Jeremiah 38 1

Jeremiah 38:1 kjv

Then Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashur the son of Malchiah, heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken unto all the people, saying,

Jeremiah 38:1 nkjv

Now Shephatiah the son of Mattan, Gedaliah the son of Pashhur, Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur the son of Malchiah heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken to all the people, saying,

Jeremiah 38:1 niv

Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jehukal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malkijah heard what Jeremiah was telling all the people when he said,

Jeremiah 38:1 esv

Now Shephatiah the son of Mattan, Gedaliah the son of Pashhur, Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur the son of Malchiah heard the words that Jeremiah was saying to all the people:

Jeremiah 38:1 nlt

Now Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jehucal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malkijah heard what Jeremiah had been telling the people. He had been saying,

Jeremiah 38 verses

Jeremiah 38 1 meaning

Jeremiah 38:1 introduces four specific, high-ranking officials – Shephatiah, Gedaliah, Jucal, and Pashhur – who were present and attentive to Jeremiah's public pronouncements. These pronouncements, as elaborated in the subsequent verses (Jer 38:2-3), were dire warnings urging surrender to the Babylonians to preserve life, directly confronting the Judean court's strategy of resistance. This verse thus establishes the key antagonists who would subsequently move to have Jeremiah killed, underscoring the severe political and spiritual conflict between the prophet and the authorities of his time.

Jeremiah 38 1 Context

Jeremiah 38:1 is situated during the most critical phase of the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem, approximately 588-586 BC, under the reign of King Zedekiah. Judah was facing famine, disease, and the imminent destruction of its capital, yet the court was largely divided between factions promoting resistance (often with false hopes of Egyptian aid) and Jeremiah's consistent message of divine judgment and the necessity of surrender to Babylon. Preceding this verse, Jeremiah had been unjustly imprisoned, only to be released with the understanding that he would cease to publicly preach (Jer 37). However, Jeremiah’s divine mandate compelled him to continue speaking God's challenging message (Jer 38:2-3), thereby rekindling the fierce opposition of the court. The "princes" or "officials" mentioned were powerful advisors within Zedekiah's government, likely staunch nationalists who viewed Jeremiah's words as seditious, undermining morale, and betraying the nation. This verse, therefore, immediately precedes Jeremiah's near-death experience in the miry cistern, instigated by these very individuals.

Jeremiah 38 1 Word analysis

• Now: A connective particle indicating the progression of the narrative, directly linking this scene to Jeremiah's ongoing ministry and the specific message detailed immediately after.

• Shephatiah (שְׁפַטְיָה - Shəp̄aṭyāh): Meaning "Yahweh has judged" or "My judgment is Yahweh." Ironic, given he opposes God's prophet delivering that judgment. He is otherwise not mentioned.

• the son of Mattan: Mattan means "gift." This patronymic identifies Shephatiah as belonging to an established family within the Jerusalem aristocracy.

• Gedaliah (גְּדַלְיָה - Gəḏalyāh): Meaning "Yahweh is great" or "Yahweh has made great." Another name rich in irony, as he resists God's explicit counsel given through Jeremiah, thereby denying the very "greatness" of Yahweh's authority.

• the son of Pashhur: This Pashhur (father of Gedaliah) is distinct from Pashhur son of Malchiah (later in the verse) and Pashhur son of Immer (Jer 20). The prominence of this family name in various influential positions suggests a powerful lineage often at odds with Jeremiah.

• Jucal (יֽוּכַל - Yūḵal): A shortened form of "Jehucal" (יְהוּכַל - Yəhūḵal), meaning "Yahweh is able." He appeared previously as an emissary sent by King Zedekiah to consult Jeremiah (Jer 37:3), indicating a history of interaction and sustained opposition.

• the son of Shelemiah: Shelemiah (שֶׁלֶמְיָה - Šelemiah) means "Yahweh has repaid" or "Yahweh is peace/completion." Like the others, his father's name invokes Yahweh but their actions oppose Him.

• and Pashhur (פַּשְׁחוּר - Pašḥūr): This is "Pashhur the son of Malchiah," another distinct high official who, like Jucal, was previously sent by King Zedekiah to inquire of Jeremiah (Jer 21:1). His name’s etymology is debated but possibly relates to "freedom" or is a personal name. His presence highlights continuous, high-level political resistance.

• the son of Malchiah: Malchiah (מַלְכִּיָּה - Malkīyāh) means "My king is Yahweh." Another religiously resonant name whose bearer acts against Yahweh's message.

• heard (שֹׁמְעִים - šōm‘îm): A present participle, implying continuous, active listening, rather than mere accidental overhearing. This emphasizes that their subsequent actions were a deliberate, informed response to Jeremiah's specific words.

• the words (אֶת־הַדְּבָרִים - ’eṯ-haðdəḇārîm): Not just casual conversation, but "the specific divine messages" or "divine pronouncements." This refers directly to the prophetic oracle of surrender and doom articulated in Jer 38:2-3 and previous chapters.

• that Jeremiah was speaking: Clarifies the source and authority behind the "words." These were direct, authoritative pronouncements from the prophet, understood as God’s own message.

• to all the people: Indicates the public nature of Jeremiah’s prophecy. It was not a private counsel but a message intended for the entire population of Jerusalem, affecting public morale during the siege and directly challenging the official policy of resistance.

• saying: A discourse marker that signals the imminent or recently spoken content of Jeremiah’s message, immediately leading to the specified warnings in Jer 38:2-3.

• Words-group analysis:

  • Shephatiah... Gedaliah... Jucal... and Pashhur: This precise enumeration of four high-ranking officials underscores their prominence and the collective nature of their opposition. Their names, often having Yahwistic elements, stand in stark contrast to their actions of rejecting Yahweh's prophet.
  • Heard the words that Jeremiah was speaking to all the people: This phrase pinpoints the precise catalyst for the events that follow. It signifies that these powerful men were fully aware of Jeremiah’s public message—God's revealed will—before they acted against him. Their response was a conscious and defiant rejection of divine counsel.

Jeremiah 38 1 Bonus section

The consistent involvement of individuals like Jucal (Jehucal) and Pashhur (son of Malchiah) across different episodes in Jeremiah’s ministry (Jer 21, 37, 38) reveals a pattern of persistent, entrenched opposition to God’s message. These were not one-off adversaries but integral parts of King Zedekiah’s inner circle who continually confronted or were confronted by Jeremiah. This repetitive naming provides concrete historical authenticity to the narrative and reinforces the impression of Jeremiah’s profound isolation, often standing alone against the combined might of Jerusalem's elite. It reflects a wider biblical truth that prophets of God often encounter the most significant resistance from the powerful religious and political establishments of their time, not from the general populace alone.

Jeremiah 38 1 Commentary

Jeremiah 38:1 provides a focused opening to a scene of intense conflict, detailing the precise individuals in authority who were present and actively heard God's word delivered through Jeremiah. The verse’s precision in naming these four royal officials – Shephatiah, Gedaliah, Jucal, and Pashhur – highlights their high social and political standing in Judah's final days, and by extension, the powerful systemic opposition Jeremiah faced. Their names, often bearing an implicit connection to Yahweh, are ironically contrasted with their subsequent actions to silence His prophet. The fact that they "heard the words" indicates an informed and deliberate rejection of divine guidance, publicly given. This sets the stage for the narrative of Jeremiah's near-fatal suffering and serves as a powerful testament to the unwavering commitment of God's prophet in delivering an unpopular truth, despite facing the severest personal persecution from those who should have led the nation in obedience.