Jeremiah 38 27

Jeremiah 38:27 kjv

Then came all the princes unto Jeremiah, and asked him: and he told them according to all these words that the king had commanded. So they left off speaking with him; for the matter was not perceived.

Jeremiah 38:27 nkjv

Then all the princes came to Jeremiah and asked him. And he told them according to all these words that the king had commanded. So they stopped speaking with him, for the conversation had not been heard.

Jeremiah 38:27 niv

All the officials did come to Jeremiah and question him, and he told them everything the king had ordered him to say. So they said no more to him, for no one had heard his conversation with the king.

Jeremiah 38:27 esv

Then all the officials came to Jeremiah and asked him, and he answered them as the king had instructed him. So they stopped speaking with him, for the conversation had not been overheard.

Jeremiah 38:27 nlt

Sure enough, it wasn't long before the king's officials came to Jeremiah and asked him why the king had called for him. But Jeremiah followed the king's instructions, and they left without finding out the truth. No one had overheard the conversation between Jeremiah and the king.

Jeremiah 38 verses

Jeremiah 38 27 Meaning

This verse signifies the culmination of Zedekiah's interrogation and the fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy regarding his capture. It indicates the complete surrender of the king to the Babylonian army, emphasizing the inevitability of the judgment.

Jeremiah 38 27 Context

This verse concludes chapter 38, which details the prophet Jeremiah's imprisonment and his subsequent conversation with King Zedekiah. Zedekiah, despite secretly questioning Jeremiah, ultimately succumbs to the pressure of his officials and allows the prophet to be cast into a cistern. This specific verse reports the execution of the king's commands to move Jeremiah from the house of the king's prison to the court of the guard. This occurred during the final stages of the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. The kings' fear and eventual capitulation reflect the dire straits Jerusalem was in.

Jeremiah 38 27 Word Analysis

• and: Connects the previous action to this new instruction.

• so: Indicates the result or consequence of what was previously done.

• Ebed-melech: "Servant of the king." A loyal Ethiopian eunuch in Zedekiah's court who had previously rescued Jeremiah. (Hebrew: עֶבֶד־מֶלֶךְ - 'eḇeḏ-meleḵ)

• the: Definite article.

• Ethiopian: Refers to Cush, generally understood as an area south of Egypt. (Hebrew: הַכּוּשִׁי - haḵḵūšî)

• sent: (Hebrew: שָׁלַח - šālăḥ) To send forth, dispatch, extend.

• out: Indicates direction from within.

• from: Indicates origin.

• the court: (Hebrew: חָצֵר - ḥāṣêr) An open space, enclosure, courtyard.

• of: Possessive.

• the prison: (Hebrew: הַמַּטְאֵב - hammāṭ’ēḇ) A place of confinement, dungeon, or guardhouse.

• saying: Introduces direct speech or a quote of what was said.

• to: Indicates direction or recipient.

• him: Refers to Jeremiah.

• Take: (Hebrew: לָקַח - lāqăḥ) To take, seize, lay hold of.

• therefore: Indicates reason or consequence.

• him: Jeremiah.

• out of: Indicates removal from.

• the dungeon: (Hebrew: מִן־הַבּוֹר - min-habbōr) From the pit, cistern, or well.

• Group Analysis: The phrase "Ebed-melech the Ethiopian" identifies a key character who acted with compassion. "Sent him out from the court of the prison" describes the action taken, moving Jeremiah from one location to another within the royal administration. "Take therefore him out of the dungeon" is the direct command to accomplish this. The overall group of words details the execution of a directive to rescue Jeremiah from a more dire situation.

Jeremiah 38 27 Bonus Section

The intervention of Ebed-melech (meaning "servant of the king") highlights the theme of righteousness and faithfulness in unexpected places. His act of kindness towards Jeremiah, a prophet perceived as a traitor by many, demonstrates compassion that transcends political expediency. His role, a eunuch (a marginalized figure in ancient societies), further emphasizes God's ability to use anyone, regardless of their social standing, for His purposes. This echoes the New Testament emphasis on God's favor on the humble and the marginalized, and the call for believers to show kindness and mercy to those suffering, even those who may be unpopular. Jeremiah's continued confinement, even after being rescued from the cistern, underscores the difficult and often dangerous position of prophets who deliver unpopular messages from God.

Jeremiah 38 27 Commentary

This verse marks a pivotal moment, detailing the implementation of Zedekiah's command, influenced by Ebed-melech, to relocate Jeremiah. Ebed-melech’s intercession had secured Jeremiah's release from the muddy cistern. However, the king’s order here is to move Jeremiah from the "house of the prison" (likely a slightly better confinement) to the "court of the guard" (a more public and possibly less harsh form of detention, but still imprisonment). This reflects the king's wavering resolve, his attempt to outwardly appear concerned, yet still under the control of the pressures around him and not fully following God’s direction through Jeremiah. Ebed-melech, the faithful servant, faithfully carries out the king's orders. The verse highlights obedience to earthly authority, even when that authority is flawed or in opposition to God’s ultimate will, yet Ebed-melech’s heart was right in acting mercifully towards the prophet.