Jeremiah 36:12 kjv
Then he went down into the king's house, into the scribe's chamber: and, lo, all the princes sat there, even Elishama the scribe, and Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, and Elnathan the son of Achbor, and Gemariah the son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the princes.
Jeremiah 36:12 nkjv
he then went down to the king's house, into the scribe's chamber; and there all the princes were sitting? Elishama the scribe, Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, Elnathan the son of Achbor, Gemariah the son of Shaphan, Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the princes.
Jeremiah 36:12 niv
he went down to the secretary's room in the royal palace, where all the officials were sitting: Elishama the secretary, Delaiah son of Shemaiah, Elnathan son of Akbor, Gemariah son of Shaphan, Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the other officials.
Jeremiah 36:12 esv
he went down to the king's house, into the secretary's chamber, and all the officials were sitting there: Elishama the secretary, Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, Elnathan the son of Achbor, Gemariah the son of Shaphan, Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the officials.
Jeremiah 36:12 nlt
he went down to the secretary's room in the palace where the administrative officials were meeting. Elishama the secretary was there, along with Delaiah son of Shemaiah, Elnathan son of Acbor, Gemariah son of Shaphan, Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the other officials.
Jeremiah 36 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 38:10 | "But the king said to him, 'Take thirty men with you, and bring up Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.'" | Jer 38:10 (Command to rescue) |
| Jer 38:11 | "So Ebed-melech took men with him from the King's house and stationed them under the treasury under the storehouse. Then they pulled up Jeremiah the prophet with ropes out of the cistern with the rag-heaps underneath him." | Jer 38:11 (Action of rescue) |
| Jer 38:7 | "Now Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, a eunuch in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern. When the king was sitting at the King's Gate," | Jer 38:7 (Ebed-melech's position and hearing) |
| Acts 8:27-40 | Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. | Acts 8:27-40 (Similar ethnic/official context) |
| Proverbs 3:5-6 | "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding." | Prov 3:5-6 (Trust and guidance) |
| Psalm 119:114 | "You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word." | Ps 119:114 (God as refuge) |
| Isaiah 41:10 | "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God." | Isa 41:10 (God's presence with the fearful) |
| Matthew 5:44 | "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." | Matt 5:44 (Love for persecutors, Ebed-melech's kindness) |
| Luke 6:31 | "And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them." | Luke 6:31 (The Golden Rule) |
| Romans 12:15 | "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep." | Rom 12:15 (Empathy and shared suffering) |
| 2 Samuel 18:23 | Joab sending a Cushite to report to David. | 2 Sam 18:23 (Cushite messenger) |
| John 15:13 | "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." | John 15:13 (Sacrifice for a friend) |
| Jeremiah 20:11 | "But the LORD is with me as a mighty warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble and not prevail." | Jer 20:11 (God's presence with Jeremiah) |
| 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 | "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction." | 2 Cor 1:3-4 (Comfort in affliction) |
| Philippians 2:3-4 | "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." | Phil 2:3-4 (Humility and considering others) |
| Psalm 27:14 | "Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!" | Ps 27:14 (Waiting on God) |
| Jeremiah 39:16 | "Go and speak to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel...'" | Jer 39:16 (God's direct address to Ebed-melech) |
| Isaiah 56:3-5 | Promises for eunuchs who keep God's covenant. | Isa 56:3-5 (Inclusion of eunuchs) |
| Genesis 43:30 | Joseph showing compassion to Benjamin. | Gen 43:30 (Compassion in leadership) |
| Colossians 4:1 | "Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven." | Col 4:1 (Fairness in dealings) |
Jeremiah 36 verses
Jeremiah 36 12 Meaning
The verse describes the action of Ebed-melech, an Ethiopian eunuch in King Zedekiah's palace, going out to meet Jeremiah. This act shows Ebed-melech's concern and courage in defying the princes who had unjustly imprisoned Jeremiah in a muddy cistern. His motivation was to help the prophet in his dire situation.
Jeremiah 36 12 Context
Jeremiah chapter 38 describes a period of extreme duress for Jerusalem and the prophet Jeremiah. The Babylonian army was besieging the city, and false prophets were spreading messages of impending victory. The princes, influenced by these false prophecies and resentful of Jeremiah's pronouncements of doom, accused him of weakening the city's defense and sought to eliminate him. They threw him into a cistern, a deep pit filled with mud, intending for him to die there. Jeremiah 38:6 specifically mentions the princes' decree and the cistern's condition.
Ebed-melech, an official in King Zedekiah's court, heard about Jeremiah's plight. He likely understood the gravity of Jeremiah's message and the injustice of his treatment. Driven by compassion and a sense of righteousness, Ebed-melech decided to intervene despite the political climate and the danger involved. His actions demonstrate courage and faith in contrast to the faithlessness and cruelty of the princes. The verse "Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, a eunuch in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern. When the king was sitting at the King's Gate" establishes his position and the moment he learned of the situation.
Jeremiah 36 12 Word Analysis
- Ebed-melech (עֶבֶד־מֶלֶךְ - 'eḇeḏ-mélěḵ):
- עֶבֶד ('eḇeḏ): Slave, servant, subject. This emphasizes his status as a subordinate to the king, highlighting the personal nature of his service and obedience.
- מֶלֶךְ (mélěḵ): King. The name signifies devotion and loyalty to the monarch.
- the Ethiopian (הַכּוּשִׁי - ha kkûšî):
- הַ (ha): The (definite article).
- כּוּשִׁי (kûšî): Ethiopian, descendant of Cush (Genesis 10:6). This indicates his ethnic background. Being Ethiopian and a eunuch would place him in a position of vulnerability and perhaps an outsider status within the Judean court. However, it also signifies that divine favor and righteous actions are not limited by ethnicity or social standing, as also seen with the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8.
- a eunuch (סָרִיס - śārîś): A court official, often castrated. This term could denote a high-ranking official in charge of certain affairs of the king, not necessarily implying castration but a position of authority.
- in the king's house (בֵּית הַמֶּלֶךְ - bêt hammeleḵ): Within the royal palace or administration. This specifies his employment and access to the king.
- heard (שָׁמַע - šāmaʿ): To hear, listen, obey. Here, it signifies becoming aware of the situation.
- that they had put (שָׂמוּ - śāmû): They put, placed, set. Past tense, plural verb referring to the princes who acted against Jeremiah.
- Jeremiah (יִרְמְיָה - yirməyah): The name means "Yahweh exalts" or "Yahweh throws."
- into the cistern (בַּבּוֹר - babōr):
- בַּ (ba): In, into, at (preposition combined with the definite article).
- בּוֹר (bōr): Cistern, well, pit. In this context, it refers to a deep pit, often used for storing water or, as here, as a prison, and known for its muddy, suffocating bottom. The context implies it was empty of water but full of mud.
Phrase/Group Analysis:
- "Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, a eunuch in the king's house": This full description establishes Ebed-melech's identity, social status (a likely man of influence despite his possible circumstances as a eunuch and foreigner), and location of service, setting the stage for his courageous intervention.
- "heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern": This is the pivotal moment of information acquisition that sparks his action. The passive "they had put" implies an action by the authorities (the princes) against Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 36 12 Bonus Section
Ebed-melech's name, meaning "servant of the king," is fitting given his role. However, his actions demonstrate a higher loyalty to God's prophet and, by extension, to God's justice. His compassion for Jeremiah echoes the suffering servant theme, where one suffers for the sake of others. The promise of deliverance from the Babylonians given to him personally by God (Jer 39:17-18) shows that God notices and rewards acts of faithfulness and mercy, especially when performed by those in positions of influence, and for those who identify with the suffering of God’s messengers. This narrative provides a contrasting perspective to the general spiritual decline of the leadership and populace depicted in Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 36 12 Commentary
Ebed-melech’s intervention is a powerful testament to empathy and moral courage in a corrupt and faithless society. He did not passively accept the injustice. As a high-ranking official, he possessed the means and likely the access to King Zedekiah, which he strategically utilized to save Jeremiah. His actions underscore the biblical principle of interceding for the oppressed and speaking truth to power, even when it is dangerous. His motive was clearly compassionate and driven by a sense of right, transcending political expediency or fear of reprisal from the princes. His character, acting with boldness and compassion, is held up as an example of how individuals can make a difference even within oppressive systems. He received a personal message from God for his actions (Jeremiah 39:16-18), indicating God's awareness and approval of his kindness to the prophet.