The big picture
Jeremiah 38 opens in verse 1 with “Then Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashur, and Jucal the son of…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 14 with “Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry…”, and closes in verse 28 with “So Jeremiah abode in the court of the prison until the day that Jerusalem was taken: and…” Repeated or prominent terms include Jeremiah, king, hand, LORD, city. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Jeremiah · King James Version · 28Jeremiah 38:1-7
1–7: Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashur, and Jucal…
Jeremiah 38:1–7 opens with “Then Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashur, and Jucal the son of…” and reaches “Now when Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king’s house, heard that…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jeremiah 38 develops its own movement around Jeremiah, king, hand, LORD, city, with particular weight carried by Jeremiah, king, city.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Then Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashur the son…” Naming Pashur and Gedaliah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Thus saith the LORD , He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Thus saith the LORD , This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon’s army, which shall take…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death: for thus he weakeneth the…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
Jeremiah 38:1-7
King James Version1Then Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashur the son of Malchiah, heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken unto all the people, saying,
2Thus saith the LORD , He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live.
3Thus saith the LORD , This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon’s army, which shall take it.
4Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death: for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt.
5Then Zedekiah the king said, Behold, he is in your hand: for the king is not he that can do any thing against you.
6Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.
7Now when Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin;
Jeremiah 38:8-14
8–14: Ebed-melech went forth out of the king’s house, and spake to the king…
Jeremiah 38:8–14 opens with “Ebed-melech went forth out of the king’s house, and spake to the king, saying,” and reaches “Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that is…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jeremiah 38 develops its own movement around Jeremiah, king, hand, LORD, city, with particular weight carried by Jeremiah, king, dungeon.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Ebed-melech went forth out of the king’s house, and spake to the king, saying,” Naming Ebed keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast…” Naming Jeremiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirty men with thee, and take up Jeremiah…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Jeremiah 38:8-14
King James Version8Ebed-melech went forth out of the king’s house, and spake to the king, saying,
9My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon; and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is: for there is no more bread in the city.
10Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirty men with thee, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die.
11So Ebed-melech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took thence old cast clouts and old rotten rags, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah.
12And Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah, Put now these old cast clouts and rotten rags under thine armholes under the cords. And Jeremiah did so.
13So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.
14Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that is in the house of the LORD : and the king said unto Jeremiah, I will ask thee a thing; hide nothing from me.
Jeremiah 38:15-21
15–21: Jeremiah said unto Zedekiah, If I declare it unto thee, wilt thou not…
Jeremiah 38:15–21 opens with “Then Jeremiah said unto Zedekiah, If I declare it unto thee, wilt thou not surely put me to…” and reaches “But if thou refuse to go forth, this is the word that the LORD hath shewed me:” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jeremiah 38 develops its own movement around Jeremiah, king, hand, LORD, city, with particular weight carried by Jeremiah, hand, king.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Then Jeremiah said unto Zedekiah, If I declare it unto thee, wilt thou not surely put me to death? and if I give thee…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
“So Zedekiah the king sware secretly unto Jeremiah, saying, As the LORD liveth, that made us this soul, I will not put…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the LORD , the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Jeremiah 38:15-21
King James Version15Then Jeremiah said unto Zedekiah, If I declare it unto thee, wilt thou not surely put me to death? and if I give thee counsel, wilt thou not hearken unto me?
16So Zedekiah the king sware secretly unto Jeremiah, saying, As the LORD liveth, that made us this soul, I will not put thee to death, neither will I give thee into the hand of these men that seek thy life.
17Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the LORD , the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon’s princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house:
18But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon’s princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand.
19And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me.
20But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the LORD , which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live.
21But if thou refuse to go forth, this is the word that the LORD hath shewed me:
Jeremiah 38:22-28
22–28: And, behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah’s house…
Jeremiah 38:22–28 opens with “And, behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah’s house shall be brought forth to…” and reaches “So Jeremiah abode in the court of the prison until the day that Jerusalem was taken: and he was…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jeremiah 38 develops its own movement around Jeremiah, king, hand, LORD, city, with particular weight carried by king, Jeremiah, princes.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And, behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah’s house shall be brought forth to the king of Babylon’s…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“So they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans: and thou shalt not escape out of their hand…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“Then said Zedekiah unto Jeremiah, Let no man know of these words, and thou shalt not die.” Naming Jeremiah and Zedekiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“But if the princes hear that I have talked with thee, and they come unto thee, and say unto thee, Declare unto us now…” Naming Declare keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Jeremiah 38:22-28
King James Version22And, behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah’s house shall be brought forth to the king of Babylon’s princes, and those women shall say, Thy friends have set thee on, and have prevailed against thee: thy feet are sunk in the mire, and they are turned away back.
23So they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans: and thou shalt not escape out of their hand, but shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon: and thou shalt cause this city to be burned with fire.
24Then said Zedekiah unto Jeremiah, Let no man know of these words, and thou shalt not die.
25But if the princes hear that I have talked with thee, and they come unto thee, and say unto thee, Declare unto us now what thou hast said unto the king, hide it not from us, and we will not put thee to death; also what the king said unto thee:
26Then thou shalt say unto them, I presented my supplication before the king, that he would not cause me to return to Jonathan’s house, to die there.
27Then came all the princes unto Jeremiah, and asked him: and he told them according to all these words that the king had commanded. So they left off speaking with him; for the matter was not perceived.
28So Jeremiah abode in the court of the prison until the day that Jerusalem was taken: and he was there when Jerusalem was taken.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Jeremiah 38:1 begins with “Then Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashur the son of Malchiah, heard the words that…”
Where the chapter turns
Jeremiah 38:14 forms a natural hinge: “Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that is in the house of the LORD : and the king said unto…”
The final note
Jeremiah 38:28 leaves the reader with “So Jeremiah abode in the court of the prison until the day that Jerusalem was taken: and he was there when Jerusalem was taken.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Jeremiah, king, hand, LORD, city, dungeon help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What changes Judah's public judgment?
Recognizing his own pledges forces him to acknowledge his broken obligation.
Why is this chapter important to the larger story?
It introduces Perez's line and begins a deeper view of Judah, who later offers himself for Benjamin.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.