Jeremiah 39 16

Jeremiah 39:16 kjv

Go and speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished in that day before thee.

Jeremiah 39:16 nkjv

"Go and speak to Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Behold, I will bring My words upon this city for adversity and not for good, and they shall be performed in that day before you.

Jeremiah 39:16 niv

"Go and tell Ebed-Melek the Cushite, 'This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I am about to fulfill my words against this city?words concerning disaster, not prosperity. At that time they will be fulfilled before your eyes.

Jeremiah 39:16 esv

"Go, and 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 harm and not for good, and they shall be accomplished before you on that day.

Jeremiah 39:16 nlt

"Say to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, 'This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies, the God of Israel, says: I will do to this city everything I have threatened. I will send disaster, not prosperity. You will see its destruction,

Jeremiah 39 verses

Jeremiah 39 16 Meaning

This verse reassures Jeremiah that despite the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of its people, God has not forgotten or abandoned them. Specifically, it refers to the enslaved Ethiopian eunuch who played a role in Zedekiah's downfall. God promises that this man, through his faithful act of opening the prison gates for Jeremiah, will be preserved from the impending doom and will receive his "life as a prize" amidst the catastrophe. It highlights divine providence, God's awareness of individual actions, and the eventual salvation and reward for those who show kindness to God's prophets, even in times of judgment.

Jeremiah 39 16 Context

Jeremiah chapter 39 narrates the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians and the subsequent events. This verse (39:16) occurs immediately after Jeremiah has been released from imprisonment and the general pronouncements about the fate of the city and its inhabitants. The chapter details the king Zedekiah's capture and the brutal treatment he received from the Babylonians, emphasizing the fulfillment of prophecy regarding his punishment. Amidst this scene of devastation and judgment, the verse singles out Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, a court official who had shown kindness to Jeremiah. The historical context is the brutal conquest of Jerusalem, a city believed to be under the protection of its covenant God. The audience would have been familiar with the prophets' warnings and the catastrophic consequences of disobedience. This verse offers a glimmer of divine mercy and individual recognition within the broader context of national judgment.

Jeremiah 39 16 Word Analysis

• "and" (וְ - vāv): A common conjunctive particle, linking clauses or ideas. Here, it connects the assurance given to Jeremiah with the specific promise to Ebed-Melech.
• "I" (אָנֹכִי - anokhi): The first-person singular pronoun, emphatically stating God's personal involvement and declaration.
• "will deliver" (נָאצַלְתִּי - nātzal'ti): From the root (נָצַל - natsal), meaning to snatch away, to deliver, to rescue. It implies a vigorous, immediate act of saving from imminent danger.
• "you" (אוֹתְךָ - otkha): The direct object pronoun "you" (masculine singular), referring specifically to Ebed-Melech.
• "their" (הֵמָּה - hemmāh): A masculine plural pronoun, referring to the enemies or oppressors.
• "hand" (יַד - yad): A common noun for "hand," representing power, agency, or possession. Here, it signifies the hands of the Babylonians who represent the instruments of judgment.
• "which" (אֲשֶׁר - asher): A relative pronoun introducing a relative clause, specifying whose hands.
• "in" (בְּ - be): A preposition indicating "in," "with," or "by." Here it signifies "in which" or "by whom."
• "which" (אֲשֶׁר - asher): Another relative pronoun, linking Ebed-Melech to the doom predicted for those who would capture Jeremiah.
• "they" (הֵם - hem): The plural pronoun, referring back to the people or the oppressors.
• "will bring" (מֵבִיאִים - mevi'im): From the root (בּוֹא - bo), meaning to come, to bring. The present participle form suggests an ongoing action or an inevitable process of bringing about the doom.
• "day" (יוֹם - yom): Noun meaning "day," referring to the day of judgment and destruction.
• "upon" (עַל - al): Preposition indicating "upon," "against," or "concerning." It specifies the target of the day of destruction.
• "them" (הֵם - hem): The plural pronoun referring to the collective group facing destruction.
• "and" (וְ - vāv): Conjunctive particle.
• "you" (אַתָּה - attah): The second-person masculine singular pronoun.
• "shall have" (יִהְיֶה - yihyeh): The third-person masculine singular imperfect form of the verb (היה - hayah), meaning "to be." It indicates a future possession or state.
• "your" (לְךָ - l'kha): The preposition "to/for" with the second-person masculine singular suffix "you," indicating possession or recipient.
• "life" (חַיִּים - chayyim): Noun meaning "life," in the plural form, often denoting abundant or continuous life.
• "as" (לְ - lə): Preposition indicating "as," "for," or "for the sake of."
• "prey" (שָׁלָל - shalal): Noun meaning "spoils," "booty," or "prey." It signifies something taken or captured, especially in war or conflict. In this context, it is "life as a prize," suggesting that his life will be the reward he receives for his faithfulness, delivered from the midst of death.

Group of Words Analysis:

• "I will deliver you from their hand": This phrase underscores divine intervention against human enemies. The power to snatch from the hand signifies rescue from a grip that would enslave or destroy.
• "the day that they are bringing upon them the evil day": This speaks to the predetermined doom upon the nation of Judah. The "evil day" is the day of judgment and destruction orchestrated by the conquering Babylonian forces.
• "you shall have your life as prey": This idiom conveys that one's life will be the prize of survival, salvaged from the ruin. It’s not a prosperous life gained, but a life miraculously spared. This is similar to Lot's escape from Sodom where he was spared, but lost his wife and possessions (Gen 19:17, 24-26).

Jeremiah 39 16 Bonus Section

The character of Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian stands out as a remarkable example of faith and compassion in a time of great apostasy and national calamity. His foreign status and position as a eunuch would have made him particularly vulnerable within Judean society, yet his willingness to act courageously for Jeremiah, facing opposition from others in the king's court (Jeremiah 38:7-13), demonstrates a profound inner strength and moral integrity. This divine assurance to Ebed-Melech parallels God’s overarching promise in Jeremiah 29:11 to His people, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." While the nation faced judgment, Ebed-Melech's personal welfare was guaranteed because of his righteous actions. This is a concrete demonstration of the principle that faithfulness leads to divine favor, a consistent theme throughout the biblical narrative. The mention of his ethnic origin also highlights God's impartiality; salvation and protection are available to all who turn to Him, regardless of background or social standing.

Jeremiah 39 16 Commentary

Jeremiah 39:16 offers a powerful message of individual deliverance amidst widespread catastrophe. Ebed-Melech, an Ethiopian eunuch, had acted with compassion and courage by rescuing Jeremiah from a cistern, thus saving the prophet from certain death. God, who sees and remembers every act of kindness, especially toward His servants, declares that Ebed-Melech will be preserved. The promise of having his "life as a prey" signifies that in the midst of the plundering and destruction of Jerusalem, Ebed-Melech’s life will be the ultimate "spoils" saved from the enemy. This verse exemplifies divine justice and mercy, highlighting that personal obedience and love for God’s prophets do not go unnoticed. It foreshadows a theme found throughout Scripture: that those who show kindness and mercy will themselves receive mercy, and that God’s protection extends even to the marginalized and foreigners who act faithfully. His faithfulness secures Ebed-Melech's life as a trophy of God's preservation, a testament to God's ability to rescue even in the direst circumstances. This act of divine safeguarding offers hope that even when national judgment falls, individuals who honor God can be delivered.