateness may probably best be dated from Nebuchadnezzar's first taking of Jerusalem, B.C. 606-5. Although this date does not tally exactly with the B.C. 538 of Cyrus's conquest of Babylon, yet the discrepancy is easily explained on more than one sufficiently natural supposition (e.g. that Cyrus's reign was not exactly synchronous in the beginning of it with his conquest of Babylon, etc.). Enjoyed her sabbaths (see Leviticus 26:34, 35, 43-46).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So the land
הָאָ֖רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

enjoyed
רָצְתָ֥ה (rā·ṣə·ṯāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7521: To be pleased with, to satisfy a, debt

its Sabbath
שַׁבְּתוֹתֶ֑יהָ (šab·bə·ṯō·w·ṯe·hā)
Noun - common plural construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7676: Intermission, the Sabbath

rest
שָׁבָ֔תָה (šā·ḇā·ṯāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7673: To repose, desist from exertion

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the days
יְמֵ֤י (yə·mê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3117: A day

of the desolation,
הָשַּׁמָּה֙ (hāš·šam·māh)
Verb - Hofal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 8074: To stun, devastate, stupefy

until
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

seventy
שִׁבְעִ֥ים (šiḇ·‘îm)
Number - common plural
Strong's 7657: Seventy (a cardinal number)

years
שָׁנָֽה׃ (šā·nāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8141: A year

were completed,
לְמַלֹּ֖אות (lə·mal·lō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 4390: To fill, be full of

in fulfillment
לְמַלֹּ֤אות (lə·mal·lō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 4390: To fill, be full of

of the word
דְּבַר־ (də·ḇar-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

of the LORD
יְהוָה֙ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

through
בְּפִ֣י (bə·p̄î)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to

Jeremiah.
יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ (yir·mə·yā·hū)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3414: Jeremiah -- 'Yah loosens', the name of a number of Israelites


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OT History: 2 Chronicles 36:21 To fulfill the word of Yahweh (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)
2 Chronicles 36:20
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