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Tuesday, August 26th, 2025
the Week of Proper 16 / Ordinary 21
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New Life Version

Jeremiah 39:3

Then all the captains of the king of Babylon came in and sat down at the Middle Gate: Nergal-sar-ezer, Samgar-nebu, Sarsekim, the Rab-saris, Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag, and all the rest of the captains of the king of Babylon.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Gates;   Jerusalem;   Nergal-Sharezer;   Rab-Mag;   Rabsaris;   Samgar-Nebo;   Sarsechim;   Zedekiah;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Gates;   Jerusalem;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Nergal;   Rab-Mag;   Rab-Saris;   Zedekiah;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Babylon;   Jeremiah;   Zedekiah;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Evil-Merodach;   Kings, the Books of;   Nergal-Sharezer;   Rabmag;   Rabsaris;   Samgar-Nebo;   Zedekiah;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Babel;   Jerusalem;   Kings, the Books of;   Magi;   Nergal;   Nergal-Sharezer;   Rabmag;   Rabsaris;   Samgar Nebo;   Sarsechim;   Zedekiah;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Chamberlain;   Exile;   Jeremiah;   Middle Gate;   Nergal;   Nergal-Sharezer;   Rab-Mag;   Rabsaris;   Samgar-Nebo;   Sarsechim;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Greek Versions of Ot;   Jeremiah;   Magi;   Nergal-Sharezer;   Rab-Mag;   Rab-Saris;   Samgar-Nebo;   Sarsechim;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Magi ;   Sorcery;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Babylon ;   Belshazzar ;   Nergalsharezer ;   Rabmag ;   Rabsaris ;   Samgarnebo ;   Sarsechim ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Nebuzaradan;   Nergalsharezer;   Rabmag;   Rabsaris;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Magi;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Ner'gal-Share'zer;   Rab-Mag,;   Rab'saris;   Sam'gar-Ne'bo;   Sarse'chim;   Zedeki'ah;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Zedekiah;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom of Judah;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Army;   Gate;   Magi, the;   Nergal-Sharezer;   Rab-Mag;   Rab-Saris;   Samgar-Nebo;   Sarsechim;   Sharezer;   Zedekiah (2);   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Jerusalem;   Potiphar;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
All the officials of the king of Babylon entered and sat at the Middle Gate: Nergal-sharezer, Samgar, Nebusarsechim the chief of staff, Nergal-sharezer the chief soothsayer, and all the rest of the officials of Babylon’s king.
Hebrew Names Version
that all the princes of the king of Bavel came in, and sat in the middle gate, [to wit], Nergal-Sar'etzer, Samgar-Nevo, Sarsekhim, Rav-Saris, Nergal-Sar'etzer, Rav-Mag, with all the rest of the princes of the king of Bavel.
King James Version
And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, even Nergalsharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, with all the residue of the princes of the king of Babylon.
English Standard Version
Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came and sat in the middle gate: Nergal-sar-ezer of Samgar, Nebu-sar-sekim the Rab-saris, Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag, with all the rest of the officers of the king of Babylon.
New American Standard Bible
Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came in and sat down at the Middle Gate: Nergal-sar-ezer, Samgar-nebu, Sar-sekim the Rab-saris, Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag, and all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon.
New Century Version
And all these officers of the king of Babylon came into Jerusalem and sat down at the Middle Gate: Nergal-Sharezer of the district of Samgar; Nebo-Sarsekim, a chief officer; Nergal-Sharezer, an important leader; and all the other important officers.
Amplified Bible
Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came in and sat in the Middle Gate [establishing both military control of the city and their authority to judge the captives]: Nergal-sar-ezer, Samgar-nebu, Sar-sekim the Rab-saris (chief of the eunuchs), and Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag (chief of the magicians), with all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon.
World English Bible
that all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, [to wit], Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim, Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer, Rab-mag, with all the rest of the princes of the king of Babylon.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And all the princes of the King of Babel came in, and sate in the middle gate, euen Neregal, Sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim, Rab-saris, Neregal, Sharezer, Rab-mag with all the residue of the princes of the King of Babel.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came in and sat down at the Middle Gate: Nergal-sar-ezer, Samgar-nebu, Sar-sekim the Rab-saris, Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag, and all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon.
Berean Standard Bible
Then all the officials of the king of Babylon entered and sat in the Middle Gate: Nergal-sharezer, Samgar, Nebusarsechim the Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer the Rab-mag, and all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon.
Complete Jewish Bible
All the officers of the king of Bavel entered and sat at the Middle Gate — Nergal-Sar'etzer, Samgar-N'vo, Sars'khim the Rav-Saris, Nergal-Sar'etzer the Rav-Mag and all the other officers of the king of Bavel.
Darby Translation
and all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate: Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebu, Sarsechim, chief chamberlain, Nergal-sharezer, chief magian, and all the rest of the princes of the king of Babylon.
Easy-to-Read Version
Then all the royal officials of the king of Babylon came into the city of Jerusalem. They came in and sat down at the Middle Gate. These are the names of the officials: Nergal-Sharezer, the governor of the district of Samgar, a very high official; Nebo Sarsekim, another very high official; and various other important officials were there also.
George Lamsa Translation
And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in and sat in the middle gate, even Nergal-sharezar, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim chief of eunuchs, Nergal-sharezar, Rab-mag, with all of the princes of the king of Babylon.
Good News Translation
(When Jerusalem was captured, all the high officials of the king of Babylonia came and took their places at the Middle Gate, including Nergal Sharezer, Samgar Nebo, Sarsechim, and another Nergal Sharezer.)
Lexham English Bible
And all the officials of the king of Babylon came and sat in the Middle Gate: Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim the chief officer, Nergal-sharezer the high official, with all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon.
Literal Translation
And all the rulers of the king of Babylon came in and sat in the middle gate: Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim, chief of the eunuchs, Nergal-sharezer, chief magician, and all the rest of the rulers of the king of Babylon.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then all the kynge of Babilons prynces came in, & sat the downe vnder the porte: Nergall, Sarezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergal, Sarezer, Rabmag, with all the other prynces of the kynge of Babilon.
American Standard Version
that all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, to wit, Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim, Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer, Rab-mag, with all the rest of the princes of the king of Babylon.
Bible in Basic English
All the captains of the king of Babylon came in and took their places in the middle doorway of the town, Nergal-shar-ezer, ruler of Sin-magir, the Rabmag, and Nebushazban, the Rab-saris, and all the captains of the king of Babylon.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
that all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, even Nergal-sarezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim Rab-saris, Nergal-sarezer Rab-mag, with all the residue of the princes of the king of Babylon.
King James Version (1611)
And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sate in the middle gate, euen Nergal-Sharezer, Samgar-Nebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergal-Sharezer, Rabmag, with all the residue of the princes of the king of Babylon.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Then all the princes of the kyng of Babylon came in and sate them downe vnder the port: Neregel, Sarezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsachim, Rabsaris, Neregel, Sarezer, Rabmag, with all the other princes of the king of Babylo.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
in which king Sedekias had shut him up, saying, Wherefore dost thou prophesy, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will give this city into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it;
English Revised Version
that all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, even Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim, Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer, Rab-mag, with all the rest of the princes of the king of Babylon.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and alle the princes of the kyng of Babiloyne entriden, and saten in the myddil yate, Veregel, Fererer, Semegar, Nabusarrachym, Rapsaces, Neregel, Sereser, Rebynag, and alle othere princes of the kyng of Babiloyne.
Update Bible Version
And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, [to wit], Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sar-sechim the Rabsaris, Nergal-sharezer the Rabmag, with all the rest of the princes of the king of Babylon.
Webster's Bible Translation
And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, [even] Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim, Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer, Rab-mag, with all the residue of the princes of the king of Babylon.
New English Translation
Then Nergal-Sharezer of Samgar, Nebo-Sarsekim, who was a chief officer, Nergal-Sharezer, who was a high official, and all the other officers of the king of Babylon came and set up quarters in the Middle Gate.
New King James Version
Then all the princes of the king of Babylon came in and sat in the Middle Gate: Nergal-Sharezer, Samgar-Nebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Jeremiah 39:13">[fn] Nergal-Sarezer, Rabmag, Jeremiah 39:13">[fn] with the rest of the princes of the king of Babylon.
New Living Translation
All the officers of the Babylonian army came in and sat in triumph at the Middle Gate: Nergal-sharezer of Samgar, and Nebo-sarsekim, a chief officer, and Nergal-sharezer, the king's adviser, and all the other officers of the king of Babylon.
New Revised Standard
When Jerusalem was taken, all the officials of the king of Babylon came and sat in the middle gate: Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim the Rabsaris, Nergal-sharezer the Rabmag, with all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then came in all the princes of the king of Babylon, and sat in the middle gate, - Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim, chief eunuch Nergal-sharezer, chief soothsayer, and all the residue of the princes of the king of Babylon.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate: Neregel, Sereser, Semegarnabu, Sarsachim, Rabsares, Neregel, Serezer, Rebmag, and all the rest of the princes of the king of Babylon.
Revised Standard Version
When Jerusalem was taken, all the princes of the king of Babylon came and sat in the middle gate: Ner'gal-share'zer, Sam'gar-ne'bo, Sar'sechim the Rab'saris, Ner'gal-share'zer the Rabmag, with all the rest of the officers of the king of Babylon.
Young's Literal Translation
and come in do all the heads of the king of Babylon, and they sit at the middle gate, Nergal-Sharezer, Samgar-Nebo, Sarsechim, chief of the eunuchs, Nergal-Sharezer, chief of the Mages, and all the rest of the heads of the king of Babylon.
THE MESSAGE
All the officers of the king of Babylon came and set themselves up as a ruling council from the Middle Gate: Nergal-sharezer of Simmagar, Nebushazban the Rabsaris, Nergal-sharezer the Rabmag, along with all the other officials of the king of Babylon.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came in and sat down at the Middle Gate: Nergal-sar-ezer, Samgar-nebu, Sar-sekim the Rab-saris, Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag, and all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon.

Contextual Overview

1 In the tenth month of the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came and gathered around Jerusalem. 2 And on the ninth day of the fourth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the city wall was broken open. 3 Then all the captains of the king of Babylon came in and sat down at the Middle Gate: Nergal-sar-ezer, Samgar-nebu, Sarsekim, the Rab-saris, Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag, and all the rest of the captains of the king of Babylon. 4 When King Zedekiah of Judah and all his men of war saw them, they ran out of the city at night by way of the king's garden through the gate between the two walls. They went out toward the Jordan Valley. 5 But the Babylonian army went after them and came to Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They took hold of him and brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath. And Nebuchadnezzar decided how he should be punished. 6 The king of Babylon killed Zedekiah's sons in front of his eyes at Riblah. He killed all the leaders of Judah also. 7 Then he put out Zedekiah's eyes and put him in chains of brass to take him to Babylon. 8 The Babylonians burned the king's house and the houses of the people with fire. And they broke down the walls of Jerusalem. 9 Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the soldiers, carried the rest of the people who were left in the city away to Babylon, those who went over with him, and the people who stayed. 10 But Nebuzaradan, the captain of the prison soldiers, left behind in the land of Judah some of the poorest people who had nothing. He gave them grape-fields and fields at the same time.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

all the: Jeremiah 1:15, Jeremiah 21:4, Jeremiah 38:17

Nergalsharezer: Jeremiah 39:13, 2 Kings 17:30

Sarsechim: These were the principal commanders; but Dr. Blayney thinks that, instead of six persons, we have in reality but three, as the name that follows each is the title of the office. Thus Nergal-Sharezer, who was Samgar-nebo, or keeper, i.e., priest of Nebo; Sarsechim, who was Rab-saris, or chief eunuch; and Nergal-sharezer, who was Rab-mag, or chief magi; as the words mog in Persian, magoos in Arabic, magooshai in Syriac, and לבדןע [Strong's G3097], in Greek, signify; and we learn from Justin and Curtius that the magi attended the king in war.

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 25:4 - the city Jeremiah 12:10 - pastors Jeremiah 38:18 - then Daniel 2:49 - sat

Cross-References

Genesis 21:22
At that time, Abimelech with Phicol, the head of his army, said to Abraham, "God is with you in all that you do.
Genesis 26:24
The Lord showed Himself to Isaac that same night, and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will bring good to you, and add many to the number of your children and their children's children, because of My servant Abraham."
Genesis 26:28
They said, "It is easy for us to see that the Lord is with you. So we said, ‘Let there now be a promise between us, between you and us. Let us make an agreement with you,
Genesis 30:27
But Laban said to him, "If now it pleases you, stay with me. I have learned that the Lord has brought good to me because of you."
Genesis 30:30
For you had little before I came. But now it has become very much. The Lord has brought good to you everywhere I turned. But when will I be able to give much to those of my own house also?"
Genesis 39:7
The time came when his boss's wife saw him, and she said, "Lie with me."
Genesis 39:8
But he would not do it. He said to his boss's wife, "See, with me near, my boss does not worry about anything in the house. He has put all he owns in my care.
Genesis 39:15
When he heard my loud cry, he left his coat with me and ran outside."
Genesis 39:16
She kept his coat with her until his boss came home.
Genesis 39:23
The head of the prison did not worry about anything under Joseph's care, because the Lord was with him. The Lord made all go well with whatever Joseph did.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in,.... Into the city: a breach being made in the walls to take possession of it:

and sat in the middle gate; according to Jarchi, this was a gate of the temple; the gate Nicanor, the eastern gate, which was between the gate of the court of the women and the gate of the temple; who observes, that their Rabbins say, the middle gate was the gate in which the wise men made their decrees and constitutions: so that, in "the place of judgment, wickedness was there"; as in Ecclesiastes 3:16; and Josephus g says, that the city was taken in the middle of the night, when the enemies' generals went into the temple; but rather, according to Kimchi, it was one of the gates of the city of Jerusalem; according to Abarbinel, Jerusalem had three walls, and this was the gate of the middle wall; but others take it to be the gate in the middle wall, between the upper and lower city; perhaps it is the same called the second gate, Zephaniah 1:10; and might be the chief and principal gate where these princes placed their seats in triumph as victors, and so fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah, Jeremiah 1:15; though they might have another reason for it, their own safety; here they sat till the city was well searched and cleared, lest there should be any ambush laid for them, and cut them off as they entered. The names of some of them were as follow:

[even] Nergalsharezer: according to Kimchi, these are two names of two distinct persons; but generally thought to be one name of the same person; so Josephus, who calls him Nergelearus. The first part of the name "Nergal" was the name of an idol with the Cushites, 2 Kings 17:30; and it was usual with the Heathens to give the names of their idols to their kings, princes, and great men. The other part, "Sharezer", is a name of one of Sennacherib's sons; and seems to be an Assyrian name,

Isaiah 37:38. The next is called

Samgarnebo; though, according to Hillerus h, this is a surname of the former, to distinguish him from another Nergalsharezer after mentioned, taken from his office: this name signifying the "strict keeper of Nebo", the temple of the idol Nebo; see Isaiah 46:1. The next is

Sarsechim Rabsaris; for these are not two names of different persons, but of the same person. The first is his proper name, which signifies the "prince of the Scythians"; the other his name of office, and signifies the "chief eunuch", or the "chief of the eunuchs". The last name is

Nergalsharezer Rabmag; these names belong to the same person, who is called from his office "Rabmag", the "chief magician", or the "chief of the magicians", to distinguish him from the other Nergalsharezer before mentioned: these,

with all the residue of the princes of the king of Babylon, entered the city and took it.

g Antiqu. l. 10. c. 8. sect. 2. h Onomastic. Sacr. p. 608.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

These princes were four:

(1) Nergal, Sharezer, i. e., Nirgal-sar-usur (May Nergal protect the king);

(2) Samgar-Nebo (Be gracious, O Nebo);

(3) Sarsechim. No explanation is given at present of this name. He was Rab-saris, i. e., chief of the eunuchs (2 Kings 18:17 note).

(4) another Nergal-sharezer, who was Rab-mag, i. e., chief of the Magians. He is known in history as Neriglissar, the son-in-law of Nebuchadnezzar, and probably his vicegerent during his seven years of madness. Two years after his death Neriglissar murdered Evil-Merodach, Nebuchadnezzars son, and seized the crown, but after a reign of four years was slain in battle against Cyrus, when disputing with him the crown of Media. See Daniel 5:1 note.

The middle gate - Probably that which separated the city of Zion from the lower town.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Jeremiah 39:3. Sat in the middle gate — The city of Jerusalem stood upon two hills, Sion to the south, and Acra to the north, with a deep valley between them. The gate of the centre, as the term seems plainly to import, was a gate of communication in the middle of the valley, between the two parts of the city, sometimes called the higher and the lower city. The Chaldeans entered the city on the north side by a breach in the walls, and rushing forward and posting themselves in this gate, in the very heart or centre of the city, became thereby masters at will of the whole. Zedekiah with his troop, perceiving this, fled out of the opposite gate on the south side. See Blayney. This is likely; but we know nothing positively on this subject.

Nergal-sharezer — These were the principal commanders; but Dr. Blayney thinks that instead of six persons, we have in reality but three, as the name that follows each is a title of office. Thus, Nergal-sharezer, who was Samgar; Nebusarsechim, who was Rab-saris; and Nergal-sharezer, who was Rab-mag. As Nergal-sharezer occurs twice here, and we know that Nebuzaradan was general-in-chief, the first Nergal-sharezer is probably a mistake for Nebuzar-adan, or some other of the commanders. But these things are as uncertain as they are unimportant.


 
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