Charles Ellicott Commentary Jeremiah 33:4

"For thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are broken down [to make a defence] against the mounds and against the sword;" — Jeremiah 33:4 (ASV)

Concerning the houses of this city ... —The words point to the incident that was the occasion of the prophecy. The houses referred to had either been destroyed by the invaders or, more probably, by the besieged, in order to erect a counter-work against the “mounts” that the Chaldeans had set against it. The “swords” (the word is translated as axes in Ezekiel 26:9) include tools used for breaking down walls.