Keraia
Jeremiah 38

Jeremiah 38:15

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

Translations

Modern
“If I tell you,” Jeremiah replied, “you will surely put me to death. And even if I give you advice, you will not listen to me.”
Traditional
Then Jeremiah said unto Zedekiah, If I declare it unto thee, wilt thou not surely put me to death? and if I give thee counsel, wilt thou not hearken unto me?
Literal
And Jeremiah said to Zedekiah: “If I declare it to you, will you not surely put me to death? And if I should advise you, you will not listen to me.”
Latin
Dixit autem Jeremias ad Sedeciam: Si annuntiavero tibi, numquid non interficies me? et si consilium dedero tibi, non me audies.

Original

Hebrew
English
“If I tell you,” Jeremiah replied, “you will surely put me to death. And even if I give you advice, you will not listen to me.”

Notes

Jeremiah 38:14–16

Zedekiah desperately wanted a miracle to save his kingdom from the Babylonian armies. He arranged a secret meeting with Jeremiah.

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).

Theme notes and profiles

Jeremiah God Protects His Servant Persecution

Events

People

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

Glossary

Book of Jeremiah Courts and Trials Guard, Courtyard of the Jehoiachin

Topics

Prisoners: Jeremiah Prisoners: Kindness To by the Prison Guard to Jeremiah Zedekiah: Made King of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar by Jeremiah Zedekiah: Made King of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar: Imprisons Jeremiah on Account of his Denunciations Zedekiah: Made King of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar: Seeks the Intercession of Jeremiah with God on his Behalf