Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, August 12th, 2025
the Week of Proper 14 / Ordinary 19
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Read the Bible

New King James Version

2 Kings 25:18

And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the second priest, and the three doorkeepers.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Doorkeepers;   Nebuzaradan (Nebuzar-Adan);   Priest;   Prophecy;   Seraiah;   Zephaniah;   Thompson Chain Reference - Door-Keepers;   Zephaniah;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Babylon;   High Priest, the;   Jerusalem;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Captivity;   Jeremiah, the Book of;   Seraiah;   Zedekiah;   Zephaniah;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Babylon;   Egypt;   Exile;   Gedaliah;   Jeremiah;   Lamentations;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Worship;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Bramble;   Ezra;   Judah, Kingdom of;   Nebuzaradan;   Seraiah;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Azariah;   Captain;   High Priest;   Jehoiada;   Jehozadak;   Kings, the Books of;   Nebuzaradan;   Seraiah;   Zadok;   Zechariah;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Babylon, History and Religion of;   Exile;   Guard;   High Priest;   People of the Land;   Seraiah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Israel;   Lamentations, Book of;   Nebuzaradan;   Seraiah;   Zephaniah;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Babylon ;   Nebuzaradan ;   Seraiah ;   Zephaniah ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Captivity;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Jeho-I'ada;   Jehoz'adak;   Nebuzar-A'dan;   Sera'iah;   Zephani'ah;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Thistle;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Doorkeeper;   Ezekiel;   Ezra;   Joshua (3);   Order;   Priest, High;   Priests and Levites;   Seraiah;   Zephaniah;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Ezra the Scribe;   High Priest;   Sanhedrin;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
The captain of the guards also took away Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest of the second rank, and the three doorkeepers.
Hebrew Names Version
The captain of the guard took Serayah the chief Kohen, and Tzefanyah the second Kohen, and the three keepers of the threshold:
King James Version
And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door:
English Standard Version
And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest and Zephaniah the second priest and the three keepers of the threshold;
New Century Version
The commander of the guards took some prisoners—Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest next in rank, and the three doorkeepers.
New English Translation
The captain of the royal guard took Seraiah the chief priest and Zephaniah, the priest who was second in rank, and the three doorkeepers.
Amplified Bible
The captain of the bodyguard took [captive] Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the second priest, and the three doorkeepers [of the temple].
New American Standard Bible
Then the captain of the bodyguards took Seraiah the chief priest and Zephaniah the second priest, with the three doorkeepers.
World English Bible
The captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the threshold:
Geneva Bible (1587)
And the chiefe steward tooke Seraiah the chiefe Priest, and Zephaniah the second Priest, and the three keepers of the doore.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest and Zephaniah the second priest, with the three doorkeepers of the temple.
Berean Standard Bible
The captain of the guard also took away Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest of the second rank, and the three doorkeepers.
Contemporary English Version
Next, Nebuzaradan arrested Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah his assistant, and three temple officials.
Complete Jewish Bible
The commander of the guard took [prisoner] S'rayah the chief cohen, Z'kharyah the second-ranking cohen and three doorkeepers.
Darby Translation
And the captain of the body-guard took Seraiah the high priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three doorkeepers.
Easy-to-Read Version
From the Temple, Nebuzaradan took Seraiah the high priest, Zephaniah the second priest, and the three men who guarded the entrance.
George Lamsa Translation
And the commander of the guard took Sheriah the chief priest and Zephaniah the second priest and the three keepers of the door;
Good News Translation
In addition, Nebuzaradan, the commanding officer, took away as prisoners Seraiah the High Priest, Zephaniah the priest next in rank, and the three other important Temple officials.
Lexham English Bible
Then the commander of the imperial guard took Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the second priest, and three of the threshold keepers.
Literal Translation
And the chief of the executioners took Seraiah the head priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the gate;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And the chefe captayne toke Seraia the prest of the first course, & Sophony the prest of the seconde course, and thre dorekepers,
American Standard Version
And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the threshold:
Bible in Basic English
And the captain of the armed men took Seraiah, the chief priest, and Zephaniah, the second priest, and the three door-keepers;
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the chiefe captayne of the men of warre toke Saraia the chiefe priest, and Zephoniah the highest priest saue one, and the three kepers of the holy things:
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door;
King James Version (1611)
And the captaine of the guard, tooke Seraiah the chiefe Priest, and Zephaniah the second Priest, and the three keepers of the doore.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the captain of the guard took Saraias the high-priest, and Sophonias the second in order, and the three doorkeepers.
English Revised Version
And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door:
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Also the prince of the chyualrie took Saraie, the firste preest, and Sophony, the secunde prest,
Update Bible Version
And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the threshold:
Webster's Bible Translation
And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door:
New Living Translation
Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, took with him as prisoners Seraiah the high priest, Zephaniah the priest of the second rank, and the three chief gatekeepers.
New Life Bible
Then the captain of the soldiers took Seraiah the head religious leader, and Zephaniah the religious leader next in power. And he took the three men who were keepers of the door.
New Revised Standard
The captain of the guard took the chief priest Seraiah, the second priest Zephaniah, and the three guardians of the threshold;
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And the chief of the royal executioners took Seraiah the head priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, - and the three keepers of the entrance hall;
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the general of the army took Seraias, the chief priest, and Sophonias, the second priest, and three doorkeepers:
Revised Standard Version
And the captain of the guard took Serai'ah the chief priest, and Zephani'ah the second priest, and the three keepers of the threshold;
Young's Literal Translation
And the chief of the executioners taketh Seraiah the head priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the threshold,
THE MESSAGE
The king's deputy took a number of special prisoners: Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the associate priest, three wardens, the chief remaining army officer, five of the king's counselors, the accountant, the chief recruiting officer for the army, and sixty men of standing from among the people. Nebuzaradan the king's deputy marched them all off to the king of Babylon at Riblah. And there at Riblah, in the land of Hamath, the king of Babylon killed the lot of them in cold blood. Judah went into exile, orphaned from her land.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest and Zephaniah the second priest, with the three officers of the temple.

Contextual Overview

8 And in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month (which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon), Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. 9 He burned the house of the LORD and the king's house; all the houses of Jerusalem, that is, all the houses of the great, he burned with fire. 10 And all the army of the Chaldeans who were with the captain of the guard broke down the walls of Jerusalem all around. 11 Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive the rest of the people who remained in the city and the defectors who had deserted to the king of Babylon, with the rest of the multitude. 12 But the captain of the guard left some of the poor of the land as vinedressers and farmers. 13 The bronze pillars that were in the house of the LORD, and the carts and the bronze Sea that were in the house of the LORD, the Chaldeans broke in pieces, and carried their bronze to Babylon. 14 They also took away the pots, the shovels, the trimmers, the spoons, and all the bronze utensils with which the priests ministered. 15 The firepans and the basins, the things of solid gold and solid silver, the captain of the guard took away. 16 The two pillars, one Sea, and the carts, which Solomon had made for the house of the LORD, the bronze of all these articles was beyond measure. 17 The height of one pillar was eighteen cubits, and the capital on it was of bronze. The height of the capital was three cubits, and the network and pomegranates all around the capital were all of bronze. The second pillar was the same, with a network.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

captain: 2 Kings 25:24, 2 Kings 25:25, 2 Kings 25:26

Seraiah: 1 Chronicles 6:14, Ezra 7:1, Jeremiah 52:24

Zephaniah: Jeremiah 21:1, Jeremiah 29:25, Jeremiah 29:29

the second priest: Called by the Jews, sagan, who officiated for the high priest in case of any temporary incapacity.

door: Heb. threshold

Reciprocal: Numbers 3:32 - General 2 Kings 12:9 - the priests 1 Chronicles 6:15 - when the Lord 1 Chronicles 9:11 - the ruler 1 Chronicles 12:27 - the leader 1 Chronicles 15:23 - General Nehemiah 9:32 - on our kings Isaiah 22:3 - thy rulers Jeremiah 20:1 - chief Jeremiah 21:7 - I will Jeremiah 32:2 - then Jeremiah 34:21 - Zedekiah Jeremiah 35:4 - the keeper Jeremiah 52:10 - he slew Lamentations 4:16 - they respected Ezekiel 11:7 - but

Cross-References

Genesis 2:11
The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one which skirts the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold.
Genesis 10:7
The sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabtechah; and the sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan.
Genesis 10:29
Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.
Genesis 13:10
And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar.
Genesis 14:10
Now the Valley of Siddim was full of asphalt pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled; some fell there, and the remainder fled to the mountains.
Genesis 16:12
He shall be a wild man; His hand shall be against every man, And every man's hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren."
Genesis 20:1
And Abraham journeyed from there to the South, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, and stayed in Gerar.
Genesis 21:14
So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba.
Genesis 21:21
He dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran; and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
Genesis 25:23
And the LORD said to her: "Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Ver. 18-21. And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest,.... The sagan, or deputy priest, who officiated for the high priest, when by any means he was rendered unfit and incapable; so Joseph, the son of Ellem, as Josephus x relates, officiated for Matthias, when defiled with a nocturnal pollution; and seven days before the day of atonement they always substituted one under the high priest, lest anything of this kind should happen to him y. From hence, to the end of 2 Kings 25:21 the account is the same as in Jeremiah 52:25, only here in 2 Kings 25:19 it is said, that five men that were in the king's presence were taken, there seven men; to account for which, 2 Kings 25:19- :.

x Antiqu. l. 17. c. 6. sect. 4. y Misn. Yoma, c. 1. sect. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

It devolved on Nebuzaradan to select for exemplary punishment the persons whom he regarded as most guilty, either in respect of the original rebellion or of the protracted resistance. Instead of taking indiscriminately the first comers, he first selected those who by their offices would be likely to have had most authority - the high priest; the second priest (2 Kings 23:4 note); three of the temple Levites; the commandant of the city; five members of the king’s Privy Council (or seven, see 2 Kings 25:19 note); and the secretary (or adjutant) of the captain of the host. To these he added sixty others, who were accounted “princes.” Compared with the many occasions on which Assyrian and Persian conquerers put to death hundreds or thousands after taking a revolted town, Nebuzaradan (and Nebuchadnezzar) must be regarded as moderate, or even merciful, in their vengeance. Compare Jeremiah 40:2-5.

The three keepers of the door - Rather, “three keepers.” The Hebrew has no article. The temple “door-keepers” in the time of Solomon numbered twenty-four 1 Chronicles 26:17-18, who were probably under six chiefs. After the captivity the chiefs are either six Ezra 2:42; Nehemiah 7:45 or four 1 Chronicles 9:17.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Kings 25:18. Seraiah the chief priest - Zephaniah — The person who is here called the second priest was what the Jews call sagan, a sort of deputy, who performed the functions of the high priest when he was prevented by any infirmity from attending the temple service. See on 2 Kings 23:4.


 
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