Jeremiah 38

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 38 of 52

1 And Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashur, and Jehucal, the son of Shelemiah, and Pashur, the son of Malchiah, heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken to all the people, saying,

2 So says Jehovah, He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the plague. But he who goes forth to the Chaldeans shall live; and his life shall be a prize, and he shall live.

3 So says Jehovah, Giving this city shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, and he shall take it.

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Chapter Summary

Jeremiah is put into a pit of mud by the rulers. Ebed-melech, after secret conference advises the king to save his life. By the king's instructions he hides this from the rulers.

Key Hebrew Words

בְּלוֹיֵ֣ worn out things H1094 · TWOT 246b
שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים thirty H7970 · TWOT 2403d
יְהוּדָ֔ה Judah H3063 · TWOT 850c
נַפְשׁ֛ soul H5315 · TWOT 1395a
שְׁלֹמֶ֔ completeness H7965 · TWOT 2401a

People & Context

Jeremiah Thrown into Malchiah's Pit

The rulers demand Jeremiah's death for demoralizing the people. Zedekiah surrenders him, and they lower Jeremiah into Malchiah's muddy pit in the cour…

Ebed-melech Rescues Jeremiah

Ebed-melech the Cushite intercedes with the king, takes thirty men, and uses worn-out clothes and ropes to hoist Jeremiah out of the mud.

Final Secret Counsel to Zedekiah

Zedekiah secretly meets Jeremiah again. Jeremiah urges him to surrender to the Chaldeans to save the city and his family, but Zedekiah refuses out of …

Timeline

Jeremiah Thrown into Malchiah's Pit

The rulers demand Jeremiah's death for demoralizing the people. Zedekiah surrenders him, and they lower Jeremiah into Malchiah's muddy pit in the court of the prison to die of starvation.

Jeremiah 38:1-6
Ebed-melech Rescues Jeremiah

Ebed-melech the Cushite intercedes with the king, takes thirty men, and uses worn-out clothes and ropes to hoist Jeremiah out of the mud.

Jeremiah 38:7-13
Final Secret Counsel to Zedekiah

Zedekiah secretly meets Jeremiah again. Jeremiah urges him to surrender to the Chaldeans to save the city and his family, but Zedekiah refuses out of fear of the Jews who have already defected.

Jeremiah 38:14-28

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