Jeremiah 38 4

Jeremiah 38:4 kjv

Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death: for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt.

Jeremiah 38:4 nkjv

Therefore the princes said to the king, "Please, let this man be put to death, for thus he weakens the hands of the men of war who remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking such words to them. For this man does not seek the welfare of this people, but their harm."

Jeremiah 38:4 niv

Then the officials said to the king, "This man should be put to death. He is discouraging the soldiers who are left in this city, as well as all the people, by the things he is saying to them. This man is not seeking the good of these people but their ruin."

Jeremiah 38:4 esv

Then the officials said to the king, "Let this man be put to death, for he is weakening the hands of the soldiers who are left in this city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking such words to them. For this man is not seeking the welfare of this people, but their harm."

Jeremiah 38:4 nlt

So these officials went to the king and said, "Sir, this man must die! That kind of talk will undermine the morale of the few fighting men we have left, as well as that of all the people. This man is a traitor!"

Jeremiah 38 verses

Jeremiah 38 4 meaning

Jeremiah 38:4 reveals the fierce opposition faced by the prophet Jeremiah from the officials of Judah during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. They accused him of treason, claiming his prophecies of surrender were weakening the morale of the soldiers and the populace. The officials vehemently argued that Jeremiah was not seeking the true well-being of the people but rather their ruin, urging King Zedekiah to execute him. This verse encapsulates the intense conflict between the prophet's divine message, which called for a painful submission to God's judgment for the sake of survival, and the short-sighted human perception of national pride and resistance, which ultimately led to utter destruction.

Jeremiah 38 4 Context

Jeremiah 38:4 occurs at a critical juncture in the final years of the Kingdom of Judah. The Babylonian army is besieging Jerusalem, and the city is suffering terribly from famine and despair. King Zedekiah, installed by the Babylonians, vacillates between resistance and submission, often seeking Jeremiah's counsel in secret while outwardly conforming to his aggressive, pro-resistance officials.Chapter 37 describes Jeremiah's prior imprisonment for a similar "desertion" charge. In chapter 38, Jeremiah is delivering God's uncompromising message: "Whoever stays in this city will die by sword, famine, or plague, but whoever surrenders to the Babylonians will live" (Jer 38:2). This direct instruction to surrender was seen as undermining military resolve and morale. The officials, intent on resisting Babylon, interpret Jeremiah's message as direct sabotage, accusing him of weakening the people's resolve rather than acknowledging the divine source or the wisdom of his counsel for survival. Their demand for his death reflects their desperate situation, their inability to grasp spiritual truth, and their strong desire to eliminate any perceived obstacle to their preferred national strategy.

Jeremiah 38 4 Word analysis

• Therefore (וַיֹּאמְרוּ - vayyo'meru - "and they said"): This conjunction immediately links the officials' reaction to Jeremiah's preceding message (Jer 38:2-3). It highlights a direct and hostile response to his unwelcome prophecy of surrender.
• the officials (הַשָּׂרִים - haśśārîm - "the princes, leaders"): These are key figures in King Zedekiah's court, powerful and influential. Throughout Jeremiah's ministry, they are frequently depicted as his primary adversaries, embodying political opposition and nationalistic pride against God's difficult word. They represented the elite class resisting divine will.
• said to the king (אֶל-הַמֶּלֶךְ - ʾel-hammeleḵ): The petition for Jeremiah's death is directed at King Zedekiah, who often displayed weakness and fear of his officials more than reverence for God or Jeremiah. This highlights Zedekiah's precarious position and lack of sovereign authority.
• Let this man (הָאִישׁ הַזֶּה - hāʾîš hazzeh - "this man"): A dismissive and dehumanizing reference to Jeremiah, implying he is a common criminal or a public enemy, stripping him of his prophetic office in their eyes.
• be put to death (יוּמַת-נָא - yûmat-nāʾ - "let him surely be put to death, he must surely die"): This is a strong and insistent demand for capital punishment. The structure emphasizes urgency and certainty, showing their absolute conviction of Jeremiah's guilt. This was not a suggestion but an imperative, demonstrating the extreme hatred and perceived threat Jeremiah posed to their war efforts.
• for he is weakening (מְרַפֶּה - mərappe - "loosening, relaxing, disheartening"): The root (רפה - rāpâ) implies making something slack or weak, especially hands. This verb vividly describes their accusation: Jeremiah is eroding the very foundation of their resistance and resolve. It speaks to psychological impact rather than physical attack.
• the hands (יְדֵי - yədê - "hands"): Metaphorical for strength, courage, determination, and the ability to act. To "weaken the hands" means to destroy morale, create despair, and hinder effective action. This metaphor is common in the Old Testament to describe disheartening.
• of the soldiers (אַנְשֵׁי הַמִּלְחָמָה - ʾanšê hammilḥāmāh - "men of war"): Refers to the military personnel defending the city. Their morale was critical during a siege. The officials believe Jeremiah's words directly compromise military capability.
• who are left in this city (הַנִּשְׁאֲרִים בָּעִיר הַזֹּאת - hannishʾārîm bāʿîr hazzōʾt - "those who remain in this city"): Emphasizes the dire situation. The population has dwindled due to previous attacks, famine, and defections, making the morale of the survivors even more critical.
• and the hands of all the people (וִידֵי כָל-הָעָם - wîdê ḵol-hāʿām): Extends Jeremiah's alleged demoralizing influence beyond just the army to the entire civilian population. This portrays Jeremiah as a universal threat to their societal cohesion and will to survive.
• by speaking such words to them (כַּדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה - kaddəvārîm hāʾēlleh - "like these words"): Refers specifically to Jeremiah's prophecies advising surrender and prophesying destruction if they resist. The officials perceived these divinely-given truths as merely "words" from a human, causing harm.
• For this man is not seeking (אֵין הָאִישׁ הַזֶּה דֹּרֵשׁ - ʾên hāʾîš hazzeh dōrēš - "this man is not seeking/enquiring/desiring"): This is their central accusation. They frame Jeremiah's motives as malevolent, portraying him as actively working against the nation. It reflects a fundamental misunderstanding or willful rejection of God's redemptive judgment.
• the well-being of this people (שָׁלוֹם לָעָם הַזֶּה - šālôm lāʿām hazzeh - "peace/completeness/welfare for this people"): Shalom encompasses more than just peace from war; it means wholeness, prosperity, and right relationship. Ironically, Jeremiah's message, though harsh, was God's actual path to shalom for the survivors (i.e., preserving their lives). The officials’ understanding of shalom was narrow—only military victory or maintaining the status quo.
• but their harm (כִּי אִם-רָעָה - kî ʾim-rāʿāh - "but evil, calamity, disaster"): They claim Jeremiah desired their raʿah, the opposite of shalom. This sharp contrast reveals their distorted perception of God's intentions and the prophet's role. From their human perspective, facing inevitable destruction through surrender was "harm," while Jeremiah declared it was the only way to avoid absolute "evil" (total annihilation).

Jeremiah 38 4 Bonus section

• The irony of this verse lies in the fact that Jeremiah's "harmful" words were, in fact, God's blueprint for survival. Those who heeded his counsel by surrendering (e.g., Jer 39:9-10) ultimately found their lives preserved, fulfilling his "dangerous" prophecy as the path to life.
• Zedekiah's inability to stand firm against his officials (as seen in Jer 38:5) is a recurring theme in his reign. He frequently consulted Jeremiah in secret but lacked the political will and moral courage to openly endorse the prophet's message. This ultimately sealed the fate of Jerusalem.
• The officials’ charge of "weakening the hands" implicitly links Jeremiah to enemies of the state, justifying their demand for capital punishment under Mosaic Law regarding sedition or undermining military efforts, but they misapplied it, turning the prophet of God into a traitor.
• This passage functions as a stark contrast between true patriotism, which would involve obeying God for the nation's true long-term good, and a false patriotism that prioritizes short-sighted nationalistic pride and human resistance against divine judgment.

Jeremiah 38 4 Commentary

Jeremiah 38:4 vividly portrays the tragic conflict between human pride and divine truth during Jerusalem's final siege. The officials, blinded by their nationalistic fervor and a misguided understanding of their own welfare, perceived Jeremiah's God-given message of surrender as an act of treason. They believed his prophecies of doom, meant as a divine call to humble submission and a way to preserve life, were instead deliberately aimed at "weakening the hands" of both the military and the populace. Their accusation, that Jeremiah was seeking "harm" instead of "well-being" (shalom), highlights their spiritual blindness. True shalom, according to God, required acknowledging sin and accepting judgment, even if it meant temporary hardship or defeat. Jeremiah’s message, though painful, was designed for their ultimate good—the preservation of life and future restoration. The officials, however, clung to a shallow definition of shalom focused on military resistance and political independence, which ultimately led to the complete destruction of Jerusalem, proving Jeremiah right. This verse underscores the cost of rejecting prophetic truth and the moral dilemma of leaders who prioritize popular sentiment or their own perceived strategic interests over God's difficult counsel. It’s a timeless example of how obedience to God often appears contrary to human logic, yet proves to be the only true path to life and blessing.