Jeremiah 38 23

Jeremiah 38:23 kjv

So they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans: and thou shalt not escape out of their hand, but shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon: and thou shalt cause this city to be burned with fire.

Jeremiah 38:23 nkjv

'So they shall surrender all your wives and children to the Chaldeans. You shall not escape from their hand, but shall be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon. And you shall cause this city to be burned with fire.' "

Jeremiah 38:23 niv

"All your wives and children will be brought out to the Babylonians. You yourself will not escape from their hands but will be captured by the king of Babylon; and this city will be burned down."

Jeremiah 38:23 esv

All your wives and your sons shall be led out to the Chaldeans, and you yourself shall not escape from their hand, but shall be seized by the king of Babylon, and this city shall be burned with fire."

Jeremiah 38:23 nlt

All your wives and children will be led out to the Babylonians, and you will not escape. You will be seized by the king of Babylon, and this city will be burned down."

Jeremiah 38 verses

Jeremiah 38 23 Meaning

This verse describes King Zedekiah's concern for the Judean princesses after they were handed over to the Babylonian commanders by the Jewish princes. He acknowledges their inability to withstand Zedekiah's desires to ensure their safety.

Jeremiah 38 23 Context

Jeremiah 38 recounts the imprisonment of the prophet Jeremiah. After being thrown into a cistern by Jehoiakim, Jeremiah is rescued by Ebed-melech. Zedekiah, still king, secretly consults Jeremiah about the impending Babylonian siege. Jeremiah offers God's honest counsel, but his words are met with skepticism and fear by the princes who will eventually hand over the princesses. Zedekiah's statement reflects his weakened position and his concern for the royal women, even as the city faces utter destruction and the people face severe consequences for their actions and lack of repentance.

Jeremiah 38 23 Word Analysis

• And: (Hebrew: וְ - ve) A common conjunction, linking clauses and ideas, signifying continuation and connection.
• Zedekiah: (Hebrew: צִדְקִיָּ֫הוּ - Tzidkiyahu) "Yahweh is my righteousness." The last king of Judah.
• the king: (Hebrew: הַמֶּלֶךְ - ha-melekh) The monarch of Judah.
• of Judah: (Hebrew: יְהוּדָה - Yehudah) The southern kingdom of Israel.
• perceived: (Hebrew: רָאָה - ra'ah) To see, behold, perceive, discern. Indicates Zedekiah's understanding of the situation.
• that: (Hebrew: כִּֽי - ki) Can mean "that," "because," "for," indicating reason or explanation.
• all: (Hebrew: כֹּל - kol) All, every.
• the princes: (Hebrew: הַשָּׂרִים - hassárím) The rulers, chief men, princes. Those who condemned Jeremiah.
• had done: (Hebrew: עָשׂוּ - 'asú) Third-person masculine plural past tense of the verb "to do" or "to make."
• ill: (Hebrew: לְרָעָה - lerá'áh) To evil, to harm, to ill.
• unto: (Hebrew: אֶל - el) To, towards, into.
• all: (Hebrew: כֹּל - kol) All.
• the women: (Hebrew: הַנָּשִׁים - hannashím) The women.
• which: (Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר - 'ashér) Who, which, that. Relative pronoun.
• were left: (Hebrew: נוֹתְרוֹת - notrós) Third-person feminine plural active participle from the root y-t-r, meaning to leave remaining.
• in: (Hebrew: בְּ - bĕ) In, at, with.
• the king's: (Hebrew: הַמֶּלֶךְ - ha-melekh) Of the king.
• house: (Hebrew: בַּיִת - báyit) House, home, palace.
• of Judah: (Hebrew: יְהוּדָה - Yehudah) Of Judah.
• to be brought forth: (Hebrew: לְהוֹצִיא - lehotzi') Infinitive construct with the hiphil causative stem of y-ts-', meaning to bring out, to take out.

Words Group Analysis:

• Zedekiah ... perceived that all the princes had done ill unto all the women which were left in the king of Judah's house to be brought forth: This clause signifies Zedekiah's awareness of the negative actions taken by his princes regarding the royal women and his own powerlessness to prevent it. It highlights the moral decay and impending doom upon the ruling class and the nation. The use of "perceived" indicates a dawning, yet possibly passive, understanding of the gravity of their choices.

Jeremiah 38 23 Bonus Section

The concern for the "women which were left in the king of Judah's house" points to the tragic vulnerability of royal women during times of conquest. History often records the mistreatment of women in such situations, whether for sexual exploitation, ransom, or as symbols of conquered royalty. Zedekiah's statement, while possibly genuine in its concern for these individuals, also stands against the backdrop of his own defiance of God's warnings through Jeremiah. The irony lies in his focus on the fate of these women when the entire nation's fate hung in the balance due to their collective disobedience and the king's own wavering. This highlights a tendency to focus on proximate troubles while ignoring the root cause of national calamity: spiritual rebellion against the Lord.

Jeremiah 38 23 Commentary

Zedekiah's words reveal his frustration and helplessness. He sees that his princes have acted wrongly by preparing to hand over the women of the royal household. He wishes to intervene and protect them, possibly reflecting a desire to prevent further humiliation or abuse during the chaotic siege. However, he admits he cannot effectively counter their actions. This verse underscores Zedekiah's weak leadership and his inability to assert control, contributing to Judah's ultimate downfall. It foreshadows the potential suffering of these women, a theme tragically fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem. His words also reveal a paternalistic, though ultimately ineffective, concern for the vulnerable within his kingdom.