Jeremiah 38 7

Jeremiah 38:7 kjv

Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin;

Jeremiah 38:7 nkjv

Now Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs, who was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon. When the king was sitting at the Gate of Benjamin,

Jeremiah 38:7 niv

But Ebed-Melek, a Cushite, an official in the royal palace, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern. While the king was sitting in the Benjamin Gate,

Jeremiah 38:7 esv

When Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, a eunuch who was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern ? the king was sitting in the Benjamin Gate ?

Jeremiah 38:7 nlt

But Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, an important court official, heard that Jeremiah was in the cistern. At that time the king was holding court at the Benjamin Gate,

Jeremiah 38 verses

Jeremiah 38 7 meaning

This verse introduces Ebed-Melech, an Ethiopian eunuch and official in King Zedekiah's court, who learned of the prophet Jeremiah's unjust imprisonment in a cistern. It sets the scene for his subsequent courageous intervention, contrasting his immediate concern and action with the king's inaction, who was preoccupied with judicial duties at the Gate of Benjamin.

Jeremiah 38 7 Context

Jeremiah 38 continues the prophet's suffering under King Zedekiah during the final siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. The city is facing starvation and invasion, but the Jewish officials (princes) remain defiant against Jeremiah's message to surrender, labeling him a demoralizer. They accuse Jeremiah of weakening the hands of the soldiers and the people by prophesying doom, even though he speaks the word of the Lord. Consequently, these officials demand Jeremiah's death, or at least his removal from public discourse. In the verses immediately preceding Jer 38:7 (Jer 38:1-6), the officials obtain King Zedekiah's permission to cast Jeremiah into a miry cistern, intending for him to die there without direct execution, as the king, while weak, avoids openly shedding innocent blood. Jer 38:7 marks a turning point where a previously unmentioned character, Ebed-Melech, hears of Jeremiah's plight, setting the stage for his intervention and rescue of the prophet. This occurs while the king is formally present at a public administrative/judicial location (Gate of Benjamin), highlighting the contrast between official, albeit often corrupt, public function and a hidden act of righteous courage.

Jeremiah 38 7 Word analysis

• Now Ebed-Melech:
  • Ebed-Melech (עֶבֶד מֶלֶךְ, 'Eved Melekh): Literally means "servant of the king." While a proper name here, its meaning points to his royal appointment and perhaps the nature of his service. He is deeply integrated into the royal court, giving him access to the king and information. This highlights divine irony as a "servant of the king" acts more justly than the king himself or his officials.
• an Ethiopian:
  • Ethiopian (כּוּשִׁי, Kushi): Refers to a Cushite, from Cush, a region south of Egypt (modern Sudan/Nubia). This is significant because he is a foreigner, an outsider, ethnically distinct from the Israelites. His origin contrasts sharply with the Jewish leaders and king, yet he embodies greater righteousness. This inclusion highlights God's universal concern for justice and His use of those outside the conventional 'people of God' to accomplish His will.
• eunuch:
  • eunuch (סָרִיס, saris): This term could denote a castrated male, but often also referred to a high court official or chamberlain, responsible for guarding the royal harem or holding significant administrative power. Given his direct access to the king and authority, it signifies his elevated position of trust and influence in the royal household, more likely a powerful official. Biblically, eunuchs were sometimes marginalized (Deut 23:1), making Ebed-Melech's positive portrayal and actions even more striking and a sign of God's inclusive grace (Isa 56:3-5).
• who was in the king's house,:
  • This phrase indicates Ebed-Melech's physical presence and official residence within the palace, reinforcing his proximity to power and knowledge of court affairs. It implies he was privy to court decisions and rumors, allowing him to hear about Jeremiah's imprisonment.
• heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern;:
  • heard (shama): Not just passive hearing, but implies understanding and heeding. His hearing initiates his intervention, in stark contrast to others who heard Jeremiah's prophecies and imprisoned him.
  • cistern (הַבּוֹר, ha-bor): Refers to the miry pit described in Jer 38:6, designed for water storage but here repurposed as a deadly dungeon. It signifies the severe danger and degradation Jeremiah faced. This "cistern" is effectively a death trap.
• but the king was sitting:
  • but (wə): This conjunction introduces a sharp contrast between Ebed-Melech's responsive action and the king's state.
  • the king (הַמֶּלֶךְ, ha-melekh): King Zedekiah, whose inaction and fear of his officials are central to Jeremiah's predicament.
  • sitting (yoshev): This often implies taking one's place to exercise authority, such as for judgment or deliberation. The king is in a place of power and public visibility.
• at the Gate of Benjamin.
  • Gate of Benjamin (שַׁעַר בִּנְיָמִין, sha'ar Binyamin): A prominent gate in Jerusalem, serving as a hub for judicial proceedings, administrative announcements, and public assembly. This detail highlights that while Ebed-Melech, from inside the private royal residence, acts with compassion, the king sits publicly in judgment but remains silent regarding the injustice against Jeremiah. This emphasizes the moral vacuum at the heart of the official leadership.

Jeremiah 38 7 Bonus section

The character of Ebed-Melech is frequently held up in biblical studies and commentaries as a remarkable example of an "outsider" who exhibits extraordinary faith and righteous behavior when the "insiders" fail. His ethical stance transcends national or religious boundaries, anticipating the broader reach of God's salvation seen in the New Testament. He exemplifies radical compassion and civil disobedience to unjust authority, putting his own safety at risk. His actions ultimately lead to a promise of salvation for himself from God (Jer 39:15-18), underscoring that God honors and remembers those who show kindness to His persecuted servants. The irony of the "servant of the king" being more attuned to divine justice than the king himself provides a powerful polemic against self-serving leadership.

Jeremiah 38 7 Commentary

Jeremiah 38:7 serves as a crucial turning point, introducing Ebed-Melech as a morally upright and courageous individual who defies the pervasive corruption and fear within King Zedekiah's court. While the "servant of the king" might signify his official title, his Ethiopian origin and status as a "eunuch" (a foreigner and possibly one excluded by Israelite law from full community) emphasize his unlikely role as God's instrument. His immediate, empathetic response upon hearing of Jeremiah's plight starkly contrasts with King Zedekiah's capitulation to his wicked officials. The king is seen "sitting at the Gate of Benjamin," conducting public business in a place associated with justice and civic responsibility, yet failing miserably to exercise justice for the prophet. Ebed-Melech's swift action, born of compassion and a sense of right, highlights that divine providence often operates through unexpected channels, using those on the margins to achieve righteous ends, shaming those in positions of power who fail to act.