Jeremiah 37 21

Jeremiah 37:21 kjv

Then Zedekiah the king commanded that they should commit Jeremiah into the court of the prison, and that they should give him daily a piece of bread out of the bakers' street, until all the bread in the city were spent. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.

Jeremiah 37:21 nkjv

Then Zedekiah the king commanded that they should commit Jeremiah to the court of the prison, and that they should give him daily a piece of bread from the bakers' street, until all the bread in the city was gone. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.

Jeremiah 37:21 niv

King Zedekiah then gave orders for Jeremiah to be placed in the courtyard of the guard and given a loaf of bread from the street of the bakers each day until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard.

Jeremiah 37:21 esv

So King Zedekiah gave orders, and they committed Jeremiah to the court of the guard. And a loaf of bread was given him daily from the bakers' street, until all the bread of the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.

Jeremiah 37:21 nlt

So King Zedekiah commanded that Jeremiah not be returned to the dungeon. Instead, he was imprisoned in the courtyard of the guard in the royal palace. The king also commanded that Jeremiah be given a loaf of fresh bread every day as long as there was any left in the city. So Jeremiah was put in the palace prison.

Jeremiah 37 verses

Jeremiah 37 21 meaning

Jeremiah 37:21 describes King Zedekiah's decree to move Jeremiah, the prophet, from a severe prison to the more lenient "court of the guard" and ensure he received a daily ration of bread. This provision was to continue for Jeremiah until the entire city ran out of food due to the ongoing Babylonian siege, highlighting both a temporary royal clemency towards Jeremiah (partly to keep him accessible for counsel) and the imminent, severe famine that would engulf Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 37 21 Context

Chapter 37 details Jeremiah's temporary imprisonment during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. When the Babylonians briefly withdrew to engage the Egyptian army, Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah, hoping for a word from the Lord that the Babylonians would permanently depart. Jeremiah, however, prophesied that the Babylonians would return and ultimately destroy the city. While attempting to leave Jerusalem for his hometown of Anathoth, Jeremiah was wrongly accused of defecting to the Babylonians and was imprisoned in a severe dungeon in the house of Jonathan the scribe. King Zedekiah, despite his wavering resolve and fear of his officials, harbored a private inclination to consult Jeremiah. He arranged for Jeremiah's transfer from the deadly dungeon to the less severe court of the guard and secured a basic provision of daily bread for him, recognizing the ongoing importance of the prophet's counsel even in confinement. This decision came as the city faced imminent famine, foreshadowing the fulfillment of Jeremiah's dire prophecies.

Jeremiah 37 21 Word analysis

• King Zedekiah (Hebrew: צִדְקִיָּהוּ, Tsidqiyyahu): The last king of Judah (reigned c. 597–586 BC), appointed by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kgs 24:17). Known for his indecisiveness, weakness, and fear of his own officials, despite private consultations with Jeremiah. His reign marked the end of the Davidic monarchy in Jerusalem.
• gave orders: Highlights Zedekiah's ultimate authority, even if often swayed by his court. His actions regarding Jeremiah varied between harsh treatment and provision, reflecting his conflicted nature and dependence on the prophet for a divine word.
• they committed Jeremiah: (Hebrew: וַיִּתְּנוּ אֶת־יִרְמְיָהוּ, vayyitnū et-Yirmĕyāhū) "They gave Jeremiah," suggesting that others, under the king's directive, carried out the action. Jeremiah's prophecies often led to his imprisonment or persecution (Jer 32:2-3; Jer 38:4-6), a common fate for true prophets challenging societal norms.
• court of the guard (Hebrew: חֲצַר הַמַּטָּרָה, khatsar ham-mattarah): A part of the royal palace grounds where prisoners could be detained. It was a less severe form of incarceration compared to a cistern or a dungeon, offering more light, space, and access. It placed Jeremiah physically close to Zedekiah, making private consultations easier (Jer 38:14).
• a loaf of bread daily (Hebrew: כִּכַּר לֶחֶם, kikkar lekhem): Literally, a "round of bread" or "talent of bread," signifying a daily, consistent portion. This provision, though basic, represented Zedekiah's mercy or pragmatic necessity. It shows God's continued care for His prophet even amidst harsh circumstances, using a human agent.
• from the bakers' street (Hebrew: מִסִּים בְּרְחוֹב הָאֹפִים, missim birchov ha'ofim): Refers to a specific street or quarter within Jerusalem where bread was traditionally produced and sold. This detail grounds the narrative in a historically accurate urban setting and suggests that, at this stage of the siege, a system for bread production, even if diminished, was still functioning.
• until all the bread in the city was gone (Hebrew: עַד תֹּם כָּל־הַלֶּחֶם בָּעִיר, ad tom kol-hallechem bair): This clause provides a chilling prophecy and precise timeline for the famine. It underlines the impending doom and complete exhaustion of resources in Jerusalem due to the siege. This isn't just a rationing system; it is a temporary measure leading to an inevitable and total collapse, fulfilling prophecies of judgment (Jer 14:1-6; Lam 2:11-12).

Jeremiah 37 21 Bonus section

The seemingly benign detail of "the bakers' street" serves as a historical and social anchor, revealing that even deep into the Babylonian siege, some vestiges of daily life and commerce, albeit precarious, persisted. The specific reference to obtaining bread from this quarter signifies the city's struggle to maintain even basic functions before its inevitable downfall. This act of daily provision, a direct result of royal command, protected Jeremiah from the extreme starvation faced by the general populace at the siege's end (Jer 52:6; Lam 4:10). It highlights divine grace, allowing His messenger to endure and witness the ultimate fulfillment of the very prophecies for which he was imprisoned.

Jeremiah 37 21 Commentary

Jeremiah 37:21 succinctly encapsulates Zedekiah's oscillating relationship with God's prophet and the dire reality of Jerusalem under siege. Zedekiah's order to move Jeremiah to the court of the guard and provide him with bread reflects his conflicted soul: a desire to alleviate suffering or keep the prophet available for guidance, juxtaposed with his inability to fully submit to God's will and Jeremiah's unwelcome counsel. This provision, a temporary relief from harsher conditions, nevertheless confirms Jeremiah's continued imprisonment for speaking truth. The chilling qualification, "until all the bread in the city was gone," serves as a stark, date-stamped prophecy. It is a precise indicator of the severity of the siege, the unalterable judgment decreed by God, and the inevitable total collapse of the city's food supply. Despite human intervention to sustain the prophet, the broader divine judgment on the unrepentant city would run its full course, leading to an absolute famine and demonstrating the fulfillment of Jeremiah's consistently rejected words. It underscores the prophet's reliance on divine provision even when facing a desperate national crisis, trusting that God would sustain him until the bitter end of Judah's kingdom.