Jeremiah 38:16 kjv
So Zedekiah the king sware secretly unto Jeremiah, saying, As the LORD liveth, that made us this soul, I will not put thee to death, neither will I give thee into the hand of these men that seek thy life.
Jeremiah 38:16 nkjv
So Zedekiah the king swore secretly to Jeremiah, saying, "As the LORD lives, who made our very souls, I will not put you to death, nor will I give you into the hand of these men who seek your life."
Jeremiah 38:16 niv
But King Zedekiah swore this oath secretly to Jeremiah: "As surely as the LORD lives, who has given us breath, I will neither kill you nor hand you over to those who want to kill you."
Jeremiah 38:16 esv
Then King Zedekiah swore secretly to Jeremiah, "As the LORD lives, who made our souls, I will not put you to death or deliver you into the hand of these men who seek your life."
Jeremiah 38:16 nlt
So King Zedekiah secretly promised him, "As surely as the LORD our Creator lives, I will not kill you or hand you over to the men who want you dead."
Jeremiah 38 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 38:16 | But Ebed-melech the Ethiopian shall deliver you | Jeremiah 38:12 |
| Jeremiah 39:15-18 | While you are still in the courtyard of the guard | Jeremiah 38:7-13 |
| Genesis 39:21-23 | But the Lord was with Joseph | Genesis 39:21 |
| Psalm 34:17-19 | The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears | Psalm 34:17 |
| Psalm 91:14-16 | Because he holds fast to me in love | Psalm 91:14 |
| Isaiah 41:10 | Fear not, for I am with you | Isaiah 41:10 |
| Isaiah 43:1-2 | When you pass through the waters, I will be with you | Isaiah 43:2 |
| Lamentations 3:20-24 | The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases | Lamentations 3:22 |
| Ezekiel 34:11-16 | I will rescue my sheep | Ezekiel 34:13 |
| Zechariah 2:8 | Whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye | Zechariah 2:8 |
| Matthew 10:29-31 | Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? | Matthew 10:30 |
| Matthew 18:10 | See that you do not despise one of these little ones | Matthew 18:10 |
| Luke 12:6-7 | Even the hairs of your head are all numbered | Luke 12:6 |
| John 10:14-15 | I know my sheep and my sheep know me | John 10:14 |
| Romans 8:31-39 | If God is for us, who can be against us? | Romans 8:31 |
| 2 Timothy 2:19 | But the solid foundation of God remains, | 2 Timothy 2:19 |
| Hebrews 6:10 | For God is not unjust so as to forget your work | Hebrews 6:10 |
| 1 Peter 5:7 | Casting all your anxieties on him | 1 Peter 5:7 |
| Revelation 2:3-5 | You are enduring patiently for my name's sake | Revelation 2:3 |
| Jeremiah 1:8 | For I am with you to save you | Jeremiah 1:8 |
| Jeremiah 15:20 | I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze | Jeremiah 15:20 |
| Jeremiah 29:11 | For I know the plans I have for you | Jeremiah 29:11 |
Jeremiah 38 verses
Jeremiah 38 16 Meaning
This verse emphasizes the affirmation of God's faithfulness and remembrance towards an individual in a dire situation. Despite abandonment and presumed death by the surrounding populace, God's salvific action is declared through His knowledge and personal intervention, assuring that His promises are not forgotten.
Jeremiah 38 16 Context
Jeremiah 38 is situated within the final, desperate days of Jerusalem's siege by the Babylonians. Jeremiah, having been imprisoned by the princes who opposed him, is cast into a cistern to die of hunger and thirst. This specific verse is spoken by God to Jeremiah, assuring him of divine awareness and impending rescue. It addresses Jeremiah's immediate physical peril and profound despair, offering a testament to God's unwavering presence even in the most hopeless circumstances. Historically, this occurred around 586 BC, during the collapse of Judah.
Jeremiah 38 16 Word Analysis
- "But": Connects this statement as a reassurance in contrast to the actions of men who cast him into the pit.
- "Ebed-melech": A Hebrew name meaning "servant of the king." Refers to a Cushite (Ethiopian) eunuch in King Zedekiah's court. His name itself signifies service, echoing his later action of faithful service to the prophet.
- "the": Definite article, specifying Ebed-melech.
- "Ethiopian": Indicates his ethnic origin, highlighting God's impartial concern which extends beyond national or social boundaries, a notable point in ancient patriarchal societies.
- "the": Definite article.
- "eunuch": Describes his physical condition, which might have placed him in a subordinate or excluded social position, yet God uses him significantly. This shows God elevates the humble and marginalized.
- "shall": Indicates a future certainty of action.
- "deliver": Hebrew: malat (מָלַט). Means to escape, be delivered, be rescued. It speaks of active salvation and deliverance from peril.
- "thee": Pronoun referring to Jeremiah, archaic English for "you."
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "But Ebed-melech the Ethiopian the eunuch": This identifies the human instrument of deliverance. The specific details of his identity (Ethiopian, eunuch) emphasize God's sovereign choice and the cross-cultural, inclusive nature of His providence.
- "shall deliver thee": This is a powerful prophetic declaration of future rescue orchestrated by God through a faithful, albeit socially unassuming, individual.
Jeremiah 38 16 Bonus Section
The Ethiopian eunuch's rescue of Jeremiah prefigures the Ethiopian treasurer, another eunuch, being baptized by Philip in the book of Acts (Acts 8:26-40). This shows a beautiful continuity in how God uses and brings salvation to people of Ethiopian descent in His divine plan, highlighting a consistent theme of God's kingdom breaking down ethnic and social barriers. Ebed-melech's act was not merely a physical rescue but a testament to God's faithfulness to His prophets and His power to deliver His people from the most desperate circumstances, even as the city faces imminent destruction.
Jeremiah 38 16 Commentary
God speaks directly to Jeremiah, offering comfort amidst extreme suffering and apparent abandonment. The verse highlights God's omniscience ("He knows") and His providential care ("He will not forget you"), assuring Jeremiah that his plight has not gone unnoticed by the divine. The specific mention of Ebed-melech, the Ethiopian eunuch, reveals that God works through ordinary people, often those considered outsiders or less significant by society. Ebed-melech's faith in God led him to act courageously by interceding for Jeremiah, a risk that could have endangered his own life. This is a profound assurance that God remembers His faithful servants even when the world counts them out, using whomever He pleases to accomplish His purposes. It underscores the theme that God's ways are higher than man's and His rescue can come from unexpected sources.