Jeremiah 37:1-6

Jeremiah Warns Zedekiah

1 1Zedekiah the son of Josiah, 2whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah, reigned instead of 3Coniah the son of Jehoiakim.
2 4But neither he nor his servants nor the people of the land listened to the words of the LORD that he spoke through Jeremiah the prophet.
3 King Zedekiah sent 5Jehucal the son of 6Shelemiah, and 7Zephaniah the priest, the son of 8Maaseiah, to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "Please 9pray for us to the LORD our God."
4 10Now Jeremiah was still going in and out among the people, 11for he had not yet been put in prison.
5 12The army of Pharaoh had come out of Egypt. And when 13the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard news about them, 14they withdrew from Jerusalem.
6 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet:

Jeremiah 37:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 37

This chapter makes mention of the reign of Zedekiah, and what happened in it; of his message to Jeremiah, to pray for the kingdom; of the king of Babylonian's raising the siege of Jerusalem, on hearing the king of Egypt was coming to its relief; of the assurance the prophet gave that the Chaldean army would return again, and destroy the city; of the prophet's attempt to depart the city, his imprisonment, conversation with Zedekiah, and his clemency to him. A short account is given of Zedekiah, and of the disobedience of him and his people to the word of the Lord, Jer 37:1,2; of the message sent by him to the prophet to pray for them, Jer 37:3; the time, when Jeremiah was at liberty, and the siege of Jerusalem was raised, Jer 37:4,5; the prophet's answer to them from the Lord, assuring them the Chaldeans would return and burn the city, Jer 37:6-10; the prophet attempting to go out of the city is stopped, and charged as a deserter to the Chaldeans; is had before the princes, and beat and imprisoned, Jer 37:11-15; but the king sending for him out of prison, and having some private discourse with him, upon the prophet's expostulation and intercession, his confinement was mitigated, and bread allowed him, Jer 37:16-21.

Cross References 14

  • 1. 2 Kings 24:17; 2 Chronicles 36:10
  • 2. [Ezekiel 17:13]
  • 3. Jeremiah 22:24
  • 4. See 2 Chronicles 36:12-14
  • 5. [Jeremiah 38:1]
  • 6. ver. 13; Jeremiah 38:1
  • 7. See Jeremiah 21:1
  • 8. See Jeremiah 35:4
  • 9. [Jeremiah 21:2]
  • 10. [Numbers 27:17]
  • 11. [Jeremiah 32:2; Jeremiah 33:1]
  • 12. [Ezekiel 17:15]
  • 13. Jeremiah 32:2
  • 14. ver. 11; Jeremiah 34:21
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.