Jeremiah 38:26

26 then tell them, ‘I was pleading with the king not to send me back to Jonathan’s house to die there.’ ”

Jeremiah 38:26 in Other Translations

26 Then 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.

26 then you shall say to them, 'I made a humble plea to the king that he would not send me back to the house of Jonathan to die there.'"

26 If this happens, just tell them you begged me not to send you back to Jonathan’s dungeon, for fear you would die there.”

26 If this happens, tell them, 'I presented my case to the king so that he wouldn't send me back to the dungeon of Jonathan to die there.'"

26 then you will tell them, 'I was bringing before the king my petition that he not return me to the house of Jonathan to die there.' "

Jeremiah 38:26 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 38:26

Then thou shalt say unto them
Here the king puts words into the prophet's mouth, what he should say to the princes, to put them off from inquiring further, and so keep the matter a secret: I presented my supplication before the king;
or "caused [it] to fall" {d}; delivered it in an humble and submissive manner: that he would not cause me to return to Jonathan's house, to die there;
this he had entreated of the king before, ( Jeremiah 37:20 ) ; and now, no doubt, renewed his request, having this fair opportunity with the king alone to do it; or, however, it is highly probable he did it upon this hint of the king. This shows how much the king stood in fear of his princes in this time of his distress; and that he had only the name of a king, and had not courage and resolution enough to act of himself, according to the dictates of his mind; yea, that he feared men more than he feared the Lord.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 (ytnxt yna lypm) "cadere feci deprecationem meam", Pagninus; "cadere faciens fui" Schmidt.

Jeremiah 38:26 In-Context

24 Then Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “Do not let anyone know about this conversation, or you may die.

25 If the officials hear that I talked with you, and they come to you and say, ‘Tell us what you said to the king and what the king said to you; do not hide it from us or we will kill you,’

26 then tell them, ‘I was pleading with the king not to send me back to Jonathan’s house to die there.’ ”

27 All the officials did come to Jeremiah and question him, and he told them everything the king had ordered him to say. So they said no more to him, for no one had heard his conversation with the king.

28 And Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard until the day Jerusalem was captured. This is how Jerusalem was taken:

Cross References

• 1. 1 Samuel 16:2
• 2. S Jeremiah 37:15