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

בּוֹר pit, cistern H953 · TWOT 194e
טִיט mud, mire H2916 · TWOT 796a
חֶ֫בֶל ropes H2256 · TWOT 592a
נָבִיא prophet H5030 · TWOT 1277a
נֶ֫פֶשׁ soul, life H5315 · TWOT 1395a
מוּת die, put to death H4191 · TWOT 1169

People & Context

Jeremiah

The prophet thrown into the muddy pit for declaring Jerusalem would fall to Babylon.

Zedekiah

King of Judah who secretly consults Jeremiah and permits his rescue while fearing his rulers.

Ebed-melech

Cushite eunuch in the king's house who appeals to the king and lifts Jeremiah out with rags and ropes.

Jehucal

Son of Shelemiah, one of the rulers who demanded Jeremiah be put to death.

Pashur

Son of Malchiah, a ruler who joined in accusing Jeremiah of treason.

Malchiah

The king's son who owned the waterless, muddy pit into which Jeremiah was lowered.

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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