Jeremiah 40 4

Jeremiah 40:4 kjv

And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which were upon thine hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come; and I will look well unto thee: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go.

Jeremiah 40:4 nkjv

And now look, I free you this day from the chains that were on your hand. If it seems good to you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you. But if it seems wrong for you to come with me to Babylon, remain here. See, all the land is before you; wherever it seems good and convenient for you to go, go there."

Jeremiah 40:4 niv

But today I am freeing you from the chains on your wrists. Come with me to Babylon, if you like, and I will look after you; but if you do not want to, then don't come. Look, the whole country lies before you; go wherever you please."

Jeremiah 40:4 esv

Now, behold, I release you today from the chains on your hands. If it seems good to you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you well, but if it seems wrong to you to come with me to Babylon, do not come. See, the whole land is before you; go wherever you think it good and right to go.

Jeremiah 40:4 nlt

But I am going to take off your chains and let you go. If you want to come with me to Babylon, you are welcome. I will see that you are well cared for. But if you don't want to come, you may stay here. The whole land is before you ? go wherever you like.

Jeremiah 40 verses

Jeremiah 40 4 Meaning

The Lord did not allow Jeremiah to be captured by the Babylonians at Ramah. Instead, an order was given to Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, to release Jeremiah, find him, and treat him with kindness, thereby permitting him to stay in the land of Judah.

Jeremiah 40 4 Context

Jeremiah 40:4 takes place in the immediate aftermath of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. After the city fell and the temple was burned, Jeremiah, who had been imprisoned due to his prophecies, was brought to Ramah. Ramah was a significant city, north of Jerusalem, likely a gathering point for captives before their deportation. This verse reveals a divine intervention in Jeremiah's fate, showing God's specific care for His prophet amidst the national catastrophe. The Babylonian commander Nebuzaradan, who was responsible for carrying out the king's orders, acted upon a direct command from God, demonstrating that even the conquering powers are instruments in God's hand.

Jeremiah 40 4 Word Analysis

• וְאִם־ (v'im): "And if." This is a conditional particle conjunction, linking the current statement to a preceding or implied condition or instruction. It signifies "but if" or "however," introducing a change of direction.
• אַתָּה (atah): "you." The second person masculine singular pronoun. Refers directly to Jeremiah.
• חָפֵץ (chafets): "desire," "will," "wish." This Hebrew verb signifies a deep longing or purpose. It's not merely a fleeting wish but a genuine inclination.
• בִּ֤י (bi): "in me," "with me." A prepositional phrase indicating with whom or where the desire is located.
• לָ֤בוֹא (lavo): "to go," "to come," "to enter." The infinitive of the verb meaning to go or enter. Here it signifies coming to dwell.
• עִם־ (im): "with." A preposition indicating accompaniment or association.
• בָבֶל֙ (Bavel): "Babylon." The capital of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, the ruling power.
• אַל־ (al): "not," "do not." A negative particle, commanding or prohibiting.
• תֶּחֱזַ֥ק (techazak): "hold strongly," "be strong," "prevail." This verb comes from the root chazaq (חָזַק), meaning to be strong, firm, or courageous. Here, it’s a jussive or negative imperative, forbidding Jeremiah from strengthening himself or attempting to escape, likely meaning don't resolve or decide to go to Babylon.
• בָּ֔בֶל (Bavel): "Babylon." Repetition emphasizes the place being referred to.
• כִּ֛י (ki): "for," "because." A causal conjunction, explaining the reason for the preceding prohibition or instruction.
• טוֹב֙ (tov): "good." Denotes well-being, pleasantness, and favor.
• בְּקִרְבָּ֖ךְ (bekirb'cha): "in your midst," "within you," "among you." A prepositional phrase indicating location. This implies a favorable presence of God among the people remaining in Judah.
• וּלְכ֙ (ul'cha): "and go." A conjunction ("and") and the verb "to go," in the infinitive construct form, attached to the preposition 'l' (to). It indicates movement towards a destination.
• לֵ֖ךְ (lech): "go," "go forth." The masculine singular imperative of the verb "to go." This is a direct command.
• אֶל־ (el): "to." A preposition indicating direction or destination.
• גְּדֹלָ֔יו (g'dolav): "his great ones," "his nobles," "his chief men." Refers to the important or high-ranking officials of the Babylonian government or army who are present.
• רַמ֙ (Ramah): "Ramah." The place where Jeremiah was brought.
• מִשְׁעֶ֖ה (mish'eh): "refuge," "defense." From the root shu'a (שׁוּעַ), meaning to cry out for help or to seek refuge.

Phrase/Group Analysis:

• "But if you are desirous of coming with me to Babylon, do not remain." (v. 4a): This part suggests that Nebuzaradan acknowledged Jeremiah's potential desire to join the exiles, perhaps sensing Jeremiah's solidarity with his people. The negative command implies that if Jeremiah's own will or preference was to go to Babylon, he was not to reinforce or act on that preference, because God had other plans.
• "For it is good for you in our midst; and go you to Gedaliah..." (v. 4b): This directly states God's favorable will for Jeremiah. "Good in your midst" implies safety and divine blessing where God intends for him to be. The command to go to Gedaliah (the appointed governor) signifies that God is orchestrating the future leadership and remnant in Judah, and Jeremiah is to be part of that.

Jeremiah 40 4 Bonus Section

The decree issued to Nebuzaradan in verse 4 underscores the ultimate sovereignty of God over even pagan rulers and empires. Nebuzaradan, acting not out of inherent loyalty to God, but in obedience to a higher command relayed through Jeremiah (as per Jeremiah 39:11-14), becomes an instrument of God's mercy. This demonstrates the principle that "all authority on earth is ultimately subject to God's will." The concept of "good in your midst" refers to the benevolent care and presence of God, even for those left behind in a devastated land. Jeremiah’s remaining in Judah, close to the people and the ruined holy places, positioned him to continue his role as a prophetic voice of comfort and instruction for the remnant.

Jeremiah 40 4 Commentary

This verse reveals the profound interconnectedness between divine will and human actions, even within the context of conquest and devastation. God’s foreknowledge and direct influence extend even to the actions of Nebuzaradan, the captain of the Babylonian guard. Jeremiah's ministry was to continue amidst his own people, not in the exile of Babylon. This specific intervention highlights God's unwavering commitment to His covenant and His prophet, ensuring that the prophetic voice, a crucial element for the future hope of Israel, was preserved. The permission for Jeremiah to go to Gedaliah further signals God’s appointment of a new, albeit limited, leadership in the land, indicating that the story of Israel was not yet concluded with Jerusalem's fall.