Jeremiah 40:2 kjv
And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The LORD thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place.
Jeremiah 40:2 nkjv
And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said to him: "The LORD your God has pronounced this doom on this place.
Jeremiah 40:2 niv
When the commander of the guard found Jeremiah, he said to him, "The LORD your God decreed this disaster for this place.
Jeremiah 40:2 esv
The captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said to him, "The LORD your God pronounced this disaster against this place.
Jeremiah 40:2 nlt
The captain of the guard called for Jeremiah and said, "The LORD your God has brought this disaster on this land,
Jeremiah 40 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 39:12 | "Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave orders about Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan commander of the guard: “Take him and look after him; let him have whatever he wants." | Specific instruction regarding Jeremiah |
| Jeremiah 39:14 | "and they took Jeremiah out of the courtyard of the guard and handed him over to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to be taken to his home." | Jeremiah entrusted to Gedaliah |
| Jeremiah 40:5 | "Before Jeremiah was sent back to the place where he was to go, Nebuzaradan, the commander of the guard, found him. 'Jeremiah,' he said, 'we’ve got orders to let you go. Whatever you want, whatever you wish, just ask.'" | Nebuzaradan acting on the king's orders |
| 2 Chronicles 36:21 | "The land enjoyed its sabbath rests, for as long as it lay desolate it kept sabbath, to fulfill what was said in the Law, even to the last day." | Fulfillment of prophetic word through events |
| Isaiah 10:5 | "Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger, in whose hand is the club of my fury! I will send it against a godless nation, I will send it to bring out a cry of pain from a people who provoke my anger." | God using nations as instruments |
| Psalm 37:23 | "The LORD makes firm the steps of the one on whom his favour rests; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand." | Divine care and protection of the righteous |
| Psalm 119:45 | "I will walk in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts." | Freedom found in obedience to God |
| Luke 21:18 | "But not a hair of your head will perish." | Assurance of divine protection in judgment |
| Acts 4:20 | "For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”" | Obedience to God over human authority |
| Acts 5:29 | "Peter replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!”" | The ultimate authority of God |
| Proverbs 3:5-6 | "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." | God directing and guiding |
| Matthew 6:33 | "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." | God's provision for those who seek Him |
| Jeremiah 29:10 | "This is what the LORD says: 'When seventy years have passed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place.'" | Promise of future restoration |
| Jeremiah 29:11 | "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" | God's good intentions for His people |
| Jeremiah 30:10 | "'So do not be afraid, Jacob my servant, do not be dismayed, Israel,' declares the LORD. 'I will surely save you from distant lands, your descendants from the land of their exile.'" | God's promise of salvation and return |
| 2 Kings 25:27 | "In the thirty-seventh year of Jehoiachin king of Judah’s exile, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, Evil-Merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he became king, released Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison." | Historical parallel of release by Babylonian king |
| Ezra 1:1 | "In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD did stir up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia..." | Jeremiah's prophecy fulfilled by Cyrus |
| Daniel 9:2 | "in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the LORD given to the prophet Jeremiah, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years." | Jeremiah's prophecy influencing understanding |
| Romans 8:28 | "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." | God working all things for good |
| Philippians 1:6 | "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." | God's faithfulness in completing His work |
Jeremiah 40 verses
Jeremiah 40 2 Meaning
The Lord gave Nebuchadnezzar a clear, divinely revealed instruction regarding Jeremiah. Jeremiah, the prophet, was the one identified by the Lord as the recipient of this command. The action commanded was to set Jeremiah free, and allow him to return to his home in Anathoth. This was not a human decision but a direct intervention and directive from God Himself.
Jeremiah 40 2 Context
This verse appears in Jeremiah chapter 40, immediately following the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple. Nebuchadnezzar, through his captain of the guard, Nebuzaradan, had given orders concerning Jeremiah. While Jeremiah was being taken captive along with other Judeans, Nebuzaradan personally intervened and commanded that Jeremiah be set free. This intervention was not an act of random mercy but was in direct obedience to the King's orders, which were themselves prompted by God. The context is one of utter devastation for Jerusalem and its people, yet within this context, God orchestrates a specific deliverance for His prophet. Jeremiah's life had been marked by consistent proclamation of God's judgment, and now, even in judgment, God preserves him to witness the aftermath and to continue his ministry.
Jeremiah 40 2 Word analysis
- וַיְהִי (vay-hi): This is a common Hebrew conjunctive particle, often translated as "and it was" or "then." It serves to connect this verse with the preceding events, signaling a continuation of the narrative.
- יהוה (YHWH): The Tetragrammaton, the personal covenantal name of God, often translated as "LORD." This indicates divine authority and action.
- מְדַבֵּר (medaber): Present participle of the verb "to speak." It signifies that the Lord was actively speaking or communicating.
- אֶל (el): A preposition meaning "to," "toward," or "unto." It shows the recipient of the Lord's speech.
- יִרְמְיָהוּ (Yir-me-ya-hu): The name Jeremiah, meaning "Yahweh lifts up" or "Yahweh casts down." The very name speaks of divine action and control over his life.
- לֵאמֹר (le'mor): An infinitive construct of the verb "to say," functioning like "saying." It introduces the content of God's communication.
Words-group by words-group analysis data:
- וַיְהִי יהוה מְדַבֵּר אֶל־יִרְמְיָהוּ לֵאמֹר: This opening phrase, "And the LORD spoke to Jeremiah, saying," establishes God as the direct initiator and communicator of the message. It underscores that the following action is not merely historical happenstance but a divinely orchestrated event. It places God at the center of the narrative, highlighting His sovereignty over human affairs and His continued engagement with His prophet even in times of national catastrophe.
Jeremiah 40 2 Bonus section
The explicit mention that the Lord spoke to Jeremiah regarding his release highlights the personal relationship God has with His prophets. Even when employing pagan kings as tools of judgment or deliverance, God maintains direct communication with His own. This is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, where God initiates dialogue and gives specific instructions to His chosen individuals (e.g., Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Paul). The instruction to release Jeremiah and allow him to return home emphasizes God's holistic plan, which includes not only judgment but also future hope and the continuation of His redemptive work through a faithful remnant. The action here directly sets the stage for Jeremiah's subsequent ministry among those who remained in Judah, led by Gedaliah.
Jeremiah 40 2 Commentary
The verse signifies a critical moment of divine intervention in Jeremiah's life. Despite the utter ruin and despair following Jerusalem's fall, God personally directed the king of Babylon's commander to release Jeremiah. This was a tangible demonstration of God's promises to protect His faithful servant. Nebuchadnezzar, as an unwitting instrument of God's will, carried out the Lord's command. Jeremiah, who had so faithfully delivered God's messages of judgment, was now experiencing God's message of preservation. This event was paramount in allowing Jeremiah to continue his ministry among the remnant left in the land, providing comfort and prophetic guidance during the subsequent period of uncertainty and distress.