Jeremiah 39:15 kjv
Now the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying,
Jeremiah 39:15 nkjv
Meanwhile the word of the LORD had come to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying,
Jeremiah 39:15 niv
While Jeremiah had been confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the LORD came to him:
Jeremiah 39:15 esv
The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the court of the guard:
Jeremiah 39:15 nlt
The LORD had given the following message to Jeremiah while he was still in prison:
Jeremiah 39 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 38:7 | Now Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, a eunuch, a servant in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern. | Witnessing Ebed-melech's actions |
| Jeremiah 38:8 | Ebed-melech went out from the king's house and said to them, | Direct statement of his intent |
| Jeremiah 38:9 | "Go and get Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies." | His compassionate request |
| Jeremiah 38:10 | Then Ebed-melech commanded the young men, saying, "Take thirty men from here with you, and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies." | Act of deliverance |
| Jeremiah 38:11 | So Ebed-melech took the men with him and went into the house of the king to the treasury and took from there old rags and worn-out cloths and let them down into the cistern to Jeremiah by ropes. | Method of rescue |
| Jeremiah 38:12 | Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah, "Put these old rags and worn-out cloths under your armpits under the ropes." | Practical assistance |
| Jeremiah 38:13 | So Jeremiah pulled them up with the ropes and went out of the cistern. And Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard. | Jeremiah's successful exit |
| Jeremiah 37:21 | Then King Zedekiah commanded, and they committed Jeremiah to the court of the guard, and they gave him daily a loaf of bread from the bakers' street, until all the bread in the city was gone. But Jeremiah still remained in the court of the guard. | Jeremiah's initial confinement |
| Jeremiah 20:10 | For I hear the whisperings of many: “Terror on every side! Report it!” “Let us report it!” Even my closest friends are all keeping | Jeremiah's earlier suffering |
| Psalm 34:6 | Whoever calls to the afflicted poor this day, and he does not help them, and also turns away his face from them, is as a man that mocketh them. | Biblical principle of mercy |
| Proverbs 3:27 | Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. | Mandate for helpfulness |
| Isaiah 58:10 | If you offer your compassion to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your night shall be as the noonday. | Divine blessing for mercy |
| Luke 10:33 | But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. | Parable of the Good Samaritan |
| Acts 9:36 | Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: she, full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. | Example of active kindness |
| James 1:27 | Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. | True piety involves action |
| 1 Peter 3:8 | Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. | Call for empathy and kindness |
| Proverbs 19:17 | Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed. | Reward for generosity |
| Romans 12:15 | Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. | Shared emotional experience |
| Psalm 82:3 | Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the rights of the afflicted and the destitute. | Command to defend the vulnerable |
| Proverbs 17:13 | Whoever rewards evil for good, evil will never leave his house. | Consequences of injustice |
Jeremiah 39 verses
Jeremiah 39 15 Meaning
This verse describes an action taken by Ebed-melech, an Ethiopian eunuch in King Zedekiah's service. He spoke to Jeremiah, assuring him of his release from the cistern. He also revealed that he had already secured the king's permission for this release, highlighting his compassion and courage.
Jeremiah 39 15 Context
This verse occurs during the final siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar. Jeremiah had been imprisoned by his own people for prophesying doom and accusing them of disobedience to God. Ebed-melech, a non-Israelite in the King's court, showed compassion to Jeremiah, acting as his rescuer. The preceding verses detail Jeremiah's plight in a muddy cistern where he was left to die, and Ebed-melech's intervention, first by taking thirty men, then by using ropes and rags to lift Jeremiah out. This verse signifies Ebed-melech relaying the news of his successful rescue and authorization from King Zedekiah.
Jeremiah 39 15 Word Analysis
- And Ebed-melech said to Ebed-melech: This repetition might be a textual anomaly, or it could emphasize Ebed-melech's communication to himself in assurance or confirmation. Alternatively, it might be a scribe's error.
- the Ethiopian: Refers to Ebed-melech's origin, highlighting that his compassion transcended ethnic or national boundaries. It indicates he was an African eunuch.
- in the house of the king: Identifies his position as an official in King Zedekiah's administration.
- Go, get Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern: This is a direct instruction.
- Go: Command to proceed.
- get Jeremiah the prophet out: The core action requested.
- of the cistern: The perilous location from which he was to be retrieved.
- before he dies: Indicates the urgency and the life-threatening situation Jeremiah was in.
- with you: This likely refers to the thirty men Ebed-melech had requested from the king's servants.
- And he took hence thirty men and commanded them: Ebed-melech took action, delegating the task to a group of men he appointed.
- he took: Confirms his personal initiative.
- hence: From that place, the king's house or vicinity.
- thirty men: The number of assistants he gathered.
- commanded them: His authority and leadership in this task.
- Saying, Take Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern: Reiterates the directive.
- Saying: Introducing the content of his command.
- Take Jeremiah the prophet out: The specific instruction to the thirty men.
- And let him be taken up with rags under his armpits, and with cords: Describes the method of extraction, using makeshift tools.
- let him be taken up: The action of lifting.
- with rags under his armpits: A detail illustrating the method of support for pulling. This was Ebed-melech's ingenuity to prevent rope burns and ensure a safe lift.
- and with cords: The necessary material for pulling.
Jeremiah 39 15 Bonus Section
Ebed-melech's salvation is promised by God in Jeremiah 39:16-18, where the prophet is sent to tell him: "Say to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will fulfill my words against this city for disaster and not for good, and they will occur on that day. But I will deliver you on that day, declares the LORD, and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. For I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but your life shall be as a prize to you, because you trusted in me, declares the LORD.’" This prophecy emphasizes that Ebed-melech’s life was spared not by his own might, but by his trust in the LORD. This aligns with the New Testament emphasis on salvation by grace through faith.
Jeremiah 39 15 Commentary
Ebed-melech’s actions showcase remarkable courage and faith. He intervened to save Jeremiah when many in authority had abandoned or sought to harm the prophet. His initiative in directly petitioning the king and then executing the rescue with practical means demonstrates active compassion. The detail of using rags underscores resourcefulness born from empathy, ensuring Jeremiah’s dignity and safety during a perilous rescue. Ebed-melech’s obedience to God, even when it meant defying his colleagues or possibly incurring political risk, is a key takeaway. His rescue of Jeremiah is a testament to God working through unlikely individuals to protect His messengers and His message. It also points to the broader theme of divine deliverance, mirroring God’s deliverance of His people.