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Jeremiah 38

Jeremiah 38:10

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

Translations

Modern
So the king commanded Ebed-melech the Cushite, “Take thirty men from here with you and pull Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.”
Traditional
Then the king commanded Ebed–melech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirty men with thee, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die.
Literal
And the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying: “Take with you from this place thirty men and lift Jeremiah the prophet out the pit before he dies.
Latin
Præcepit itaque rex Abdemelech Æthiopi, dicens: Tolle tecum hinc triginta viros, et leva Jeremiam prophetam de lacu, antequam moriatur.

Original

Hebrew
English
So the king commanded Ebed-melech the Cushite, “Take thirty men from here with you and pull Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.”

Notes

Jeremiah 38:10

The rescue party included thirty men, perhaps showing that Zedekiah wanted to prevent his officials from attacking it.

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

Ebed-melech: Ethiopian eunuch who rescued Jeremiah from a cistern Jeremiah: Son of Hilkiah, the prophet during Judah's final days

Places

Cush: Ancient region in Africa; associated with Egypt and Babylon

Glossary

Book of Jeremiah Courts and Trials Ebed-Melech Guard, Courtyard of the Jehoiachin

Topics

Christian Minister: Kindness to Ebed-Melech to Jeremiah, Criminals in Dungeons Ebed-Melech: Jeremiah Rescued By Ethiopia: Treats Jeremiah Kindly Eunuch: Influential Court officials God in Rescuing Jeremiah Intercession: Ebed-Melech for Jeremiah Jeremiah: The Prophet: Ebed-Melech, the Egyptian, Intercedes to the King for Him, and Secures his Release Jeremiah: The Prophet: Imprisoned by Zedekiah Prisoners: Jeremiah Prisoners: Kindness To by the Prison Guard to Jeremiah Zedekiah: Made King of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar: Imprisons Jeremiah on Account of his Denunciations