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 the favorable treatment Jeremiah received after his release from prison. Zedekiah, the king, had him brought out of the cistern prison and kept him in the courtyard of the guard. This demonstrates a degree of kingly compassion and protection, even amidst the dire circumstances of Jerusalem's siege. The verse highlights that Jeremiah was provided with a daily ration of bread from the bakers' street as long as bread remained in the city, ensuring his sustenance during a time of severe famine.

Jeremiah 37 21 Context

Jeremiah 37 occurs during the final siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar. The city is in a desperate state, marked by famine and the collapse of morale. In the preceding chapter (36), Jeremiah, compelled by God, dictates prophecies to Baruch, who reads them to the people and officials. This angers King Jehoiakim, who attempts to destroy the scroll, demonstrating fierce opposition to Jeremiah's message.

Later, under King Zedekiah, Jeremiah is imprisoned for prophesying that the Chaldeans would conquer the city. He is accused of weakening the soldiers' hands. In chapter 37, Zedekiah consults Jeremiah privately regarding God's will concerning the siege, indicating a wavering faith and a desire for assurance, yet his actions still demonstrate a spiritual disconnect and political pragmatism. Zedekiah does not ultimately heed Jeremiah's dire warnings about Jerusalem's destruction. The verse in question marks a temporary reprieve and a show of limited favor from Zedekiah towards Jeremiah, but it does not signify a full change of heart or belief on the king's part.

Jeremiah 37 21 Word Analysis

• "So" (וַיֹּּאמַר / wayyo’mar): This conjunction often begins a narrative sequence, indicating continuation or consequence from the preceding events. It signals that what follows is a direct result or a next step in the account.
• "King Zedekiah" (וְהַמֶּלֶךְ צִדְקִיָּהוּ / wəhammeleḵ ṣiḏqiyyāhû): The reigning monarch of Judah during this period. His name, "Yahweh is my righteousness," contrasts sharply with his actions and the impending judgment on Judah.
• "sent" (שָׁלַח / šālaḥ): Indicates a deliberate act of dispatching someone, showing Zedekiah's command for Jeremiah to be brought.
• "and brought" (וַיָּבִיא ’ôthî / wayyāḇî ‘ōṯî): "Brought him." The focus is on Jeremiah's physical relocation from the dungeon.
• "Jeremiah" (אֶת־יִרְמְיָהוּ / ‘eṯ-yirməyāhû): The prophet of God whose message consistently foretold judgment due to the people's disobedience.
• "out of the prison" (מִן־הַבּוֹר / min-habbôr): "From the cistern" or "pit." This refers to the place of confinement described in previous verses, often a deep, potentially watery pit.
• "the court of the guard" (חֲצַר הַמַּשְׁמֶרֶת / ḥăṣar hammāšmereth): "The courtyard of the guard" or "watch." This suggests a more secure but accessible part of the palace or governmental buildings, indicating he was still under a form of custody but no longer in a harsh dungeon.
• "and commanded" (וַיִּצְוֶה / wayyiṣwâ): "And he commanded." Emphasizes Zedekiah's royal authority in giving orders.
• "him" (אֹתוֹ / ‘ōṯô): Referring back to Jeremiah.
• "to have" (לָתֵת / lāṯēṯ): "To give" or "to provide."
• "him" (ל֤וֹ / lō): "To him."
• "daily" (מִדֵּי יוֹם / middē-yôm): "Every day," indicating a regular provision.
• "a daily portion" (לֶחֶם / leḥem): "Bread." The most essential food item, symbolizing sustenance and life.
• "of bread" (מִן־בָּקַע הָאֹפִים / min-bōqă‘a hā’ôpîm): "From the street of the bakers." A specific location known for supplying bread, indicating the source and nature of his daily ration. This also implies that bread was still available in the city, though scarce.
• "as long as" (עַד־עוֹד / ‘ad-‘ôḏ): A temporal clause indicating the duration of the provision.
• "bread" (לֶחֶם / leḥem): The recurring mention of bread emphasizes the severity of the siege and the city's dwindling supplies, making even this daily ration significant.
• "remained in the city" (בָּאֹסֶפֶת בָּעִיר / bā’ōsepheṯ bā‘îr): "There remained in the city" or "as long as there was bread in the city." This phrase highlights the critical condition of Jerusalem's food supply during the siege.

Jeremiah 37 21 Bonus Section

This interaction with Zedekiah reflects a pattern where prophets sometimes received private audience or limited reprieve from rulers, even those who were ultimately resistant to their messages (e.g., Ahab and Elijah). The provision of food by the bakers’ street may have been intended as a sign that despite his pronouncements of doom, Jeremiah was still cared for within the city, a subtle acknowledgment of his prophetic office that Zedekiah struggled to reconcile with his political realities. The spiritual hunger of the people and their leaders contrasted with the physical provision for the prophet, emphasizing the spiritual dearth within Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 37 21 Commentary

This verse marks a turning point, albeit a minor one, in Jeremiah's personal suffering during the siege of Jerusalem. King Zedekiah, despite his own weakness and eventual betrayal of Jeremiah's counsel, intervenes to remove the prophet from the dire conditions of the dungeon. Placing Jeremiah in the courtyard of the guard signifies a degree of kingly protection, recognizing Jeremiah as someone the king wishes to consult, albeit not fully trust or obey.

The provision of daily bread from the bakers' street is a poignant detail. It shows that sustenance was being provided, acknowledging Jeremiah's status and perhaps a nascent sense of justice or concern from the king. However, the qualifier "as long as bread remained in the city" underscores the extreme hardship faced by Jerusalem, foreshadowing the ultimate collapse and ensuing famine. This limited provision is not an act of complete exoneration or freedom but a managed custody, highlighting the tension between the king's limited mercy and the prophet's dire message. It also demonstrates that God can still work through even compromised authorities to sustain His servants amidst persecution.