Focused Passage

Jeremiah 40:1-6

Jeremiah Released, Gedaliah Appointed, and the Fragile Remnant in the Land

The chapter moves from Jeremiah's release at Ramah, to Nebuzaradan's theological explanation of Judah's fall, to Jeremiah's choice to remain with Gedaliah, to the gathering and stabilization of the remnant, to the return of scattered Judeans, and finally to the warning of Ishmael's assassination plot.

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

1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD after Nebuzaradan captain of the guard had released him at Ramah, having found him bound in chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being exiled to Babylon.

2 The captain of the guard found Jeremiah and said to him, “The LORD your God decreed this disaster on this place,

3 and now the LORD has fulfilled it; He has done just as He said. Because you people have sinned against the LORD and have not obeyed His voice, this thing has happened to you.

4 But now, behold, I am freeing you today from the chains that were on your wrists. If it pleases you to come with me to Babylon, then come, and I will take care of you. But if it seems wrong to you to come with me to Babylon, go no farther. Look, the whole land is before you. Wherever it seems good and right to you, go there.”

5 But before Jeremiah turned to go, Nebuzaradan added, “Return to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah, and stay with him among the people, or go anywhere else that seems right.” Then the captain of the guard gave him a ration and a gift and released him.

6 So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and stayed with him among the people who were left in the land.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Cross-references

Jeremiah 31:15 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 39:9 Classic cross-references Acts 12:6 Classic cross-references Acts 21:13 Classic cross-references Ephesians 6:20 Classic cross-references

Original words

This is the word הַדָּבָ֞ר H1697 Article | Noun - masculine singular that אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative came הָיָ֤ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular to אֶֽל־ H413 Preposition Jeremiah יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙ H3414 Noun - proper - masculine singular from מֵאֵ֣ת H854 Preposition-m | Direct object marker the LORD יְהוָ֔ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular after אַחַ֣ר׀ H310 Preposition Nebuzaradan נְבוּזַרְאֲדָ֛ן H5018 Noun - proper - masculine singular captain רַב־ H7227 Noun - masculine singular construct of the guard טַבָּחִ֖ים H2876 Noun - masculine plural had released שַׁלַּ֣ח H7971 Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct him אֹת֗וֹ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine singular at מִן־ H4480 Preposition Ramah הָֽרָמָ֑ה H7414 Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular having found בְּקַחְתּ֣וֹ H3947 Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular - אֹת֗וֹ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine singular him וְהֽוּא־ H1931 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular bound אָס֤וּר H631 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular in chains בָּֽאזִקִּים֙ H246 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural among בְּת֨וֹךְ H8432 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the captives גָּל֤וּת H1546 Noun - feminine singular construct of Jerusalem יְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ H3389 Noun - proper - feminine singular and Judah וִֽיהוּדָ֔ה H3063 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular who were being exiled הַמֻּגְלִ֖ים H1540 Article | Verb - Hofal - Participle - masculine plural to Babylon בָּבֶֽלָה׃ H894 Noun - proper - feminine singular | third person feminine singular

Verse 2

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 29:24 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 22:8 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 50:7 Classic cross-references 1 Kings 9:8 Classic cross-references 2 Chronicles 7:20 Classic cross-references

Original words

The captain רַב־ H7227 Noun - masculine singular construct of the guard טַבָּחִ֖ים H2876 Noun - masculine plural found וַיִּקַּ֥ח H3947 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Jeremiah לְיִרְמְיָ֑הוּ H3414 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular and said וַיֹּ֣אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to him אֵלָ֔יו H413 Preposition | third person masculine singular The LORD יְהוָ֣ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular your God אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular decreed דִּבֶּר֙ H1696 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker this הַזֹּ֔את H2063 Article | Pronoun - feminine singular disaster הָרָעָ֣ה H7451 Article | Adjective - feminine singular on אֶל־ H413 Preposition this הַזֶּֽה׃ H2088 Article | Pronoun - masculine singular place הַמָּק֖וֹם H4725 Article | Noun - masculine singular

Verse 3

Cross-references

Romans 2:5 Classic cross-references 2 Chronicles 36:17 Classic cross-references Daniel 9:11 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 50:7 Classic cross-references

Original words

and now the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular has fulfilled it וַיָּבֵ֥א H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular He has done וַיַּ֛עַשׂ H6213 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular just as כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative He said דִּבֵּ֑ר H1696 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular Because כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction you [people] have sinned חֲטָאתֶ֤ם H2398 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural against the LORD לַֽיהוָה֙ H3068 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular and have not וְלֹֽא־ H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle obeyed שְׁמַעְתֶּ֣ם H8085 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural His voice בְּקוֹל֔וֹ H6963 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular this הַזֶּֽה׃ H2088 Article | Pronoun - masculine singular thing דָּבָר H1697 Article | Noun - masculine singular has happened וְהָיָ֥ה H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular to you לָכֶ֖ם Preposition | second person masculine plural

Verse 4

Cross-references

Jeremiah 39:11 Classic cross-references Genesis 20:15 Classic cross-references Esther 3:11 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 37:14 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 39:12 Classic cross-references

Original words

But now וְעַתָּ֞ה H6258 Conjunctive waw | Adverb behold הִנֵּ֧ה H2009 Interjection I am freeing פִתַּחְתִּ֣יךָ H6605 Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular you today הַיּ֗וֹם H3117 Article | Noun - masculine singular from מִֽן־ H4480 Preposition the chains הָאזִקִּים֮ H246 Article | Noun - masculine plural that אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative were on עַל־ H5921 Preposition your wrists יָדֶךָ֒ H3027 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular If אִם־ H518 Conjunction it pleases ט֨וֹב H2896 Adjective - masculine singular . . . בְּעֵינֶ֜יךָ H5869 Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | second person masculine singular you to come לָב֧וֹא H935 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct with me אִתִּ֣י H854 Preposition | first person common singular to Babylon בָבֶ֗ל H894 Noun - proper - feminine singular then come בֹּ֚א H935 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular and I will take care of וְאָשִׂ֤ים H7760 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker - עֵינִי֙ H5869 Noun - common singular construct | first person common singular you עָלֶ֔יךָ H5921 Preposition | second person masculine singular But if וְאִם־ H518 Conjunction it seems wrong רַ֧ע H7489 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular . . . בְּעֵינֶ֛יךָ H5869 Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | second person masculine singular to you to come לָבֽוֹא־ H935 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct with me אִתִּ֥י H854 Preposition | first person common singular to Babylon בָבֶ֖ל H894 Noun - proper - feminine singular go no farther חֲדָ֑ל H2308 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Look רְאֵה֙ H7200 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular the whole כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct land הָאָ֣רֶץ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular is before you לְפָנֶ֔יךָ H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular . . . אֶל־ H413 Preposition Wherever it seems בְּעֵינֶ֛יךָ H5869 Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | second person masculine singular good ט֨וֹב H2896 Adjective - masculine singular . . . וְאֶל־ H413 Conjunctive waw | Preposition and right to you הַיָּשָׁ֧ר H3477 Article | Adjective - masculine singular - לָלֶ֥כֶת H1980 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct go לֵֽךְ׃ H1980 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular there שָׁ֖מָּה H8033 Adverb | third person feminine singular

Verse 5

Cross-references

Jeremiah 39:14 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 41:18 Classic cross-references 2 Kings 8:7 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 26:24 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 41:2 Classic cross-references

Original words

But before Jeremiah לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle . . . וְעוֹדֶ֣נּוּ H5750 Conjunctive waw | Adverb | third person masculine singular turned to go יָשׁ֗וּב H7725 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Nebuzaradan וְשֻׁ֡בָה H7725 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular added אֶל־ H413 Preposition Return to Gedaliah גְּדַלְיָ֣ה H1436 Noun - proper - masculine singular son בֶן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct of Ahikam אֲחִיקָ֣ם H296 Noun - proper - masculine singular the son בֶּן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct of Shaphan שָׁפָ֡ן H8227 Noun - proper - masculine singular whom אֲשֶׁר֩ H834 Pronoun - relative the king מֶֽלֶךְ־ H4428 Noun - masculine singular construct of Babylon בָּבֶ֜ל H894 Noun - proper - feminine singular has appointed הִפְקִ֨יד H6485 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular over the cities בְּעָרֵ֣י H5892 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural construct of Judah יְהוּדָ֗ה H3063 Noun - proper - masculine singular and stay וְשֵׁ֤ב H3427 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular with him אִתּוֹ֙ H854 Preposition | third person masculine singular among בְּת֣וֹךְ H8432 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct the people הָעָ֔ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular or א֠וֹ H176 Conjunction go לָלֶ֖כֶת H1980 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct anywhere else אֶל־ H413 Preposition . . . כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct that seems right הַיָּשָׁ֧ר H3477 Article | Adjective - masculine singular . . . בְּעֵינֶ֛יךָ H5869 Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | second person masculine singular . . . לֵ֑ךְ H1980 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Then the captain רַב־ H7227 Noun - masculine singular construct of the guard טַבָּחִ֛ים H2876 Noun - masculine plural gave וַיִּתֶּן־ H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular him ל֧וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular a ration אֲרֻחָ֥ה H737 Noun - feminine singular and a gift וּמַשְׂאֵ֖ת H4864 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular and released him וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵֽהוּ׃ H7971 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular

Verse 6

Cross-references

Ezekiel 5:3 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 39:14 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 41:1 Classic cross-references Judges 20:1 Classic cross-references 1 Samuel 7:5 Classic cross-references

Original words

So Jeremiah יִרְמְיָ֛הוּ H3414 Noun - proper - masculine singular went וַיָּבֹ֧א H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Gedaliah גְּדַלְיָ֥ה H1436 Noun - proper - masculine singular son בֶן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct of Ahikam אֲחִיקָ֖ם H296 Noun - proper - masculine singular at Mizpah הַמִּצְפָּ֑תָה H4709 Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular | third person feminine singular and stayed וַיֵּ֤שֶׁב H3427 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular with him אִתּוֹ֙ H854 Preposition | third person masculine singular among בְּת֣וֹךְ H8432 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct the people הָעָ֔ם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular who were left הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֖ים H7604 Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural in the land בָּאָֽרֶץ׃ס H776 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular

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