Jeremiah 37 18

Jeremiah 37:18 kjv

Moreover Jeremiah said unto king Zedekiah, What have I offended against thee, or against thy servants, or against this people, that ye have put me in prison?

Jeremiah 37:18 nkjv

Moreover Jeremiah said to King Zedekiah, "What offense have I committed against you, against your servants, or against this people, that you have put me in prison?

Jeremiah 37:18 niv

Then Jeremiah said to King Zedekiah, "What crime have I committed against you or your attendants or this people, that you have put me in prison?

Jeremiah 37:18 esv

Jeremiah also said to King Zedekiah, "What wrong have I done to you or your servants or this people, that you have put me in prison?

Jeremiah 37:18 nlt

Then Jeremiah asked the king, "What crime have I committed? What have I done against you, your attendants, or the people that I should be imprisoned like this?

Jeremiah 37 verses

Jeremiah 37 18 Meaning

Jeremiah questions whether the LORD, his God, had forsaken him by allowing him to be imprisoned, thus questioning God's faithfulness and presence in his suffering.

Jeremiah 37 18 Context

Jeremiah is imprisoned by Zedekiah the king, a response to Jeremiah's continued prophecy that Jerusalem will fall to the Babylonians. This verse occurs within a broader narrative of Jeremiah's persecution by his own people, including priests and officials, who reject his message of doom and call for repentance. King Zedekiah, while personally more receptive than the other leaders, ultimately succumbs to their pressure, illustrating the entrenched resistance to Jeremiah's divine pronouncements.

Jeremiah 37 18 Word Analysis

• "But": (Hebrew: וְ עַתָּה - wə ‘attâ) Conjunction showing a contrast or change of state, linking the current predicament to previous assurances or expectations.

• "now": Refers to the present time, the state of his imprisonment.

• "where": (Hebrew: אַיֵּה - ’ayyeh) Interrogative pronoun indicating a location or state of being, expressing a searching and bewildered question.

• "are": (Hebrew: הֵם - hēm) Plural verb "to be," referring to those who previously supported or protected him.

• "they?": Refers to his former accusers or captors, highlighting his confusion about their current whereabouts or the rationale behind his imprisonment.

• "What": (Hebrew: מָה - mâ) Interrogative pronoun inquiring about the reason or action.

• "have": Auxiliary verb indicating a past action with present relevance.

• "you": (Hebrew: אַתָּה - ’attâ) Second person masculine singular pronoun, directly addressing King Zedekiah.

• "done,": (Hebrew: עָשִׂיתָ - ‘āśîtā) Past tense verb meaning to do, make, or act.

• "O": Vocative particle, used for direct address.

• "my": Possessive pronoun, indicating ownership or relation.

• "king,": (Hebrew: מֶלֶךְ - melek) Title for the sovereign ruler.

• "that": Conjunction introducing a subordinate clause explaining the consequence or purpose of his actions.

• "they": Pronoun referring back to those who brought about his imprisonment, possibly indicating a collective action or an attributed responsibility to the king.

• "have": Auxiliary verb.

• "you": (Hebrew: אוֹתִי - ’ōtî) Second person pronoun, referring to Jeremiah.

• "brought": (Hebrew: הֲבֵאתֶם - hăḇê’têm) Past tense verb meaning to bring, to cause to come.

• "me": Pronoun referring to Jeremiah.

• "here?": (Hebrew: הֲבֵאתֶם - hăḇê’têm) Adverb indicating the current place, his prison cell.

• Words-Group Analysis:

  • "But now where are they?" - This opening expresses Jeremiah's shock and disorientation at his current predicament, questioning the absence of those who might have intervened or the explanation for his changed circumstances.
  • "What have you done, O my king" - This directly confronts King Zedekiah, placing responsibility on him for the unjust imprisonment and demanding an explanation for this action.
  • "that they have you brought me here?" - This connects the king's actions (or inactions) to Jeremiah's current suffering in prison, implying a betrayal or abandonment by the very authority he addressed.

Jeremiah 37 18 Bonus Section

This verse exemplifies the prophetic cry of lament and doubt often found in the Book of Jeremiah. It is not a denial of God’s power, but an honest expression of disorientation when circumstances seem to contradict God’s past promises of presence and protection. The experience of Jeremiah foreshadows the ultimate abandonment Jesus experienced on the cross when He cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" This demonstrates that even those closest to God may wrestle with feelings of abandonment in their deepest suffering, a profound spiritual reality that can lead to deeper trust. Jeremiah's interrogation of Zedekiah highlights the intersection of human leadership failures and divine will.

Jeremiah 37 18 Commentary

Jeremiah, in his profound distress, directs his anguish toward King Zedekiah. He questions the presence and efficacy of those who should have protected him, and more acutely, he demands an accounting from the king. This cry is not just for a political leader, but implicitly for God, as Zedekiah represents the earthly authority divinely ordained to uphold justice. Jeremiah grapples with the apparent abandonment, a theme echoed by David in the Psalms and by Jesus on the cross. It is a human outcry in the face of overwhelming suffering, a testament to the prophetic burden and the personal cost of faithfulness. The prophet feels betrayed not only by human leaders but also by the perceived silence of God, yet such moments often precede a deeper revelation of God’s unwavering commitment, as seen in Jeremiah’s later assurance and resilience.