Focused Passage

Jeremiah 38:7-13

Jeremiah in the Cistern and Zedekiah’s Fearful Refusal

The chapter moves from Jeremiah's public word of life through surrender, to the officials' demand for his death, to his lowering into the cistern, to Ebed-Melek's courageous rescue, to Zedekiah's secret consultation, to Jeremiah's final warning, and finally to Jeremiah's guarded confinement until Jerusalem falls.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

7 Now Ebed-melech the Cushite, a court official in the royal palace, heard that Jeremiah had been put into the cistern. While the king was sitting at the Gate of Benjamin,

8 Ebed-melech went out from the king’s palace and said to the king,

9 “My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet. They have dropped him into the cistern, where he will starve to death, for there is no more bread in the city.”

10 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.”

11 Then Ebed-melech took the men with him and went to the king’s palace, to a place below the storehouse. From there he took old rags and worn-out clothes and lowered them with ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern.

12 Ebed-melech the Cushite cried out to Jeremiah, “Put these worn-out rags and clothes under your arms to pad the ropes.” Jeremiah did so,

13 and they pulled him up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern. And Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 7

Cross-references

Luke 10:33 Classic cross-references Acts 8:27 Classic cross-references Amos 5:10 Classic cross-references 2 Kings 5:13 Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 21:19 Classic cross-references

Original words

vvv עֶֽבֶד־ H5663 Now Ebed-melech מֶ֨לֶךְ H5663 Noun - proper - masculine singular the Cushite הַכּוּשִׁ֜י H3569 Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . אִ֣ישׁ H376 Noun - masculine singular construct a court official סָרִ֗יס H5631 Noun - masculine singular . . . וְהוּא֙ H1931 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular in the royal הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ H4428 Article | Noun - masculine singular . . . כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction palace בְּבֵ֣ית H1004 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct heard וַיִּשְׁמַ֡ע H8085 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular that Jeremiah יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ H3414 Noun - proper - masculine singular had been put נָתְנ֥וּ H5414 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural - אֶֽת־ H853 Direct object marker into אֶל־ H413 Preposition the cistern הַבּ֑וֹר H953 Article | Noun - masculine singular While the king וְהַמֶּ֥לֶךְ H4428 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular was sitting יוֹשֵׁ֖ב H3427 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular at the Gate בְּשַׁ֥עַר H8179 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct of Benjamin בִּנְיָמִֽן׃ H1144 Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

Probably from the upper Nile region
Or eunuch

Verse 8

Cross-references

Micah 7:18 Classic cross-references

Original words

vvv עֶֽבֶד־ H5663 Ebed-melech מֶ֖לֶךְ H5663 Noun - proper - masculine singular went out וַיֵּצֵ֥א H3318 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular from the king’s הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ H4428 Article | Noun - masculine singular palace מִבֵּ֣ית H1004 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct and said וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר H1696 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition the king הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ H4428 Article | Noun - masculine singular . . . לֵאמֹֽר׃ H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct

Verse 9

Cross-references

Jeremiah 39:17 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 37:21 Classic cross-references Lamentations 1:11 Classic cross-references Lamentations 3:53 Classic cross-references 2 Corinthians 11:27 Classic cross-references

Original words

My lord אֲדֹנִ֣י H113 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular the king הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ H4428 Article | Noun - masculine singular these הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ H428 Article | Pronoun - common plural - אֵ֣ת H853 Direct object marker men הָאֲנָשִׁ֤ים H582 Article | Noun - masculine plural have acted wickedly הֵרֵ֜עוּ H7489 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural in all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct that אֲשֶׁ֤ר H834 Pronoun - relative they have done עָשׂוּ֙ H6213 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural to Jeremiah לְיִרְמְיָ֣הוּ H3414 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular the prophet הַנָּבִ֔יא H5030 Article | Noun - masculine singular - אֵ֥ת H853 Direct object marker - אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative They have dropped him הִשְׁלִ֖יכוּ H7993 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural into אֶל־ H413 Preposition the cistern הַבּ֑וֹר H953 Article | Noun - masculine singular where תַּחְתָּיו֙ H8478 Preposition | third person masculine singular he will starve to death וַיָּ֤מָת H4191 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . מִפְּנֵ֣י H6440 Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct . . . הָֽרָעָ֔ב H7458 Article | Noun - masculine singular for כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction there is no אֵ֥ין H369 Adverb more ע֖וֹד H5750 Adverb bread הַלֶּ֛חֶם H3899 Article | Noun - masculine singular in the city בָּעִֽיר׃ H5892 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular

Verse 10

Cross-references

Jeremiah 37:16 Classic cross-references

Original words

So the king הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ H4428 Article | Noun - masculine singular - אֵ֛ת H853 Direct object marker commanded וַיְצַוֶּ֣ה H6680 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular vvv עֶֽבֶד־ H5663 Ebed-melech מֶ֥לֶךְ H5663 Noun - proper - masculine singular the Cushite הַכּוּשִׁ֖י H3569 Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . לֵאמֹ֑ר H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Take קַ֣ח H3947 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular thirty שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים H7970 Number - common plural men אֲנָשִׁ֔ים H582 Noun - masculine plural from מִן־ H4480 Preposition here מִזֶּה֙ H2088 Preposition-m | Pronoun - masculine singular with you בְּיָדְךָ֤ H3027 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular and pull וְֽהַעֲלִ֜יתָ H5927 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular Jeremiah יִרְמְיָ֧הוּ H3414 Noun - proper - masculine singular the prophet הַנָּבִ֛יא H5030 Article | Noun - masculine singular - אֶֽת־ H853 Direct object marker out of the cistern הַבּ֖וֹר H953 Article | Noun - masculine singular before בְּטֶ֥רֶם H2962 Preposition-b | Adverb he dies יָמֽוּת׃ H4191 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular

Verse 11

Original words

vvv עֶֽבֶד־ H5663 Then Ebed-melech מֶ֨לֶךְ H5663 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker took וַיִּקַּ֣ח׀ H3947 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular the men הָאֲנָשִׁ֜ים H582 Article | Noun - masculine plural with him בְּיָד֗וֹ H3027 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular and went וַיָּבֹ֤א H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to the king’s הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ H4428 Article | Noun - masculine singular palace בֵית־ H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct to אֶל־ H413 Preposition a place below תַּ֣חַת H8478 Preposition the storehouse הָאוֹצָ֔ר H214 Article | Noun - masculine singular From there מִשָּׁם֙ H8033 Preposition-m | Adverb he took וַיִּקַּ֤ח H3947 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular old בְּלוֹיֵ֣ H1094 Noun - masculine plural construct rags הַסְּחָבוֹת H5499 Noun - feminine plural and worn-out וּבְלוֹיֵ֖ H1094 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct clothes מְלָחִ֑ים H4418 Noun - masculine plural and lowered them וַיְשַׁלְּחֵ֧ם H7971 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural with ropes בַּחֲבָלִֽים׃ H2256 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural to אֶֽל־ H413 Preposition Jeremiah יִרְמְיָ֛הוּ H3414 Noun - proper - masculine singular in אֶל־ H413 Preposition the cistern הַבּ֖וֹר H953 Article | Noun - masculine singular

Verse 12

Cross-references

Ephesians 4:32 Classic cross-references Romans 12:10 Classic cross-references

Original words

vvv עֶבֶד־ H5663 Ebed-melech מֶ֨לֶךְ H5663 Noun - proper - masculine singular the Cushite הַכּוּשִׁ֜י H3569 Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular cried out וַיֹּ֡אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶֽל־ H413 Preposition Jeremiah יִרְמְיָ֗הוּ H3414 Noun - proper - masculine singular Put שִׂ֣ים H7760 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular . . . נָ֠א H4994 Interjection these worn-out בְּלוֹאֵ֨י H1094 Noun - masculine plural construct rags הַסְּחָב֤וֹת H5499 Article | Noun - feminine plural and clothes וְהַמְּלָחִים֙ H4418 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural . . . תַּ֚חַת H8478 Preposition under your arms אַצִּל֣וֹת H679 Noun - common plural construct . . . יָדֶ֔יךָ H3027 Noun - feminine dual construct | second person masculine singular . . . מִתַּ֖חַת H8478 Preposition-m to pad the ropes לַחֲבָלִ֑ים H2256 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine plural Jeremiah יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ H3414 Noun - proper - masculine singular did וַיַּ֥עַשׂ H6213 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular so כֵּֽן׃ H3651 Adverb

Verse 13

Cross-references

Jeremiah 37:21 Classic cross-references Acts 23:35 Classic cross-references Acts 28:16 Classic cross-references Acts 28:30 Classic cross-references Exodus 12:29 Classic cross-references

Original words

and they pulled him יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙ H3414 Noun - proper - masculine singular up וַיִּמְשְׁכ֤וּ H4900 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural - אֶֽת־ H853 Direct object marker with the ropes בַּֽחֲבָלִ֔ים H2256 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural and lifted וַיַּעֲל֥וּ H5927 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural him אֹת֖וֹ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine singular out of מִן־ H4480 Preposition the cistern הַבּ֑וֹר H953 Article | Noun - masculine singular And Jeremiah יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ H3414 Noun - proper - masculine singular remained וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב H3427 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular in the courtyard בַּחֲצַ֖ר H2691 Preposition-b | Noun - common singular construct of the guard הַמַּטָּרָֽה׃ס H4307 Article | Noun - feminine singular

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