Jeremiah 38 6

Jeremiah 38:6 kjv

Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.

Jeremiah 38:6 nkjv

So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the king's son, which was in the court of the prison, and they let Jeremiah down with ropes. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire. So Jeremiah sank in the mire.

Jeremiah 38:6 niv

So they took Jeremiah and put him into the cistern of Malkijah, the king's son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah by ropes into the cistern; it had no water in it, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud.

Jeremiah 38:6 esv

So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king's son, which was in the court of the guard, letting Jeremiah down by ropes. And there was no water in the cistern, but only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.

Jeremiah 38:6 nlt

So the officials took Jeremiah from his cell and lowered him by ropes into an empty cistern in the prison yard. It belonged to Malkijah, a member of the royal family. There was no water in the cistern, but there was a thick layer of mud at the bottom, and Jeremiah sank down into it.

Jeremiah 38 verses

Jeremiah 38 6 meaning

Jeremiah 38:6 describes a grave act of persecution against the prophet Jeremiah. Following accusations of demoralizing the people and weakening the war effort, King Zedekiah's officials forcibly took Jeremiah and cast him into an empty cistern located within the palace guard's court, a property of Malchiah, the king's son. Crucially, the cistern contained no water but only deep mud or mire, causing Jeremiah to sink and face a slow, agonizing death by suffocation or starvation. This act was intended to silence him and eliminate him without direct execution.

Jeremiah 38 6 Context

Jeremiah 38:6 is situated amidst the final desperate days of Jerusalem before its fall to Babylon. Chapter 37-38 details the intense siege of the city by Nebuchadnezzar's forces, interspersed with periods of temporary reprieve. Throughout this time, Jeremiah consistently prophesied that surrender to Babylon was God's will and the only way for the city to survive, while resistance would lead to total destruction (Jer 38:2-3). This message was deeply unpopular and seen as treasonous by the Judean officials and even by King Zedekiah. In Jeremiah 38:4, these officials accuse Jeremiah of "weakening the hands" of the soldiers and citizens, demanding his death. Though Zedekiah admits Jeremiah is in their hands and expresses his inability to resist their will, he later shows concern for Jeremiah (Jer 38:5, 38:14-28). The act of casting Jeremiah into the cistern is a direct consequence of the officials' accusation and Zedekiah's political weakness, highlighting the severe conflict between God's truth delivered by Jeremiah and the human desire for a more palatable political solution. This event foreshadows Jerusalem's eventual fate, as those who rejected God's prophet are about to experience the consequences of their disobedience.

Jeremiah 38 6 Word analysis

• So they took Jeremiah (וַיִּקְחוּ אֶת־יִרְמְיָהוּ - Vayikchu et-Yirmeyahu): The "they" refers to the officials of King Zedekiah mentioned in 38:4, including Shephatiah, Gedaliah, Jucal, and Pashhur. This opening signifies the execution of their plan, directly responding to the king's concession ("he is in your hands") in the previous verse. It emphasizes their unified and deliberate action.
• and cast him (וַיַּשְׁלִׁיכוּ אֹתוֹ - vayyashlichu oto): The verb הַשְׁלִיךְ (hashlich) implies a forceful, deliberate throwing or tossing, rather than a gentle placement. It highlights the contempt and aggression with which Jeremiah was treated. This was not a careful imprisonment but an act designed to inflict harm.
• into the cistern (אֶל־הַבּוֹר - el ha-bor): הַבּוֹר (ha-bor) denotes a pit, a dungeon, or specifically a water cistern. In ancient Israel, cisterns were excavated reservoirs for collecting rainwater, often bell-shaped and deep, with narrow openings. They were sometimes used as prisons or places to dispose of bodies, particularly when dry. This choice of confinement indicates the officials sought to kill Jeremiah indirectly.
• of Malchiah the king's son: Malchiah (מַלְכִּיָּהוּ - Malkiyahu) literally means "Yahweh is king." This specific ownership detail shows it was not just any cistern but one connected to the royal household. This may imply either its size/prominence or that Malchiah's property was directly available for state use, including this cruel purpose.
• that was in the court of the guard: This indicates its location within the administrative or military heart of the palace complex. The "court of the guard" (חֲצַר הַמַּטָּרָה - chatsar hammatarah) was where political prisoners were often held (cf. Jer 32:2), but in Jeremiah's case, it's a "pit" within that complex, indicating a step beyond standard detention. This also signifies that the act was not hidden, but occurred in a relatively public and observable place within the official compound.
• And in the cistern there was no water: This detail is critical. If it had water, it might have offered a different outcome (drowning vs. sinking in mud). Its emptiness of water indicates it was likely at the end of a dry season or neglected, thus a particularly inhospitable place.
• but only mire: (כִּי־אִם־טִיט - ki im-tit) טִיט (tit) specifically refers to deep mud, slime, or miry clay. This condition transforms the cistern from a simple pit into a deadly trap. It implies the accumulation of runoff, sediment, and possibly filth, creating a thick, inescapable bog at the bottom.
• so Jeremiah sank in the mire (וַיִּטְבַּע יִרְמְיָהוּ בַּטִּיט - vayyitba' Yirmeyahu ba-tit): The verb טָבַע (tava) means to sink, immerse, or become mired. This is the horrifying consequence of the preceding description. It depicts an active, physically painful experience for Jeremiah, who slowly, inexorably, loses footing and becomes swallowed by the deep mud. This was an inhumane method of eliminating him, akin to being buried alive.

Words-group analysis:

• "So they took Jeremiah and cast him": This phrase highlights the intentionality and force of the officials. Their action was not accidental or passive but a direct, brutal act against the prophet. It demonstrates their complete disregard for his prophetic office and God's message.
• "into the cistern... there was no water, but only mire": This descriptive segment is crucial to understanding the full horror. It paints a vivid picture of a deliberate act of passive murder. The officials did not directly execute Jeremiah, but they consigned him to a place where he would suffer and slowly die, covered in filth, a fate worse than a quick sword stroke to some. The lack of water means no immediate respite or drink, compounding the suffering with dehydration and exposure.
• "so Jeremiah sank in the mire": This phrase delivers the devastating outcome of the officials' malice. It personalizes the suffering to Jeremiah, making it a physical and deeply degrading experience. Sinking in mud is a terrifying ordeal, invoking primal fears of being trapped, suffocated, and consumed by the earth, stripped of dignity and life.

Jeremiah 38 6 Bonus section

The Hebrew word בּוֹר (bor) for "cistern" is linguistically connected to the idea of "emptiness" or "nullity," reinforcing the desolate nature of Jeremiah's confinement. Historically, such dry cisterns or deep pits were also sometimes used for sewage or refuse, adding a layer of indignity and disease risk to Jeremiah's predicament beyond merely sinking. The act itself was a political maneuver; the officials sought to kill Jeremiah, effectively executing him without the king's explicit, public command to avoid implications or repercussions, a common strategy in ancient courts for inconvenient figures. This particular incident is part of a larger theme in Jeremiah's life where his prophetic ministry repeatedly leads him to personal suffering, embodying the very judgment and pain he proclaims for Jerusalem. His suffering here makes him an archetype of suffering prophets, deeply resonant with other biblical figures who were persecuted for their faithfulness.

Jeremiah 38 6 Commentary

Jeremiah 38:6 stands as a harrowing testament to the suffering of God's prophets and the depravity of human opposition to divine truth. The officials' action of casting Jeremiah into a deep, muddy cistern reveals a profound contempt not only for Jeremiah himself but for the Lord whose words he faithfully delivered. By choosing this slow, undignified method, they sought to remove him as an inconvenient voice without the open bloodshed that might spark further public unrest, yet with even greater cruelty.

Jeremiah's physical descent into the mire profoundly mirrors his spiritual and emotional burden. He had been "sinking" in despair (Jer 20:7-10) due to his people's rejection of God's word, and now that inner experience manifested outwardly in a tangible, terrifying way. This event is a poignant example of the faithful being brought low and persecuted for their steadfastness in delivering an unpopular message from God. Yet, even in this seemingly inescapable pit of despair and filth, God's sovereign hand would later orchestrate a rescue through Ebed-Melech (Jer 38:7-13), underscoring that no circumstance, however dire, can ultimately thwart His plans for His chosen messengers. Jeremiah's suffering here also prefigures the ultimate suffering of Christ, rejected and brought low by His own people, yet through it fulfilling God's greater redemptive plan.