Jeremiah 38

Jeremiah · Chapter 38

Jeremiah 38:1

1Then Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashur the son of Malchiah, heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken unto all the people, saying,2Thus saith the LORD, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live.3Thus saith the LORD, This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon’s army, which shall take it.4Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death: for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt.5Then Zedekiah the king said, Behold, he is in your hand: for the king is not he that can do any thing against you.6Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.7Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin;8Ebedmelech went forth out of the king’s house, and spake to the king, saying,9My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon; and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is: for there is no more bread in the city.10Then the king commanded Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirty men with thee, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die.11So Ebedmelech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took thence old cast clouts and old rotten rags, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah.12And Ebedmelech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah, Put now these old cast clouts and rotten rags under thine armholes under the cords. And Jeremiah did so.13So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.14Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that is in the house of the LORD: and the king said unto Jeremiah, I will ask thee a thing; hide nothing from me.15Then Jeremiah said unto Zedekiah, If I declare it unto thee, wilt thou not surely put me to death? and if I give thee counsel, wilt thou not hearken unto me?16So Zedekiah the king sware secretly unto Jeremiah, saying, As the LORD liveth, that made us this soul, I will not put thee to death, neither will I give thee into the hand of these men that seek thy life.17Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon’s princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house:18But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon’s princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand.19And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me.20But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the LORD, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live.21But if thou refuse to go forth, this is the word that the LORD hath shewed me:22And, behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah’s house shall be brought forth to the king of Babylon’s princes, and those women shall say, Thy friends have set thee on, and have prevailed against thee: thy feet are sunk in the mire, and they are turned away back.23So they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans: and thou shalt not escape out of their hand, but shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon: and thou shalt cause this city to be burned with fire.24Then said Zedekiah unto Jeremiah, Let no man know of these words, and thou shalt not die.25But if the princes hear that I have talked with thee, and they come unto thee, and say unto thee, Declare unto us now what thou hast said unto the king, hide it not from us, and we will not put thee to death; also what the king said unto thee:26Then thou shalt say unto them, I presented my supplication before the king, that he would not cause me to return to Jonathan’s house, to die there.27Then came all the princes unto Jeremiah, and asked him: and he told them according to all these words that the king had commanded. So they left off speaking with him; for the matter was not perceived.28So Jeremiah abode in the court of the prison until the day that Jerusalem was taken: and he was there when Jerusalem was taken.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
1Then Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashur the son of Malchiah, heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken unto all the people, saying,Now Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jucal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malchijah heard that Jeremiah had been telling all the people:And Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashhur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur the son of Malchijah, heard the words that Jeremiah spake unto all the people, saying,

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
and he heardוַיִּשְׁמַ֞עvai-yish-MA'H8085G
to hear: hear

שָׁמַע (sha.ma) : hear v 1) to hear, listen to, obey 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to hear (perceive by ear) 1a2) to hear of or concerning 1a3) to hear (have power to hear) 1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to 1a5) to understand (language) 1a6) to hear (of judicial cases) 1a7) to listen, give heed 1a7a) to consent, agree 1a7b) to grant request 1a8) to listen to, yield to 1a9) to obey, be obedient 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound) 1b2) to be heard of 1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed 1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound …

Shephatiahשְׁפַטְיָ֣הshe-fat-YAHH8203O
Shephatiah

שְׁפַטְיָהוּ (she.phat.yah) A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at Jer.38.1; son of: Mattan (H4977H) § Shephatiah = "Jehovah has judged" 1) a son of David by Abital; David's 5th son 2) head of a family of exiles returning from Babylon with Zerubbabel 3) another head of a family of exiles returning from Babylon with Zerubbabel 4) a Judaite, son of Mahalaleel and father of Amariah 5) a prince of Judah, son of Mattan and one of the counsellors who advised king Zedekiah of Judah to kill the prophet Jeremiah 6) the Haruphite, one of David's mighty warriors who joined him at Ziklag …

[the] son ofבֶן־ven-H1121A
son: child

בֵּן (ben) : child/son

Mattanמַתָּ֗ןma-TANH4977H
Mattan

מַתָּן (mat.tan) A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at Jer.38.1; father of: Shephatiah (H8203O) § Mattan = "a gift" 1) a priest of Baal in Jerusalem in the time of Athaliah 2) father of Shephatiah in the time of Jeremiah

and Gedaliahוּגְדַלְיָ֙הוּ֙u-ge-dal-YA-huH1436J
Gedaliah

גְּדַלְיָ֫הוּ (ge.dal.yah) A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at Jer.38.1; son of: Pashhur (H6583K) § Gedaliah = "Jehovah is great" 1) a son of Jeduthun in the time of David 2) governor of Judea 3) son of Pashur, one of the chiefs of Jerusalem in the time of Jeremiah

[the] son ofבֶּן־ben-H1121A
son: child

בֵּן (ben) : child/son

Pashhurפַּשְׁח֔וּרpash-CHURH6583K
Pashhur

פַּשְׁחוּר (pash.chur) A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.38.1a; father of: Gedaliah (H1436J) § Pashur = "freedom" 1) a priest, son of Malchiah and one of the chief princes in the reign of king Zedekiah of Judah 2) a priest, son of Immer, chief governor of the temple, and the one who struck and then put the prophet Jeremiah into the stocks in the reign of king Jehoiakim of Judah 3) son of Malchijah, father of Zechariah, and ancestor of Adaiah who did the work of the temple in the time of Nehemiah. Probably same as 1 4) father of Gedaliah; probably the same as 1 …

and Jucalוְיוּכַל֙ve-yu-KHALH3116
Jucal

יוּכַל (yu.khal) A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.37.3; son of: Shelemiah (H8018M); also called Jucal (NIV: Jehukal) at Jer.38.1; Another name of ye.hu.khal (יְהוּכַל "Jehucal" H3081) § Jucal = "Jehovah is able" a son of Shelemiah and a servant of king Zedekiah whom he sent to Jeremiah to entreat his prayers and advice

[the] son ofבֶּן־ben-H1121A
son: child

בֵּן (ben) : child/son

Shelemiahשֶׁ֣לֶמְיָ֔הוּshe-lem-YA-huH8018M
Shelemiah

שֶׁלֶמְיָהוּ (she.lem.yah) A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.37.3; father of: Jehucal (H3081) § Shelemiah = "repaid by Jehovah" 1) a son of Bani who put away his foreign wife in the time of Ezra 2) another son of Bani who put away his foreign wife in the time of Ezra 3) father of Hananiah who repaired part of the wall of Jerusalem in the time of Nehemiah 4) a priest in the time of Nehemiah in charge of the treasury 5) father of Jehucal or Jucal in the time of Zedekiah 6) Levite upon whom the lot for the East Gate fell; in the time of David 6a) also 'Meshelemiah' and 'Shallum' …

and Pashhurוּפַשְׁח֖וּרu-fash-CHURH6583J
Pashhur

פַּשְׁחוּר (pash.chur) A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.21.1; son of: Malchiah (H4441S) § Pashur = "freedom" 1) a priest, son of Malchiah and one of the chief princes in the reign of king Zedekiah of Judah 2) a priest, son of Immer, chief governor of the temple, and the one who struck and then put the prophet Jeremiah into the stocks in the reign of king Jehoiakim of Judah 3) son of Malchijah, father of Zechariah, and ancestor of Adaiah who did the work of the temple in the time of Nehemiah. Probably same as 1 4) father of Gedaliah; probably the same as 1 …

[the] son ofבֶּן־ben-H1121A
son: child

בֵּן (ben) : child/son

Malkijahמַלְכִּיָּ֑הmal-ki-YAHH4441S
Malchiah

מַלְכִּיָּהוּ (mal.kiy.yah) A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.21.1; father of: Pashhur (H6583J) § Malchijah or Malchiah or Melchiah = "my king is Jehovah" 1) the father of Pashur in the time of Jeremiah 2) the son of Hammelech into whose dungeon Jeremiah was cast 3) the head of the 5th course of priests in the time of David 4) one of the priests who was at the reading of the law by Ezra, sealed the covenant with Nehemiah, and was at the dedication of the wall with Nehemiah 5) a Levite ancestor of Asaph and descendant of Levi through Gershon …

the wordsהַדְּבָרִ֔יםha-de-va-RIMH1697G
word

דָּבָר (da.var) : word/speech/command 1) speech, word, speaking, thing 1a) speech 1b) saying, utterance 1c) word, words 1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

whichאֲשֶׁ֧ר'a-SHERH0834A
which

אֲשֶׁר (a.sher) A: 1) (relative part.) 1a) which, who 1b) that which 2) (conj) 2a) that (in obj clause) 2b) when 2c) since 2d) as 2e) conditional if B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which 2) (adv) 2a) where 3) (conj) 3a) in that, inasmuch as 3b) on account of C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which 2) from (the place) where 3) from (the fact) that, since D: Kaph+ 1) (conj.), according as, as, when 1a) according to that which, according as, as 1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since 1c) with a temporal force: when

Jeremiahיִרְמְיָ֛הוּyir-me-YA-huH3414L
Jeremiah

יִרְמְיָ֫הוּ (yir.me.yah) A prophet living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ch.35.25; son of: Hilkiah (H2518M) Also named: Hieremias (Ἱερεμίας "Jeremiah" G2408) § Jeremiah = "whom Jehovah has appointed" 1) the major prophet, son of Hilkiah of the priestly family in Anathoth; author of the prophetic book bearing his name 2) a man of Libnah and father of Hamutal the wife of king Josiah 3) a Gadite who joined David at Ziklag 4) a Manassehite, one of the mighty men of valour of the Transjordanic half tribe of Manasseh 5) a Gadite and warrior of David 6) a warrior of David …

[was] speakingמְדַבֵּ֥רme-da-BERH1696G
to speak: speak

דָבַר (da.var) : speak/tell/command 1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing 1a) (Qal) to speak 1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to speak 1c2) to promise 1d) (Pual) to be spoken 1e) (Hithpael) to speak 1f) (Hiphil) to lead away, put to flight

toאֶל־'el-H0413
to(wards)

אֶל (el) 1) to, toward, unto (of motion) 2) into (limit is actually entered) 2a) in among 3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion) 4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character) 5) in addition to, to 6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of 7) according to (rule or standard) 8) at, by, against (of one's presence) 9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)

allכָּל־kol-H3605
all

כֹּל (kol) 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)

the peopleהָעָ֖םha-'AMH5971A
people

עַם (am) : people/nation 1) nation, people 1a) people, nation 1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men

to sayingלֵאמֹֽר׃ סle-MORH0559
to say

אָמַר (a.mar) 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.