Jeremiah 38 JPS Tanakh (1917)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- Numbers like (22-2) in the text give the Hebrew verse numbering where it differs.
1 And Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashhur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur the son of Malchiah, heard the words that Jeremiah spoke unto all the people, saying:
1 Y OYÓ Sephatías hijo de Mathán, y Gedalías hijo de Pashur, y Jucal hijo de Selemías, y Pashur hijo de Melchîas, las palabras que Jeremías hablaba á todo el pueblo, diciendo:
2 'Thus 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, and his life shall be unto him for a prey, and he shall live.
2 Así ha dicho Jehová: El que se quedare en esta ciudad morirá á cuchillo, ó de hambre, ó de pestilencia; mas el que saliere á los Caldeos vivirá, pues su vida le será por despojo, y vivirá.
3 Thus saith the LORD: This city shall surely be given into the hand of the army of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it.'
3 Así ha dicho Jehová: De cierto será entregada esta ciudad en mano del ejército del rey de Babilonia, y tomarála.
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 Y dijeron los príncipes al rey: Muera ahora este hombre; porque de esta manera hace desmayar las manos de los hombres de guerra que han quedado en esta ciudad, y las manos de todo el pueblo, hablándoles tales palabras; porque este hombre no busca la paz de este pueblo, sino el mal.
5 Then Zedekiah the king said: 'Behold, he is in your hand; for the king is not he that can do any thing against you.'
5 Y dijo el rey Sedechîas: Helo ahí, en vuestras manos está; que el rey no podrá contra vosotros nada.
6 Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the pit of Malchiah the king's son, that was in the court of the guard; and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the pit there was no water, but mire; and Jeremiah sank in the mire.
6 Entonces tomaron ellos á Jeremías, é hiciéronlo echar en la mazmorra de Malchîas hijo de Amelech, que estaba en el patio de la cárcel; y metieron á Jeremías con sogas. Y en la mazmorra no había agua, sino cieno; y hundióse Jeremías en el cieno.
7 Now when Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, an officer, who was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the pit; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin;
7 Y oyendo Ebed-melec, hombre etiope, eunuco que estaba en casa del rey, que habían puesto á Jeremías en la mazmorra, y estando sentado el rey á la puerta de Benjamín,
8 Ebed-melech went forth out of the king's house, and spoke to the king, saying:
8 Ebed-melec salió de la casa del rey, y habló al rey, diciendo:
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 pit; 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 Mi señor el rey, mal hicieron estos varones en todo lo que han hecho con Jeremías profeta, al cual hicieron echar en la mazmorra; porque allí se morirá de hambre, pues no hay más pan en la ciudad.
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 pit, before he die.'
10 Entonces mandó el rey al mismo Ebed-melec Etiope, diciendo: Toma en tu poder treinta hombres de aquí, y haz sacar á Jeremías profeta de la mazmorra, antes que muera.
11 So Ebed-melech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took thence worn clouts and worn rags, and let them down by cords into the pit to Jeremiah.
11 Y tomó Ebed-melec en su poder hombres, y entró á la casa del rey al [lugar] debajo de la tesorería, y tomó de allí trapos viejos, traídos, viejos, y andrajosos, y echólos á Jeremías con sogas en la mazmorra.
12 And Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah: 'Put now these worn clouts and rags under thine armholes under the cords.' And Jeremiah did so.
12 Y dijo Ebed-melec Etiope á Jeremías: Pon ahora esos trapos viejos, traídos, y rotos, bajo los sobacos de tus brazos, debajo de las sogas. Y lo hizo así Jeremías.
13 So they drew up Jeremiah with the cords, and took him up out of the pit; and Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.
13 De este modo sacaron á Jeremías con sogas, y subiéronlo de la mazmorra; y quedó Jeremías en el patio de la cárcel.
14 Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that was in the house of the LORD; and the king said unto Jeremiah: 'I will ask thee a thing; hide nothing from me.'
14 Después envió el rey Sedechîas, é hizo traer á sí á Jeremías profeta á la tercera entrada que estaba en la casa de Jehová. Y dijo el rey á Jeremías: Pregúntote una palabra, no me encubras ninguna cosa.
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 Y Jeremías dijo á Sedechîas: Si te lo denunciare, ¿no es verdad que me matarás? y si te diere consejo, no has de escucharme.
16 So Zedekiah the king swore 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.'
16 Y juró el rey Sedechîas en secreto á Jeremías, diciendo: Vive Jehová que nos hizo esta alma, que no te mataré, ni te entregaré en mano de estos varones que buscan tu alma.
17 Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah: 'Thus saith the LORD, 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, thou, and thy house;
17 Entonces dijo Jeremías á Sedechîas: Así ha dicho Jehová Dios de los ejércitos, Dios de Israel: Si salieres luego á los príncipes del rey de Babilonia, tu alma vivirá, y esta ciudad no será puesta á fuego; y vivirás tú y tu casa:
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 Mas si no salieres á los príncipes del rey de Babilonia, esta ciudad será entregada en mano de los Caldeos, y la pondrán á fuego, y tú no escaparás de sus manos.
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 Y dijo el rey Sedechîas á Jeremías: Témome á causa de los Judíos que se han adherido á los Caldeos, que no me entreguen en sus manos y me escarnezcan.
20 But Jeremiah said: 'They shall not deliver thee. Hearken, I beseech thee, to the voice of the LORD, in that which I speak unto thee; so it shall be well with thee, and thy soul shall live.
20 Y dijo Jeremías: No te entregarán. Oye ahora la voz de Jehová que yo te hablo, y tendrás bien, y vivirá tu alma.
21 But if thou refuse to go forth, this is the word that the LORD hath shown me:
21 Mas si no quisieres salir, esta es la palabra que me ha mostrado Jehová:
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; thy feet are sunk in the mire, and they are turned away back.
22 Y he aquí que todas las mujeres que han quedado en casa del rey de Judá, serán sacadas á los príncipes del rey de Babilonia; y ellas mismas dirán: Te han engañado, y prevalecido contra ti tus amigos; atollaron en el cieno tus pies, se volvieron atrás.
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 Sacarán pues, todas tus mujeres y tus hijos á los Caldeos, y tú no escaparás de sus manos, sino que por mano del rey de Babilonia serás preso, y á esta ciudad quemará á fuego.
24 Then said Zedekiah unto Jeremiah: 'Let no man know of these words, and thou shalt not die.
24 Y dijo Sedechîas á Jeremías: Nadie sepa estas palabras, y no morirás.
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 Y si los príncipes oyeren que yo he hablado contigo, y vinieren á ti y te dijeren: Decláranos ahora qué hablaste con el rey, no nos lo encubras, y no te mataremos; asimismo qué te dijo el rey;
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 Les dirás: Supliqué al rey que no me hiciese tornar á casa de Jonathán porque no me muriese allí.
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 reported.
27 Y vinieron luego todos los príncipes á Jeremías, y preguntáronle: y él les respondió conforme á todo lo que el rey le había mandado. Con esto se dejaron de él, porque el negocio no se había oído.
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 Y quedó Jeremías en el patio de la cárcel hasta el día que fué tomada Jerusalem; y [allí] estaba cuando Jerusalem fué tomada.
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
Malchiah
A son of the king whose cistern in the courtyard of the guard Jeremiah was dropped into.
Cited in the guide: Jeremiah 38:6
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)