Jeremiah 38:2 kjv
Thus saith the LORD, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live.
Jeremiah 38:2 nkjv
"Thus says the LORD: 'He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence; but he who goes over to the Chaldeans shall live; his life shall be as a prize to him, and he shall live.'
Jeremiah 38:2 niv
"This is what the LORD says: 'Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague, but whoever goes over to the Babylonians will live. They will escape with their lives; they will live.'
Jeremiah 38:2 esv
"Thus says the LORD: He who stays in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence, but he who goes out to the Chaldeans shall live. He shall have his life as a prize of war, and live.
Jeremiah 38:2 nlt
"This is what the LORD says: 'Everyone who stays in Jerusalem will die from war, famine, or disease, but those who surrender to the Babylonians will live. Their reward will be life. They will live!'
Jeremiah 38 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 38:3 | "For, Lo, I bring upon this city the evil that I have devised..." | Jeremiah 19:3; 25:11 |
| Jeremiah 21:4 | "Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands..." | Jeremiah 21:10; 34:2-3 |
| Jeremiah 32:28 | "Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the Chaldeans, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and he shall take it:" | 2 Kings 25:4; Jeremiah 52:7 |
| Jeremiah 34:3 | "And thou shalt not go out; but thou shalt surely die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence, whereby this city is given into the hands of the king of Babylon: and thou shalt surely die, and shalt not fall into their hands." | Jeremiah 38:15; 2 Chronicles 16:10 |
| Ezekiel 13:19 | "And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, by your lying to my people that hearken unto lies?" | Ezekiel 13:20 |
| Acts 5:34 | "Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;" | Acts 5:38-39 |
| 1 Peter 2:23 | "Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:" | Isaiah 53:7; Luke 23:47 |
| Proverbs 29:1 | "He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy." | Proverbs 1:25-26; Isaiah 1:5 |
| 2 Chronicles 36:16 | "But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy." | 2 Chronicles 36:16; Nehemiah 4:4 |
| Jeremiah 1:17 | "Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them." | Jeremiah 15:19-20 |
| Jeremiah 7:25 | "Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early, and sending them:" | Jeremiah 25:3-4; Zechariah 1:4 |
| Jeremiah 26:11 | "Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the children of the land, saying, This man is worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears." | Jeremiah 26:8-11 |
| Matthew 10:16 | "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." | Luke 10:3; John 15:18 |
| John 15:20 | "Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you." | Matthew 5:10-12; 1 Peter 4:12 |
| Revelation 18:24 | "And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth." | Luke 11:49-51; Matthew 23:35 |
| Isaiah 53:7 | "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted; yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth." | Jeremiah 11:19 |
| 1 Corinthians 4:3 | "But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self." | Job 9:20; Psalm 130:3 |
| Amos 3:7 | "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." | Amos 3:7 |
| Matthew 23:37 | "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" | Luke 13:34-35 |
| John 7:47 | "Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived?" | John 7:48-52 |
Jeremiah 38 verses
Jeremiah 38 2 Meaning
Jeremiah 38:2 declares that King Zedekiah will face judgment from God due to the actions and advice of his princes who were instigating Jeremiah's imprisonment. It signifies a consequence for complicity in hindering God's prophet.
Jeremiah 38 2 Context
This verse is situated within a challenging period for Jeremiah and for Jerusalem. The Babylonians are at the gates of the city, posing an imminent threat. King Zedekiah is wavering, seeking counsel but also influenced by his advisors. The princes, who hold considerable sway, are advocating for measures that appear pragmatic but disregard God's prophetic message delivered through Jeremiah. Jeremiah's earlier prophecies had warned of Jerusalem's destruction if the people did not repent and surrender. His counsel was to surrender to the Babylonians as the only means of survival. The princes, misinterpreting the situation and their own strength, wanted Jeremiah silenced and punished for what they perceived as defeatist talk that weakened the city's resolve. Zedekiah, despite hearing Jeremiah’s warnings, is easily swayed by these princes.
Jeremiah 38 2 Word Analysis
And it came to pass (wə·hinnēh; וְהִנֵּה): Hebrew for "and behold," or "and it happened." This introduces a new scene or event.
when he heard (šə·mō‘; שָׁמַע): To hear, listen, obey. It implies reception of information.
their words (dĕ·ḇārîm; דְּבָרִים): Matters, things, sayings. Refers to the statements and pronouncements made by the princes.
that (kî; כִּי): Because, for. Introduces a clause explaining why something happened or is said.
these princes (hassiumîm; הַסְּנִיִּים; usually interpreted as "the princes", though the precise Hebrew is disputed, possibly relating to an assembly or counsel): The influential officials and nobles of Judah.
had spoken (dibbĕ·rû; דִּבְּרוּ): Spoken. Past tense, indicating prior action.
unto the king (’ēl hamélḵ; אֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְ): To the king. Indicates the direction of their speech.
saying (lē·’mōr; לֵאמֹר): To say. Introduces direct speech.
Jeremiah is doth utterly discourage (‘ēṯ-hyôn, iš ‘āĕššēr ‘el-hâm ‘ênšy; עֵץ־תּוֹנָה, אִישׁ־עַשֵּׁר אֶל־הָעָם וְאִנְשֵׁי־) this man: The Hebrew phrase indicates Jeremiah is undermining the morale and strength of the people, likely through his prophecies of doom or counsel to surrender.
the hands (yə·ḏê; יְדֵי): Hands. Figuratively refers to the efforts or capabilities.
of all the people (kāl·hâ‘am; כָּל־הָעָם): All the people. Refers to the general populace of Jerusalem.
that remain (hanniš’arîm; הַנִּשְׁאֳרִים): Those who are left.
in this city (ba‘îr; בָּעִיר): In this city, referring to Jerusalem.
by speaking (bə·dá·bər; בְּדַבֵּר): By speaking. Through his pronouncements.
such words (ḵən dĕ·ḇārîm; כֵּן דְּבָרִים): Such words. As have been mentioned.
for (kî; כִּי): For, because. Introduces the reason for their actions.
this man (hayyîš; הָאִישׁ): This man. Referring to Jeremiah.
seeketh not (lō’ mĕ·ba·ḵɛš; לֹא־מְבַקֵּשׁ): Does not seek. Implies Jeremiah is not pursuing the welfare or safety of the people.
the welfare (lĕ·šalôm; לְשָׁלוֹם): For peace, welfare, prosperity.
of this people (hā‘am; הָעָם): Of the people.
but (kî ’im; כִּי אִם): But rather. Emphasizes the contrast.
for the hurt (lĕ·rō‘; לְרָע): For evil, harm, hurt.
of this people (hā‘am; הָעָם): Of the people.
This interpretation implies the princes accuse Jeremiah of malicious intent, actively working against the well-being of Jerusalem.
Word Group Analysis:
- "these princes had spoken unto the king saying" - This phrase establishes the authority and actions of the ruling elite influencing the monarch. It highlights a dynamic of power and political maneuvering within the court.
- "Jeremiah doth utterly discourage the hands of all the people that remain in this city" - This conveys the princes' perception of Jeremiah's impact. They believe his words paralyze the populace, rendering them incapable of effective action or defense. The language suggests a deliberate demoralization campaign attributed to the prophet.
- "by speaking such words, for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but for the hurt of this people" - This encapsulates the core accusation against Jeremiah: that his motives are malevolent and his words designed to cause harm, not promote safety or prosperity.
Jeremiah 38 2 Bonus Section
The phrase "doth utterly discourage" carries a sense of draining away strength and hope. It paints a picture of Jeremiah's words having a tangible negative effect on the people's will to resist or endure, from the princes' perspective. The princes themselves likely felt threatened by Jeremiah's prophecies, which exposed the futility of their reliance on earthly means and their rejection of God's covenant. Their attempt to silence Jeremiah is a defense mechanism to maintain their authority and a false sense of security for Jerusalem. This situation exemplifies how worldly wisdom often stands in direct opposition to divine counsel, and how human leaders can be misguided by their own agendas, leading their people astray.
Jeremiah 38 2 Commentary
The princes’ accusation against Jeremiah is a grave one, portraying him not just as mistaken but as actively working against his own people. Their intent is to discredit him before King Zedekiah, thereby neutralizing his influence. This highlights a common struggle throughout biblical history: prophets often delivered messages that were unpopular and difficult, leading to persecution from those in power or those who feared the implications of God's word. The princes' view of "welfare" is based on nationalistic pride and military resilience, whereas Jeremiah's understanding of welfare is spiritual and aligned with obedience to God, even if it means temporary submission to an enemy. Zedekiah's act of imprisoning Jeremiah, though stemming from fear and pressure, marks a significant failure of leadership in heeding a divine warning. The verse foreshadows Zedekiah’s own calamitous fate and that of Jerusalem, precisely because God's warnings, spoken through Jeremiah, were ignored due to the influence of those who sought to preserve their own perceived power and the nation's false hope.