Jeremiah 38:21 kjv
But if thou refuse to go forth, this is the word that the LORD hath shewed me:
Jeremiah 38:21 nkjv
But if you refuse to surrender, this is the word that the LORD has shown me:
Jeremiah 38:21 niv
But if you refuse to surrender, this is what the LORD has revealed to me:
Jeremiah 38:21 esv
But if you refuse to surrender, this is the vision which the LORD has shown to me:
Jeremiah 38:21 nlt
But if you refuse to surrender, this is what the LORD has revealed to me:
Jeremiah 38 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 38 | "But if you go out and surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, then your life will be spared..." | God's conditional promise |
| Jeremiah 21 | Similar prophecy concerning Jerusalem's fall and Zedekiah's fate | Judgment and mercy intertwined |
| Jeremiah 39 | Describes Zedekiah's capture and his eyes being put out | Fulfillment of the prophecy |
| Ezekiel 12 | Prophecy about Zedekiah being taken captive and seeing Babylon with his own eyes | Parallel prophecy |
| Isaiah 42 | God's servant would be a light to the nations, a covenant people | God's purpose in judgment |
| Isaiah 55 | Call to repentance and promise of forgiveness | General theme of repentance |
| Luke 19 | Jesus' weeping over Jerusalem, predicting its destruction | Jesus' lament over Jerusalem |
| Acts 4 | Peter and John before the council, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right..." | Boldness in difficult times |
| John 14 | Jesus promises peace to his disciples | Peace in distress |
| Matthew 24 | Jesus' discourse on the end times and warnings | Prophetic warnings |
| Proverbs 3 | Trust in the Lord with all your heart | Importance of trust |
| Psalm 50 | God's call for justice and remembrance of His covenant | God's call for righteousness |
| Romans 6 | Freedom from sin's bondage through obedience | Obedience brings freedom |
| Philippians 2 | Christ's humility and obedience leading to exaltation | Model of obedience |
| 1 John 5 | Assurance of victory through faith | Faith and obedience |
| 1 Peter 5 | Humility and submission to God | God's favor to the humble |
| 2 Chronicles 36 | Historical account of Jerusalem's fall | Historical context |
| Psalm 119 | Praise for God's law and obedience | Delight in God's commands |
| Hebrews 12 | Discipline from God for correction | God's loving discipline |
| Revelation 3 | Promises to the faithful overcomers | Rewards for faithfulness |
Jeremiah 38 verses
Jeremiah 38 21 Meaning
The verse assures King Zedekiah that if he surrenders to the Babylonians, his life will be spared, and he will experience safety. It's a conditional promise tied to obedience and cooperation with God's judgment.
Jeremiah 38 21 Context
This verse occurs during the final siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. Jeremiah has been imprisoned for his prophecies of doom and discouragement to the people. The princes of Judah have tried to silence him and even kill him, accusing him of weakening the soldiers. The verse is spoken to King Zedekiah, who secretly sought Jeremiah's counsel. Jeremiah's message here is God's directive to Zedekiah: surrender to the Babylonian army to save his life and the lives of his household, thereby averting further destruction.
Jeremiah 38 21 Word Analysis
- But (וְ-- Vā--): Conjunction introducing a condition or contrast. Here, it contrasts the previous imprisonment and accusations with God's offered way of escape.
- if (אִם ’im): Conditional particle, indicating a requirement for the outcome.
- you go out (תֵצֵא tēṣē’): Imperative of "to go out." Specifically, to exit the city gates to the enemy.
- and surrender (וְנָפַלְתָּ וְנָפַלְתָּ vənāp̄aləṯā): From the root נפל (nap̄al), meaning to fall. Here, it signifies falling into the hands of, or surrendering to, the enemy.
- to the officers (אֶל־שָׂרֵי ’el-śāray): "To the captains" or "commanders" of the Babylonian army.
- of the king (מֶלֶךְ mɛlæḵ): Sovereign ruler.
- of Babylon (בָּבֶל bāḇel): The powerful empire besieging Jerusalem.
- then (וְhāyəṯā wəhāyəṯā): Conjunction indicating consequence.
- your life (נַפְשְׁךָ naṗ̄əḵā): Your soul or your life force.
- shall be spared (חַיָּה ḥayyāh): Lit. "your soul shall be alive" or "you shall live." A direct promise of preservation of life.
- and (וְ v hə): Conjunction.
- your life (נַפְשְׁךָ naṗ̄əḵā): Your soul.
- shall be spared (חַיָּה ḥayyāh): You shall live.
- and (וְ v hə): Conjunction.
- you shall live (וְחַיִּיתָ וְחַיִּיתָ wəḥayyîṯā): You will survive and live.
- in your own peace (וְשָׁלֹום vṇšā lōm): Literally "and peace," or "with your peace." This refers to living in security and relative comfort, not under the terror of the siege.
Jeremiah 38 21 Bonus Section
This prophecy reflects a recurring theme in prophetic literature: God's conditional mercy. While Jerusalem was destined for judgment due to persistent sin, individuals who obeyed God's messengers and submitted to His purposes could find deliverance. Jeremiah himself, by obeying God’s command to remain in the city and delivering this message, exemplifies obedience in the face of opposition. The ultimate fulfillment of the prophecy in Zedekiah’s life demonstrates that even within divine judgment, God provides avenues for survival for those who heed His word, though this survival may come at a high personal cost. The Babylonian captivity, while a harsh judgment, also served as a period of refining and restoration for the Jewish people, preparing them for future covenant faithfulness.
Jeremiah 38 21 Commentary
Jeremiah 38:21 offers a starkly practical directive from God to King Zedekiah amidst the dire circumstances of Jerusalem's final siege. The prophecy, delivered by Jeremiah from his place of confinement, is not a word of comfortable reassurance but a severe yet life-saving instruction. God, through Jeremiah, presents a clear, albeit bitter, path to survival: surrender to the Babylonian forces. This act of submission, while politically humiliating and emotionally difficult for a king, was presented as the only way to preserve Zedekiah's own life and that of his household. The phrase "your life shall be spared" emphasizes the saving of his physical existence. Furthermore, the promise of living "in your own peace" suggests a post-captivity life where the immediate horrors of war and the king's direct accountability for Jerusalem's resistance would be removed, allowing for a degree of quiet. However, it's crucial to note the historical outcome: while his life was spared, Zedekiah was taken to Babylon, blinded, and imprisoned until his death (Jeremiah 39:7; 52:11). This highlights that "spared" did not mean returning to kingship or comfortable living but rather escaping immediate execution and experiencing a less brutal fate than outright slaughter. The verse underscores God's ultimate sovereignty even over the fate of nations and their rulers, and His mercy in offering a way of escape, even through painful obedience, when judgment is deserved.