Jeremiah 38

Jeremiah · Chapter 38

Jeremiah 38:6

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
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.So they took Jeremiah and dropped him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king’s son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah with ropes into the cistern, which had no water but only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud.Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchijah the king’s son, that was in the court of the guard: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire; and Jeremiah sank in the mire.

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 they tookוַיִּקְח֣וּvai-yik-CHUH3947G
to take: take

לָקַח (la.qach) : take 1) to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to take, take in the hand 1a2) to take and carry along 1a3) to take from, take out of, take, carry away, take away 1a4) to take to or for a person, procure, get, take possession of, select, choose, take in marriage, receive, accept 1a5) to take up or upon, put upon 1a6) to fetch 1a7) to take, lead, conduct 1a8) to take, capture, seize 1a9) to take, carry off 1a10) to take (vengeance) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be captured 1b2) to be taken away, be removed …

Jeremiahיִרְמְיָ֗הוּyir-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 …

and they threwוַיַּשְׁלִ֨כוּvai-yash-LI-khuH7993
to throw

שָׁלַךְ (sha.lakh) 1) to throw, cast, hurl, fling 1a) (Hiphil) 1a1) to throw, cast, throw away, cast off, shed, cast down 1a2) to cast (lots) (fig) 1b) (Hophal) 1b1) to be thrown, be cast 1b2) to be cast forth or out 1b3) to be cast down 1b4) to be cast (metaph)

intoאֶל־'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)

the cistern ofהַבּ֣וֹר׀ha-BORH0953A
pit

בּוֹר (bor) pit, well, cistern, dungeon, pit of the grave

Malkijahמַלְכִּיָּ֣הוּmal-ki-YA-huH4441S
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] son ofבֶן־ven-H1121A
son: child

בֵּן (ben) : child/son

the kingהַמֶּ֗לֶךְha-ME-lekhH4428H
`the king`

הַמֶּלֶךְ (me.lekh) 'the king' or a name, Hammelech in KJV of Jer.36.26; 38.6- a man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26; father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king"; § A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at Jer.36.26; father of: Jerahmeel (H3396I) and Malchijah (H4441H); also translated "the king";

whichאֲשֶׁר֙'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

[was] in [the] courtyard ofבַּחֲצַ֣רba-cha-TZARH2691A
court

חָצֵר (cha.tser) 1) court, enclosure 1a) enclosures 1b) court

the guardהַמַּטָּרָ֔הha-ma-ta-RAHH4307H
guardhouse

מַטָּרָה (mat.ta.rah) 1) guard, ward, prison, mark, target 1a) guard, ward, prison 1b) target, mark (fig. of chastisement)

and they let downוַיְשַׁלְּח֥וּvay-sha-le-CHUH7971G
to send: depart

שָׁלַח (sha.lach) : depart/send 1) to send, send away, let go, stretch out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to send 1a2) to stretch out, extend, direct 1a3) to send away 1a4) to let loose 1b) (Niphal) to be sent 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to send off or away or out or forth, dismiss, give over, cast out 1c2) to let go, set free 1c3) to shoot forth (of branches) 1c4) to let down 1c5) to shoot 1d) (Pual) to be sent off, be put away, be divorced, be impelled 1e) (Hiphil) to send

Jeremiahיִרְמְיָ֖הוּyir-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 …

with ropesבַּחֲבָלִ֑יםba-cha-va-LIMH2256M
cord

חֶ֫בֶל (che.vel) 1) a cord, rope, territory, band, company 1a) a rope, cord 1b) a measuring-cord or line 1c) a measured portion, lot, part, region 1d) a band or company § destruction

and in the cisternוּבַבּ֤וֹרu-va-BORH0953A
pit

בּוֹר (bor) pit, well, cistern, dungeon, pit of the grave

there notאֵֽין־'ein-H0369
nothing

אַ֫יִן (a.yin) 1) nothing, not, nought n 1a) nothing, nought neg 1b) not 1c) to have not (of possession) adv 1d) without w/prep 1e) for lack of

[was] waterמַ֙יִם֙ma-yimH4325G
water

מַי (ma.yim) 1) water, waters 1a) water 1b) water of the feet, urine 1c) of danger, violence, transitory things, refreshment (fig.)

thatכִּ֣יkiH3588B
that if: except

כִּי [אם] (ki im) 1) except if 1a) but if 1b) even though

exceptאִם־'im-H0518B
if: except

[כִּי] אם (ki im) 1) except if 1a) but if

mudטִ֔יטTitH2916
mud

טִיט (tit) 1) mud, clay, mire, damp dirt 1a) mud, mire 1b) clay (poetical) Aramaic equivalent: tin (טִין "common" H2917)

and he sankוַיִּטְבַּ֥עvai-yit-BA'H2883
to sink

טָבַע (ta.va) 1) to sink, sink into, sink down, pierce, settle down, drown, be settled, be planted 1a) (Qal) to sink, sink down 1b)(Pual) to be sunk 1c) (Hophal) to cause to sink

Jeremiahיִרְמְיָ֖הוּyir-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 …

in the mudבַּטִּֽיט׃ סba-TITH2916
mud

טִיט (tit) 1) mud, clay, mire, damp dirt 1a) mud, mire 1b) clay (poetical) Aramaic equivalent: tin (טִין "common" H2917)

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