Jeremiah 37

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 37 of 52

1 And King Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, reigned instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, made king in the land of Judah.

2 But not he, and not his servants, and not the people of the land, listened to the words of Jehovah which He spoke by Jeremiah the prophet.

3 And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal, the son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah, the son of Maaseiah the priest, to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, Intercede now for us to Jehovah our God.

Read full chapter in the Bible Reader

Chapter Summary

The Egyptians having raised the siege of the Chaldeans, King Zedekiah asks Jeremiah to pray for the people. Jeremiah prophesies the Chaldeans' certain return and victory. He is taken for a fugitive, beaten, and put in prison.

Key Hebrew Words

פָּלַל intercede, pray H6419 · TWOT 1776
חַ֫יִל army H2428 · TWOT 624a
כֶּ֫לֶא prison, confinement H3608 · TWOT 980a
נָבָא prophesy H5012 · TWOT 1277
שֶׁ֫קֶר lie, falsehood H8267 · TWOT 2461a
שָׂרַף burn with fire H8313 · TWOT 2292

People & Context

Jeremiah

The prophet who foretells the Chaldeans' return, is arrested as a deserter, beaten, and imprisoned

Zedekiah

King of Judah who asks Jeremiah to pray, then secretly inquires of him and eases his confinement

Irijah

Captain of the guard at the Benjamin Gate who seizes Jeremiah, accusing him of defecting to the Chaldeans

Jehucal

Son of Shelemiah, sent by Zedekiah to ask Jeremiah to intercede with Jehovah for the people

Zephaniah

Son of Maaseiah the priest, sent with Jehucal to request Jeremiah's prayer for the nation

Chaldeans

The Babylonian besiegers who withdraw at Pharaoh's approach but are prophesied to return and burn the city

Timeline

The Temporary Lifting of the Siege

The Chaldean army temporarily withdraws from Jerusalem due to the approach of Pharaoh's army. Zedekiah asks Jeremiah to pray, and Jeremiah warns that the Chaldeans will return and burn the city.

Jeremiah 37:1-10
Jeremiah Arrested and Imprisoned

Jeremiah attempts to leave for the land of Benjamin but is arrested at the gate by Irijah, who accuses him of defecting to the Chaldeans. The rulers beat him and put him in the dungeon.

Jeremiah 37:11-16
Secret Meeting and Move to Prison Court

Zedekiah secretly asks Jeremiah if there is a word from God; Jeremiah says he will be given to Babylon. Jeremiah pleads not to return to the dungeon, and Zedekiah moves him to the court of the prison.

Jeremiah 37:17-21

Read Jeremiah 37 in the KJ3 Reader

Word-for-word literal translation with Hebrew interlinear, Strong's numbers, and audio.

Open in Bible Reader
Jeremiah 36JeremiahJeremiah 38