Jeremiah · American Standard Version (1901)
Jeremiah 38 American Standard Version (1901)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 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,
1 Shephatiah the son of Mattan, Gedaliah the son of Pashhur, Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur the son of Malchijah heard the words that Jeremiah spoke to all the people, saying,
2 Thus saith Jehovah, He that abideth 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, and his life shall be unto him for a prey, and he shall live.
2 “Yahweh says, ‘He who remains in this city will die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, but he who goes out to the Chaldeans will live. He will escape with his life and he will live.’
3 Thus saith Jehovah, This city shall surely be given into the hand of the army of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it.
3 Yahweh says, ‘This city will surely be given into the hand of the army of the king of Babylon, and he will take it.’”
4 Then the princes said unto the king, Let this man, we pray thee, be put to death; forasmuch as 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.
4 Then the princes said to the king, “Please let this man be put to death, because he weakens the hands of the men of war who remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words to them; for this man doesn’t seek the welfare of this people, but harm.”
5 And Zedekiah the king said, Behold, he is in your hand; for the king is not he that can do anything against you.
5 Zedekiah the king said, “Behold, he is in your hand; for the king can’t do anything to oppose you.”
6 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.
6 Then they took Jeremiah and threw him into the dungeon of Malchijah the king’s son, that was in the court of the guard. They let down Jeremiah with cords. In the dungeon there was no water, but mire; and Jeremiah sank in the mire.
7 Now when Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, a eunuch, who was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon (the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin),
7 Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, a eunuch, who was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon (the king was then sitting in Benjamin’s gate),
8 Ebed-melech went forth out of the king’s house, and spake to the king, saying,
8 Ebedmelech went out of the king’s house, and spoke to the king, saying,
9 My 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 in the place where he is, because of the famine; for there is no more bread in the city.
9 “My 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. He is likely to die in the place where he is, because of the famine; for there is no more bread in the city.”
10 Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirty men with thee, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die.
10 Then the king commanded Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, “Take from here thirty men with you, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he dies.”
11 So Ebed-melech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took thence rags and worn-out garments, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah.
11 So Ebedmelech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took from there rags and worn-out garments, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah.
12 And Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah, Put now these rags and worn-out garments under thine armholes under the cords. And Jeremiah did so.
12 Ebedmelech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah, “Now put these rags and worn-out garments under your armpits under the cords.” Jeremiah did so.
13 So they drew up Jeremiah with the cords, and took him up out of the dungeon: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.
13 So they lifted Jeremiah up with the cords, and took him up out of the dungeon; and Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.
14 Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that is in the house of Jehovah: and the king said unto Jeremiah, I will ask thee a thing; hide nothing from me.
14 Then Zedekiah the king sent and took Jeremiah the prophet to himself into the third entry that is in Yahweh’s house. Then the king said to Jeremiah, “I will ask you something. Hide nothing from me.”
15 Then Jeremiah said unto Zedekiah, If I declare it unto thee, wilt thou not surely put me to death? and if I give thee counsel, thou wilt not hearken unto me.
15 Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “If I declare it to you, will you not surely put me to death? If I give you counsel, you will not listen to me.”
16 So Zedekiah the king sware secretly unto Jeremiah, saying, As Jehovah 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.
16 So Zedekiah the king swore secretly to Jeremiah, saying, “As Yahweh lives, who made our souls, I will not put you to death, neither will I give you into the hand of these men who seek your life.”
17 Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: If thou wilt 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 thy house.
17 Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “Yahweh, the God of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you will go out to the king of Babylon’s princes, then your soul will live, and this city will not be burned with fire. You will live, along with your house.
18 But 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.
18 But if you will not go out to the king of Babylon’s princes, then this city will be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they will burn it with fire, and you won’t escape out of their hand.’”
19 And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen away to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me.
19 Zedekiah the king said to Jeremiah, “I am afraid of the Jews who have defected to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me.”
20 But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of Jehovah, in that which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well with thee, and thy soul shall live.
20 But Jeremiah said, “They won’t deliver you. Obey, I beg you, Yahweh’s voice, in that which I speak to you; so it will be well with you, and your soul will live.
21 But if thou refuse to go forth, this is the word that Jehovah hath showed me:
21 But if you refuse to go out, this is the word that Yahweh has shown me:
22 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 familiar friends have set thee on, and have prevailed over thee: [now that] thy feet are sunk in the mire, they are turned away back.
22 ‘Behold, all the women who are left in the king of Judah’s house will be brought out to the king of Babylon’s princes, and those women will say, “Your familiar friends have turned on you, and have prevailed over you. Your feet are sunk in the mire, they have turned away from you.”
23 And 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.
23 They will bring out all your wives and your children to the Chaldeans. You won’t escape out of their hand, but will be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon. You will cause this city to be burned with fire.’”
24 Then said Zedekiah unto Jeremiah, Let no man know of these words, and thou shalt not die.
24 Then Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “Let no man know of these words, and you won’t die.
25 But 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:
25 But if the princes hear that I have talked with you, and they come to you, and tell you, ‘Declare to us now what you have said to the king; don’t hide it from us, and we will not put you to death; also tell us what the king said to you;’
26 then 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.
26 then you shall tell them, ‘I presented my supplication before the king, that he would not cause me to return to Jonathan’s house, to die there.’”
27 Then 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.
27 Then all the princes came to Jeremiah, and asked him; and he told them according to all these words that the king had commanded. So they stopped speaking with him, for the matter was not perceived.
28 So Jeremiah abode in the court of the guard until the day that Jerusalem was taken. And it came to pass when Jerusalem was taken
28 So Jeremiah stayed in the court of the guard until the day that Jerusalem was taken.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Ebed-melech
A Cushite court official who interceded with the king and pulled Jeremiah out of the cistern, and whom the LORD promised to deliver.
Cited in the guide: Jeremiah 38:7; Jeremiah 38:10; Jeremiah 39:16
Gedaliah
Son of Pashhur who heard Jeremiah's words and joined in seeking his death.
Cited in the guide: Jeremiah 38:1
Malchijah
Named as the father of Pashhur, an envoy of Zedekiah.
Cited in the guide: Jeremiah 21:1; Jeremiah 38:1
Mattan
Named as the father of Shephatiah, an official who opposed Jeremiah.
Cited in the guide: Jeremiah 38:1
Pashhur
Named as the father of Gedaliah, an official who opposed Jeremiah.
Cited in the guide: Jeremiah 38:1
Pashhur
Son of Malchijah whom King Zedekiah sent to Jeremiah, and who later heard Jeremiah's preaching and sought his death.
Cited in the guide: Jeremiah 21:1; Jeremiah 38:1
Shelemiah
Named as the father of Jehucal, an envoy of Zedekiah.
Cited in the guide: Jeremiah 37:3; Jeremiah 38:1
Shephatiah
Son of Mattan who heard Jeremiah's words and joined in seeking his death.
Cited in the guide: Jeremiah 38:1
Cross references (25)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 1 Chronicles 9:12; Nehemiah 11:12; Ezra 2:3; Jeremiah 21:1–10; Acts 5:28
- 2 Jeremiah 39:18; Jeremiah 45:5; Jeremiah 34:17; Ezekiel 14:21; Jeremiah 42:17
- 3 Jeremiah 21:10; Jeremiah 32:3–5
- 4 Jeremiah 26:11; Acts 16:20; Jeremiah 29:7; Nehemiah 6:9; Amos 7:10
- 5 John 19:12–16; 2 Samuel 3:39; 1 Samuel 15:24; 2 Samuel 19:22; Proverbs 29:25
- 6 Jeremiah 37:21; Psalm 69:2; Psalm 69:14–15; Jeremiah 38:22; Jeremiah 37:16
- 7 Amos 5:10; Deuteronomy 21:19; Jeremiah 37:13; Jeremiah 29:2; Matthew 20:16
- 9 Jeremiah 37:21–38:6; Job 31:34; Esther 7:4–6; Jeremiah 52:6; Proverbs 31:8–9
- 10 Psalm 75:10; Esther 8:7; Proverbs 21:1; Esther 5:2
- 12 Ephesians 4:32; Romans 12:10; Romans 12:15
- 13 Jeremiah 37:21; Acts 23:35; Acts 28:16; Acts 28:30; Jeremiah 39:14–18
- 14 Jeremiah 21:1–2; 1 Kings 22:16; Jeremiah 37:17; Jeremiah 42:2–5; 1 Samuel 3:17–18
- 15 Luke 22:67–68
- 16 Jeremiah 37:17; Jeremiah 38:1–6; John 3:2; Isaiah 57:16; Zechariah 12:1
- 17 Jeremiah 27:12; Jeremiah 27:17; Jeremiah 38:2; Jeremiah 21:8–10; Jeremiah 39:3
- 18 Jeremiah 24:8–10; Jeremiah 32:3–5; 2 Kings 25:4–10; Jeremiah 38:3; Jeremiah 38:23
- 19 John 12:42; Isaiah 51:12–13; Jeremiah 38:22; John 19:12–13; Isaiah 57:11
- 20 Jeremiah 26:13; Isaiah 55:3; Daniel 4:27; 2 Chronicles 20:20; Acts 26:29
- 21 Ezekiel 2:4–5; Ezekiel 2:7; Exodus 10:3–4; Jeremiah 5:3; Acts 20:26–27
- 22 Lamentations 5:11; Lamentations 1:2; Jeremiah 43:6; Lamentations 1:13; Psalm 69:14
- 23 Jeremiah 41:10; Jeremiah 38:18; Jeremiah 39:6; 2 Kings 25:7; Jeremiah 27:12–13
- 25 Jeremiah 38:27; Jeremiah 38:4–6
- 26 Jeremiah 37:20; Jeremiah 37:15; Jeremiah 42:2; Esther 4:8
- 27 2 Kings 6:19; 1 Samuel 16:2–5; Acts 23:6; 1 Samuel 10:15–16
- 28 Jeremiah 39:14; Jeremiah 37:21; Jeremiah 15:20–21; Psalm 23:4; Jeremiah 38:13
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
when you slack the hands of the people? It is thou who disbelievest that compellest me to say these things; it is thou that hast drawn me out into these words.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 13 (1889)