Jeremiah 40:16 kjv
But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing: for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.
Jeremiah 40:16 nkjv
But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, "You shall not do this thing, for you speak falsely concerning Ishmael."
Jeremiah 40:16 niv
But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, "Don't do such a thing! What you are saying about Ishmael is not true."
Jeremiah 40:16 esv
But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, "You shall not do this thing, for you are speaking falsely of Ishmael."
Jeremiah 40:16 nlt
But Gedaliah said to Johanan, "I forbid you to do any such thing, for you are lying about Ishmael."
Jeremiah 40 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 41:1 | Now it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal line, and with him ten men, came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, unto Mizpah; and there they did eat bread together in Mizpah. | Betrayal by trusted men |
| 2 Samuel 15:12 | And with Absalom went two hundred men from Jerusalem, that were called thither, and they went in their simplicity, and they knew nothing at all. | Deception and innocence |
| Psalm 41:9 | Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. | Prophetic foreshadowing |
| Psalm 55:12-14 | For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: But it was thou, a man mine equal, my companion, and mine acquaintane. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. | Deep personal betrayal |
| Proverbs 10:18 | He that hideth hatred with his lips, and doth give reproach in foolishness, is a fool. | Hidden malice |
| Proverbs 26:24-26 | He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. Whose hatred is covered by rael shall shew his own folly in the public. | Deceptive speech |
| Jeremiah 40:7-10 | And when all the captains of the forces, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed unto him men, and women, and children, and of the poor of the land, of Mizpah; Then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jonathan the son of Uzziah, and Jaazaniah the son of the Maacathite, they and their men. And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, spake unto them, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you. But I will not dwell in Mizpah, to look to that that is done in the land. Behold, I will dwell at Mizpah, and do all that cometh from me unto you: Now when all the Jews that dwelt at Moab, and among the Ammonites, and in Edom, and that were in other countries, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, and that he had left of the poor of Israel none remaining in Judah and Jerusalem; | Context of governance and arrival of captains |
| Matthew 26:48-49 | Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. | Betrayal with a kiss |
| John 13:21-27 | When Jesus had said this, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. And he leaning on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, He it is, for whom I shall dip the sop, and give it him. Now when he had dipped the sop, he gave it unto Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop of Satan entered into him. | Betrayal by Judas |
| Acts 1:16-17 | Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. | Prophecy fulfilled |
Jeremiah 40 verses
Jeremiah 40 16 Meaning
This verse records Ishmael's treacherous response to Gedaliah. Despite Gedaliah's trusted position and God's protection implied by the covenant at Mizpah, Ishmael, driven by malicious intent and possibly a desire to undermine Gedaliah's authority, planned and executed the murder of Gedaliah and the Judeans with him. It highlights a stark contrast between loyalty and betrayal, a recurring theme in Scripture.
Jeremiah 40 16 Context
This verse is situated within the immediate aftermath of Jerusalem's destruction by the Babylonians. Gedaliah, a Jewish governor appointed by Nebuchadnezzar, had established a relatively stable administration at Mizpah. The Judeans who had fled the conquest were returning, encouraged by Gedaliah to remain in the land and serve the Babylonians. Ishmael, however, representing a remnant of the Davidic royal line, arrives with a delegation of ten men. The historical context is one of deep national trauma and uncertainty, with lingering hopes of restoring Judah's autonomy, which Ishmael's actions directly sought to destabilize by undermining Gedaliah's leadership and the nascent peace.
Jeremiah 40 16 Word analysis
And: Connects this action to the preceding events.
Ishmael: A Hebrew name meaning "God hears." This name is ironic given his wicked actions in this context.
the son of: Indicates lineage, emphasizing his descent from Nethaniah and indirectly from Elishama, suggesting a potentially royal or noble background.
Nethaniah: Hebrew for "gift of the LORD."
the son of: Again, emphasizing lineage.
Elishama: Hebrew for "God has heard."
who was of the king's seed: Indicates he was a descendant of the Davidic royal line, making his treachery even more significant as it opposes the lineage he belonged to.
and, behold: A particle introducing a statement of surprise or significance.
ten men: A specific number indicating a delegation accompanying Ishmael.
with him: Demonstrates their alliance with Ishmael.
came to Gedaliah: Signifies their approach to the appointed governor at Mizpah.
unto Mizpah: The location of the meeting and the seat of Gedaliah's governance.
unto whom: Indicates the direction of their arrival and intended action.
Gedaliah: Hebrew for "Yahweh is great."
the son of Ahikam: Ahikam was a figure known for supporting Jeremiah, signifying a contrast in loyalties and character.
Ahikam: Hebrew for "brother of rising."
when he wept: Describes Gedaliah's emotional state upon their arrival, likely due to the devastation and the presence of the survivors he was appointed to protect.
and did eat bread: A gesture of fellowship, hospitality, and trust in ancient Near Eastern culture, highlighting the depth of Ishmael's deception.
Ishmael and his ten men came to Gedaliah: The delegation arrived with malicious intent.
Gedaliah was deeply moved by their arrival: Gedaliah likely felt sympathy for these men, seeing them as fellow Judeans returning to their homeland.
The act of eating bread: A sacred covenant of trust and peace in the ancient world.
Jeremiah 40 16 Bonus section
The practice of sharing a meal, especially bread, was a profound act of trust and often signified a binding covenant in ancient Near Eastern cultures. It created an inviolable bond between the parties. For Ishmael to accept this hospitality and then plot against his host revealed a severe breach of ethical and cultural norms, demonstrating the utter perversion of loyalties in this tumultuous period. Ishmael's lineage as part of the royal seed, as mentioned, might have fueled a personal ambition or a grievance against the Babylonian-appointed governor, but his method was one of deep treachery. The weeping of Gedaliah, possibly before Ishmael's arrival or upon seeing these representatives of his scattered people, adds a layer of pathos, highlighting his earnest desire for reconciliation and rebuilding.
Jeremiah 40 16 Commentary
This verse starkly portrays the depth of human depravity and betrayal. Ishmael, from a royal lineage, arrives with a small but significant group, feigning submission. Gedaliah, the appointed leader tasked with rebuilding the shattered nation, extends the utmost hospitality and trust by sharing a meal with them, a symbol of peace and covenant. This hospitality is tragically met with deadly intent, illustrating the profound disruption and moral decay that followed the Babylonian conquest. It underscores the fragility of peace and the insidious nature of treachery, especially when disguised under a guise of reconciliation and shared national identity. The contrasting actions of Gedaliah and Ishmael serve as a poignant example of faithfulness versus faithlessness, with devastating consequences.