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Jeremiah 38

Jeremiah 38:5

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

Translations

Modern
“Here he is,” replied King Zedekiah. “He is in your hands, since the king can do nothing to stop you.”
Traditional
Then Zedekiah the king said, Behold, he is in your hand: for the king is not he that can do any thing against you.
Literal
And the king Zedekiah said, “Behold, he is in your hands; for there is not a thing the king can do against you.
Latin
Et dixit rex Sedecias: Ecce ipse in manibus vestris est: nec enim fas est regem vobis quidquam negare.

Original

Hebrew
English
“Here he is,” replied King Zedekiah. “He is in your hands, since the king can do nothing to stop you.”

Notes

Jeremiah 38:5

The officials angrily confronted King Zedekiah and made their demands. He was weak and afraid.

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

Zedekiah: Last king of Judah before the Babylonian exile

Glossary

Book of Jeremiah Courts and Trials Jehoiachin Jehucal Mattan

Topics

Persecution of Jeremiah Persecution: Spirit of Zedekiah Rulers: Wicked: And Persecuting Jeremiah Zedekiah: Made King of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar: Imprisons Jeremiah on Account of his Denunciations Zedekiah: Made King of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar: The Evil Reign of