Keraia
Jeremiah 38

Jeremiah 38:1

Jeremiah Cast into the Cistern · Jeremiah 38:1–28
Read Jeremiah 38

Translations

Modern
Now Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jucal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malchijah heard that Jeremiah had been telling all the people:
Traditional
Then Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashur the son of Malchiah, heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken unto all the people, saying,
Literal
Then Shephatiah son of Mattan, and Gedaliah son of Pashhur, and Jucal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malchijah, heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken to all the people, saying:
Latin
Audivit autem Saphatias filius Mathan, et Gedelias filius Phassur, et Juchal filius Selemiæ, et Phassur filius Melchiæ, sermones quos Jeremias loquebatur ad omnem populum, dicens:

Original

Hebrew
English
Now Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jucal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malchijah heard that Jeremiah had been telling all the people:

Notes

Jeremiah 38:1

  • The Gedaliah mentioned here had a different father than the Gedaliah in Jeremiah 40:6.

  • The first Pashhur might have been the man in Jeremiah 20:1. The second Pashhur had a different father.

Jeremiah 38:1–13

Jeremiah could talk to people while in the prison courtyard. He shared the Lord's judgments, which angered some government officials. Zedekiah showed cowardice by allowing these men to put Jeremiah in a muddy cistern. However, the king showed courage when he let a palace servant rescue Jeremiah and bring him back to the palace prison.

Jeremiah 37:1–38:28

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).

Events

People

Gedaliah: Son of Pashhur; an official during Zedekiah's reign Jehucal: An official during Zedekiah's reign, opposed Jeremiah Jeremiah: Son of Hilkiah, the prophet during Judah's final days Malchiah: Son of Pashur, involved in plot against Jeremiah Mattan: Father of Shephatiah, an opponent of Jeremiah Pashhur: Priest sent by Zedekiah to inquire of Jeremiah Pashhur: Son of Gedaliah, an official who opposed Jeremiah Shelemiah: Priest during Zedekiah's reign Shephatiah: Official during King Zedekiah's reign

Glossary

Book of Jeremiah Courts and Trials Gedaliah Jehoiachin Jehucal Jucal Malchijah Mattan Pashhur, Pashur Shelemiah Shephatiah

Topics

Gedaliah: A Prince Who Caused Imprisonment of Jeremiah Jehucal: Son of Shelemiah Malchiah: Also Called Melchiah: An Aaronite Malice: Jeremiah's Enemies Mattan: Father of Shephatiah Pashur: A Priest, Son of Malchiah: An Influential Man and Ancestor of an Influential Family Pashur: Father of Gedaliah, Who Perscuted Jeremiah Persecution of Jeremiah Prophecies Concerning Israel: Prophecies Concerning of War and Other Judgments Shelemiah: Father of Jehucal Shephatiah: An Enemy of Jeremiah