Jeremiah 38 25

Jeremiah 38:25 kjv

But if the princes hear that I have talked with thee, and they come unto thee, and say unto thee, Declare unto us now what thou hast said unto the king, hide it not from us, and we will not put thee to death; also what the king said unto thee:

Jeremiah 38:25 nkjv

But if the princes hear that I have talked with you, and they come to you and say to you, 'Declare to us now what you have said to the king, and also what the king said to you; do not hide it from us, and we will not put you to death,'

Jeremiah 38:25 niv

If the officials hear that I talked with you, and they come to you and say, 'Tell us what you said to the king and what the king said to you; do not hide it from us or we will kill you,'

Jeremiah 38:25 esv

If the officials hear that I have spoken with you and come to you and say to you, 'Tell us what you said to the king and what the king said to you; hide nothing from us and we will not put you to death,'

Jeremiah 38:25 nlt

My officials may hear that I spoke to you, and they may say, 'Tell us what you and the king were talking about. If you don't tell us, we will kill you.'

Jeremiah 38 verses

Jeremiah 38 25 meaning

Jeremiah 38:25 records a conditional instruction given by the prophet Jeremiah to King Zedekiah. It anticipates the inevitable inquiry from the Judean princes regarding the king's private meeting with Jeremiah. The verse details the specific questions the princes are expected to ask, demanding full disclosure of the conversation, and highlights their coercive language, promising no harm to Zedekiah if he reveals all information, implying lethal consequences if he does not. Jeremiah's guidance is designed to protect both himself and Zedekiah from the princes' hostility without directly revealing the true, politically sensitive nature of their discussion about surrendering to Babylon.

Jeremiah 38 25 Context

Jeremiah 38:25 occurs during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. King Zedekiah, despite his official capacity, is portrayed as weak, indecisive, and fearful of his influential Judean officials or "princes" (Heb. sarim). These powerful individuals held significant sway, often acting as military and political leaders, and were largely hostile to Jeremiah's prophetic message of surrender to Babylon, viewing it as treasonous. Earlier in the chapter, these very princes had Jeremiah imprisoned in a miry pit, seeking his death (Jer 38:4-6). However, King Zedekiah, secretly sought Jeremiah's counsel (Jer 38:14-16), despite the officials' stance, demonstrating his internal conflict. In this private conversation, Jeremiah urged Zedekiah to surrender to the Babylonians to save his life and the city (Jer 38:17-18). Zedekiah's primary concern, expressed in Jer 38:19, was his fear of the Jewish defectors mocking him if he surrendered. Jeremiah assured him that this would not happen. Understanding the perilous political climate and the princes' intent to harm him, Jeremiah, at the request of Zedekiah (Jer 38:24), provided a strategic response for Zedekiah to use if the princes inquired about their secret meeting, which this verse anticipates.

Jeremiah 38 25 Word analysis

• And if the princes hear (וְאִם יִשְׁמְעוּ הַשָּׂרִים - v'im yishma'u ha-sarim):

  • וְאִם (v'im): Hebrew for "And if," indicating a conditional, yet highly probable, scenario. It introduces a potential situation that Jeremiah fully expects to unfold given the political climate.
  • יִשְׁמְעוּ (yishma'u): From the verb shama, "to hear, listen." Here it refers to gaining information or overhearing. The expectation highlights the pervasive surveillance and political intrigue within Zedekiah's court.
  • הַשָּׂרִים (ha-sarim): "The princes" or "officials." Sar (singular) signifies a chief, ruler, or official. These were the high-ranking leaders of Judah's government and military, not necessarily of royal blood, but powerful enough to challenge and even control the king's decisions, as seen throughout Jeremiah's narrative (Jer 38:4-5). Their influence often surpassed the king's.

• that I have spoken with you, (כִּי דִבַּרְתִּי אִתָּךְ - ki dibarti itakh):

  • כִּי (ki): "That" or "because," introducing the content of what the princes hear.
  • דִבַּרְתִּי (dibarti): "I have spoken." First person singular from dabar, "to speak, converse." Jeremiah refers to himself.
  • אִתָּךְ (ittakh): "With you." Refers directly to King Zedekiah, underscoring the secretive, private nature of their critical conversation.

• and they come to you and say to you, (וּבָאוּ אֵלֶיךָ וְאָמְרוּ לְךָ - u'va'u eleikha v'amru lekha):

  • וּבָאוּ (u'va'u): "And they come." From bo, "to come." Highlights the princes' proactive, confrontational approach.
  • אֵלֶיךָ (eleikha): "To you." Specifically Zedekiah.
  • וְאָמְרוּ (v'amru): "And they say." From amar, "to say." Prepares for the direct quotation of their demands.
  • לְךָ (lekha): "To you." Emphasizes their direct address to the king.

• 'Tell us now what you said to the king and what the king said to you; (הַגֶּד־לָנוּ נָא מַה־דִּבַּרְתָּ אֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְ וּמַה־דִּבֶּר הַמֶּלֶךְ אֵלֶיךָ - haged-lanu na mah-dibarta el-ha-melekh u'mah-diber ha-melekh eleikha):

  • הַגֶּד־לָנוּ נָא (haged-lanu na): "Tell us now, please." Haged is an imperative, "tell, disclose," from nagad. Lanu is "to us." Na is a particle expressing urgency or a strong plea. This command reveals their immediate and pressing demand for information.
  • מַה־דִּבַּרְתָּ אֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְ (mah-dibarta el-ha-melekh): "What you said to the king." They demand to know Zedekiah's part in the conversation, seeking evidence against Jeremiah.
  • וּמַה־דִּבֶּר הַמֶּלֶךְ אֵלֶיךָ (u'mah-diber ha-melekh eleikha): "And what the king said to you." This shows their intention to fully interrogate the king, suspicious of both parties and determined to uncover any "treasonous" counsel.

• do not hide it from us and we will not put you to death,' (אַל־תְּכַחֵד מִמֶּנּוּ וְלֹא נְמִיתֶךָ - al-tikhched mimmenu v'lo nemiteka):

  • אַל־תְּכַחֵד מִמֶּנּוּ (al-tikhched mimmenu): "Do not hide it from us." Al (negative imperative) + tikhched (from kachad, "to hide, conceal, deny"). This is a direct command, laying bare their suspicion that information will be withheld.
  • וְלֹא נְמִיתֶךָ (v'lo nemiteka): "And we will not put you to death." V'lo is "and not." N'miteka is a Hiphil form of mut ("to die"), meaning "to cause to die" or "put to death," with the second person singular suffix "you." This is a coercive statement: framed as an assurance, it subtly yet powerfully conveys a death threat. It underscores the princes' deadly authority and the mortal danger Zedekiah (and Jeremiah) faced. It also highlights Zedekiah's weakness, as his life is seemingly contingent on the princes' terms.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And if the princes hear... that I have spoken with you...": This phrase anticipates the imminent danger Jeremiah and Zedekiah face due to the highly sensitive nature of their secret conversation. It highlights the hostile environment and the power dynamics where the king's privacy and decisions are subject to the scrutiny and control of his officials.
  • "Tell us now what you said to the king and what the king said to you...": This forceful demand signifies the princes' suspicion of clandestine activities and their intent to extract all details. They view any secret consultation outside their knowledge, especially one involving a prophet labeled as a defector, as potentially treasonous and a challenge to their authority. Their emphasis on both sides of the conversation suggests a desire to find incriminating evidence against Jeremiah's message and against Zedekiah for consulting him.
  • "do not hide it from us and we will not put you to death": This statement, while presented as an offer of safety, functions primarily as a chilling threat. It reveals the true measure of the princes' power—their capacity to decide the king's fate. This thinly veiled intimidation underscores their violent disposition and their perceived right to demand absolute loyalty and transparency from the king regarding state affairs, especially those influenced by the unpopular prophet Jeremiah. It speaks volumes about the level of political instability and corruption in Jerusalem at that time.

Jeremiah 38 25 Bonus section

• This verse showcases Jeremiah's strategic intelligence, demonstrating that being God's prophet does not negate the need for practical wisdom and careful navigation of dangerous political landscapes. He doesn't compromise God's core message but finds a way to deliver it and survive to continue his ministry.
• The incident further exposes King Zedekiah's lack of moral fortitude and leadership. He understood God's word through Jeremiah (Jer 38:17) but lacked the courage to obey it publicly due to his overriding fear of his officials, foreshadowing his eventual downfall (Jer 39:4-7). His reliance on Jeremiah's "script" to pacify the princes underscores his deferential posture to human opinion rather than divine command.
• The "do not hide it from us and we will not put you to death" line represents a form of psychological manipulation. By framing a veiled threat as a conditional promise, the princes attempt to establish complete control over the king's actions and information, indicating the high stakes for anyone associated with Jeremiah's message of impending doom and surrender.
• The phrase sarim (princes) throughout Jeremiah refers to powerful figures who consistently oppose Jeremiah, highlighting them as major human obstacles to Judah's repentance and adherence to God's will. They represent the human political power that often clashes with divine prophetic authority.

Jeremiah 38 25 Commentary

Jeremiah 38:25 illustrates the acute political tension in besieged Jerusalem and King Zedekiah's profound weakness. Jeremiah, the prophet of God, wisely advises the king on how to handle the inevitable and hostile interrogation by the powerful, pro-war Judean princes. The princes' demand for a full account of the private meeting, coupled with a promise of life conditional upon complete disclosure (which functions as a clear death threat if withheld), reveals their ruthless nature and deep suspicion of any counsel contrary to their patriotic (but ultimately God-defying) agenda. Jeremiah's instruction for Zedekiah to give a partial truth (Jer 38:26)—focusing only on his plea not to be returned to the dangerous dungeon—was not an act of deception for self-preservation in contradiction of God's command for honesty. Instead, it was a prudent and strategic circumvention, designed to protect the prophet from unjust murder and to prevent the princes from discovering the politically incendiary truth about God's call for surrender, which they vehemently opposed. It highlights how spiritual truth can sometimes necessitate practical wisdom and discretion in dangerous environments, aligning with biblical principles of being "wise as serpents and innocent as doves," particularly when dealing with those intent on silencing God's messengers.