Jeremiah 38 17

Jeremiah 38:17 kjv

Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon's princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house:

Jeremiah 38:17 nkjv

Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "Thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: 'If you surely surrender to the king of Babylon's princes, then your soul shall live; this city shall not be burned with fire, and you and your house shall live.

Jeremiah 38:17 niv

Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "This is what the LORD God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: 'If you surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, your life will be spared and this city will not be burned down; you and your family will live.

Jeremiah 38:17 esv

Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "Thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: If you will surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then your life shall be spared, and this city shall not be burned with fire, and you and your house shall live.

Jeremiah 38:17 nlt

Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "This is what the LORD God of Heaven's Armies, the God of Israel, says: 'If you surrender to the Babylonian officers, you and your family will live, and the city will not be burned down.

Jeremiah 38 verses

Jeremiah 38 17 Meaning

This verse contains a prophecy of conditional salvation offered to Zedekiah, the king of Judah, by Jeremiah. It assures him that he will not die by the sword in the hands of the Chaldeans and that his life will be preserved, with his soul being his spoil, because he surrendered to the Chaldeans. The offer is contingent on his submission.

Jeremiah 38 17 Context

Jeremiah 38 unfolds during the final siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonian army under Nebuchadnezzar. King Zedekiah, weak and indecisive, faces immense pressure from his officials to resist Jeremiah's prophecies of doom and surrender. This chapter details how Jeremiah is thrown into a cistern, where he is rescued by Ebed-melech. Following this, the king secretly summons Jeremiah for counsel, seeking divine guidance without public commitment. Jeremiah's response in this verse is part of that private consultation, delivering a message from God concerning Zedekiah's personal fate in the midst of national catastrophe. The broader context of Jeremiah's ministry is one of warning Judah about impending judgment due to its persistent sin and rebellion against God.

Jeremiah 38 17 Word Analysis

• "Then": Refers to the sequence of events, specifically after Jeremiah's rescue and his summoning by Zedekiah.
• "Jeremiah": The prophet of God, delivering God's word.
• "said": Uttered, spoke, declared.
• "Thus": In this way, in this manner. Introduces direct speech from God.
• "says": Speaks. Present tense, emphasizing the ongoing relevance of God's word.
• "the Lord": Yahweh, the covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal relationship with Israel.
• "of hosts": (Hebrew: Yahweh tsabaoth). Denotes God's omnipotence and sovereignty as the commander of heavenly armies.
• "the God": Elohim, a general term for God, highlighting His power and majesty.
• "of Israel": The covenant people of God, signifying the specific context of God's dealings with them.
• "Thus says the Lord": A classic prophetic formula, attesting to the divine origin of the message.
• "Behold": (Hebrew: hineh). A particle used to draw attention, emphasizing what follows.
• "I am": Expresses God's current and active involvement.
• "the God": Elohim.
• "of Israel": Reaffirms the covenantal relationship.
• "Because": Introduces the reason or condition for the promise.
• "you have put your trust": (Hebrew: batachta). To trust, to rely on, to confide in. Here, it refers to Zedekiah's seeking refuge in the Chaldeans by surrendering.
• "in the Chaldeans": Specifically referring to the Babylonian invaders.
• "will I": God's intention and action.
• "save you": Deliver, rescue, preserve.
• "from the hand": Under the power, control, or dominion.
• "of the Chaldeans": Again, the besieging army.
• "that": A conjunction introducing a clause of result or purpose.
• "you shall not die": A direct negation of death by a specific means.
• "by the sword": Through violent combat or execution.
• "You shall not see": You will not witness.
• "the destruction": (Hebrew: 'edah - sometimes translated as 'assembly' but here in context implies the fall, possibly linked to 'gathering for judgment' or the ravaging). The word 'esh (fire) can also be implied by context. The LXX has a word related to death by fire, reflecting a possible textual variant or a deeper theological understanding of judgment by fire, which is consistent with biblical themes.
• "of the city": Jerusalem.
• "and you shall surely live": A strong affirmation of life preserved.
• "and your soul": Your life, your very being.
• "shall be": Will be.
• "your spoil": (Hebrew: bashalaleikh). The personal gain or prize secured from defeat or capture. In this context, it means his life is saved as the one thing he gets to keep amidst total destruction.
• "because you have put your trust": Repeating the condition for emphasis and clarity.
• "in Me": (Hebrew: 'Oti). Referring back to "the Lord," emphasizing trust in God's word and promise. However, the context clearly states "in the Chaldeans". The critical phrase is "because you put your trust in me," referring to putting trust in the LORD's word that came through Jeremiah, by acting upon the advice to surrender to the Chaldeans. It implies that by submitting to the Chaldeans as instructed by Jeremiah, Zedekiah was indirectly trusting in God's word and plan, despite the grim outcome. This interpretation is crucial for the conditional promise. A correction is needed: The Hebrew here actually states "batacht' bi." This is a direct second-person singular masculine perfect verb, meaning "you have trusted." The antecedent for "bi" (in me) is God. Therefore, the original analysis that "he surrendered to the Chaldeans" being the act of trust was slightly misplaced. The trust was placed in God by surrendering to the Chaldeans. This distinction is vital.

Word-Group Analysis:

• "Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel": This powerful introductory phrase establishes the divine authority and context for the message. It grounds the prophecy in God's sovereign power and His covenantal relationship with Israel.
• "Because you have put your trust in me...": This phrase is central. It means Zedekiah's trust was placed not in human armies or fortifications, but in God's communicated will through Jeremiah. His willingness to listen and act upon Jeremiah's counsel (to surrender) demonstrated a flicker of faith in God, even when that counsel meant submitting to the enemy.
• "...your soul shall be your spoil": This poignant image signifies that amidst the utter devastation and loss expected for Jerusalem and its people, Zedekiah's life would be preserved as the sole "gain" or remnant of his personal possessions. He would escape the fate of others but lose everything else.

Jeremiah 38 17 Bonus Section

The contrast between "put your trust in Me" and the immediate preceding phrase "surrender to the Chaldeans" highlights a crucial theological point: genuine trust in God often involves acting on His instructions, even when those instructions seem counterintuitive or lead through difficult circumstances. Ebed-melech, the Ethiopian eunuch who rescued Jeremiah from the cistern, is mentioned in Jeremiah 39:16-18, and God also promises his salvation "because you have put your trust in Me" (in the Lord your God). This parallel emphasizes that faithfulness to God's people and His word, even in small acts of mercy during times of crisis, garners divine favor. The imagery of "soul as spoil" is a profound illustration of how God can redeem life even from the jaws of destruction, ensuring that even those who experience personal downfall might have a remnant of hope and testimony. It underlines the severity of the judgment upon Jerusalem, where even the king's life is a salvaged item, not a reign.

Jeremiah 38 17 Commentary

Jeremiah 38:17 is a critical moment in the prophet's interaction with the doomed king Zedekiah. It reveals God's unwavering principle: a promise of preservation through submission, not resistance, to His appointed means of judgment. Zedekiah's kingship was marked by rebellion and faithlessness, leading Judah to its destruction. However, in this private encounter, Zedekiah shows a nascent willingness to heed God's word through Jeremiah. The condition for his survival is clearly articulated: trust in God's revealed will by surrendering to the Chaldeans. This trust would mean personal preservation, his life becoming a stark reminder of the cost of disobedience for the nation, while he himself escapes the sword and the sight of Jerusalem's fall. His soul is "spoil" because he obtains his life as a prize out of utter loss, having lost his kingdom, his people's favor, and his own future kingship. This is not a reward for righteousness, but a mercy shown to one who, at the very last, turns toward God's counsel. It echoes the larger theme that God desires salvation even for those facing His judgment, provided they heed His voice.