Jeremiah 26:24 kjv
Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.
Jeremiah 26:24 nkjv
Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, so that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.
Jeremiah 26:24 niv
Furthermore, Ahikam son of Shaphan supported Jeremiah, and so he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.
Jeremiah 26:24 esv
But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah so that he was not given over to the people to be put to death.
Jeremiah 26:24 nlt
Nevertheless, Ahikam son of Shaphan stood up for Jeremiah and persuaded the court not to turn him over to the mob to be killed.
Jeremiah 26 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 39:14 | And they commanded him, saying, Take Baruch the son of Neriah and go with him. | Fulfillment of protection |
| Jeremiah 40:1 | The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Nebuzaradan had sent him away from Ramah, when he took him from being fettered in chains at Jerusalem and carried him to Babylon. | Continued ministry after release |
| 2 Kings 22:12-14 | Shaphan became a key figure in Josiah's reforms, highlighting the family's integrity. | Family legacy of piety |
| Isaiah 1:26 | I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. | Prophecy of restored justice |
| Acts 5:34-39 | Gamaliel's counsel to the Sanhedrin about the apostles echoes Ahikam's prudence. | Counsel of wisdom preventing harm |
| Ezekiel 3:7-9 | God equips Jeremiah for his difficult task. | Divine enablement for Jeremiah |
| Romans 13:1-7 | Authorities are God's servants to uphold good. | God's sovereignty over rulers |
| Genesis 50:20 | You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good. | God's sovereign purpose in evil |
| Psalms 118:13 | I was pushed hard, so that I was about to fall, but the Lord helped me. | God's help in danger |
| Proverbs 29:25 | The fear of man lays a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord is secure. | Trust in the Lord brings security |
| Jeremiah 1:8 | Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord. | God's promise of deliverance |
| 1 Samuel 15:29 | God is not a man, that he should lie... | God's faithfulness |
| Matthew 10:28 | Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. | Spiritual safety prioritized |
| Philippians 1:6 | And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. | God's completing work |
| Jeremiah 20:11 | But the Lord is with me as a mighty warrior. | God as a protector |
| John 10:28-29 | No one can snatch them out of my hand. | Divine protection of believers |
| Galatians 1:10 | For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? | Allegiance to God |
| Jeremiah 26:10 | When the princes of Judah heard these things, they went up from the king's house to the house of the Lord. | Royal council's involvement |
| Jeremiah 26:11 | Then the priests and the prophets said to the princes and to all the people, “This man deserves the sentence of death. | Accusation against Jeremiah |
| Jeremiah 26:16 | Then Jeremiah said to all the princes and to all the people, “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city. | Jeremiah's justification |
| 1 Timothy 2:1-2 | First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions... | Praying for authorities |
Jeremiah 26 verses
Jeremiah 26 24 Meaning
Jeremiah 26:24 states that Jeremiah was protected by Ahikam, son of Shaphan, a respected official, preventing his death at the hands of the princes and the people. This signifies divine intervention and the existence of righteous individuals within a corrupt system.
Jeremiah 26 24 Context
This verse is situated within the broader narrative of Jeremiah's ministry, specifically concerning his prophecy against the Temple in chapter 26. Jeremiah delivered a stark message of impending judgment and destruction for Jerusalem and its inhabitants due to their persistent sins and idolatry, citing the fate of Shiloh as a precedent. This provoked intense opposition from the religious and political establishment. The princes, priests, and prophets sought Jeremiah's death, leading to a trial. It is in this critical moment of imminent danger that Ahikam intervenes, providing the necessary protection for Jeremiah to live and continue his prophetic calling.
Jeremiah 26 24 Word Analysis
- וַיִּתֵּן (vayitten): And he gave / put.
- Implies a deliberate act of placing or bestowing protection or support.
- אֲחִיקָם (Aḥiqam): Ahikam.
- The name means "my brother has arisen." A significant name given the context of defense.
- בֶּן (ben): Son.
- Connects Ahikam to his lineage.
- ־שָׁפָן (Shaphan): Shaphan.
- Shaphan was a scribe in King Josiah's time and a key figure in the rediscovery of the Law (2 Kings 22:12-14), suggesting his family had a heritage of religious sensitivity and potentially loyalty to God's word. This background likely influenced Ahikam.
- לְיָדוֹ (leyādô): To his hand.
- Indicates being with him, under his protection or influence.
- וְלֹא (welô): And not.
- Emphasizes the negation of harm.
- נָתַן (nātan): To give / suffer / allow.
- The people and princes did not "give" or "allow" Jeremiah to be killed.
- אֶת־ (et): (Direct object marker).
- יִרְמְיָהוּ (Yirməyāhû): Jeremiah.
- The prophet's name, meaning "The LORD exalts" or "The LORD throws."
- בְּיָדָם (bəyāḏām): Into their hand.
- His accusers did not gain possession of him for execution.
Group Analysis:
The phrase "and Ahikam the son of Shaphan gave him into their hand" is key. It contrasts sharply with the preceding verses where the princes and people called for his death ("This man deserves the sentence of death" Jer 26:11). Ahikam's action directly prevented the "giving of Jeremiah into their hand" for execution, thereby saving his life.
Jeremiah 26 24 Bonus Section
Ahikam’s act of saving Jeremiah can be seen as a critical pivot in the prophet's ministry. Without this intervention, the message concerning the destruction of the Temple and the city, which later came to pass, might not have been fully delivered. Furthermore, the inclusion of Ahikam in Jeremiah's account is significant because this same Ahikam, and his father Shaphan, are linked to courageous acts of faith during the reign of King Josiah, particularly concerning the discovery and reading of the Book of the Law in 2 Kings 22. This suggests a continuity of a godly legacy within the leadership circles of Judah. Jeremiah himself would later instruct his scribe, Baruch, to go with the protected and supported man.
Jeremiah 26 24 Commentary
Ahikam's intercession exemplifies faithfulness in action, even when facing the hostility of established authorities and popular opinion. His decision to protect Jeremiah was not merely a political maneuver but an act of courage rooted in justice and potentially divine wisdom, echoing the integrity of his father Shaphan. This act secured Jeremiah's life and allowed God's word to continue to be proclaimed, highlighting that even within corrupt systems, God raises individuals to uphold righteousness and preserve His message. It demonstrates God's sovereignty in protecting His prophets and His word.