Jeremiah 37:17

Jeremiah Imprisoned · Jeremiah 37:11–21
Read Jeremiah 37

Translations

Modern
Later, King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah and received him in his palace, where he asked him privately, “Is there a word from the LORD?” “There is,” Jeremiah replied. “You will be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.”
Traditional
Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took him out: and the king asked him secretly in his house, and said, Is there any word from the Lord? And Jeremiah said, There is: for, said he, thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.
Literal
And the king Zedekiah sent and took him out, and the king asked him in his house in secret and said: “Is there a word from YHWH?” And Jeremiah said, “There is.” And he said, “Into the hand of the king of Babylon you will be given!
Latin
Mittens autem Sedecias rex, tulit eum: et interrogavit eum in domo sua abscondite, et dixit: Putasne est sermo a Domino? Et dixit Jeremias: Est: et ait: In manus regis Babylonis traderis.

Original

Hebrew
English
Later, King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah and received him in his palace, where he asked him privately, “Is there a word from the LORD?” “There is,” Jeremiah replied. “You will be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.”

Notes

The king asked Jeremiah about other messages from the Lord, showing his fear of the future. He still hoped the Lord would defeat the Babylonians. Jeremiah quickly and firmly said there was no hope for divine intervention like the one that destroyed the Assyrian army during Hezekiah’s reign (2 Kings 19:8–37).

The focus now returns to Zedekiah, who became king of Judah after his nephew Jehoiachin. These chapters describe meetings between Zedekiah and Jeremiah, highlighting Zedekiah’s struggle to fully commit to God's word (compare Deuteronomy 10:12–13). Zedekiah is a classic example of a person with divided loyalty (James 1:6–8).

Theme notes and profiles

Jeremiah Persecution

Events

People

Jeremiah: Son of Hilkiah, the prophet during Judah's final days Zedekiah: Last king of Judah before the Babylonian exile

Places

Babylon: Ancient Mesopotamian city, capital of Babylonian Empire, site of the Tower of Babel

Glossary

Book of Jeremiah Courts and Trials Jehoiachin Jonathan Oholah and Oholibah Writer

Topics

Christian Minister: Faithful: Jeremiah Jeremiah: The Prophet: Imprisoned by Zedekiah Zedekiah: Made King of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar by Jeremiah Zedekiah: Made King of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar: Imprisons Jeremiah on Account of his Denunciations