Jeremiah 38:17

17 And Jeremy said to Zedekiah, The Lord of hosts, God of Israel, saith these things, If thou goest forth, and goest out to the princes of the king of Babylon, thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burnt with fire, and thou shalt be safe, thou and thine house. (And Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saith these things, If thou goest forth, and goest out to the leaders, or the officers, of the king of Babylon, thou shalt live, and this city shall not be burned down, and thou shalt be safe, thou and thy house.)

Jeremiah 38:17 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 38:17

Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah
Being thus indemnified and secured by the king's word and oath, he proceeds freely to lay before the king the whole matter as from the Lord: thus saith the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel;
the prophet does not give the following advice in his own name, but in the name of the eternal Jehovah, the Lord of armies above and below, and who had a special regard to the people of Israel, and their welfare; and therefore it became the king to show the more regard unto it: if thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon's princes;
the generals of his army, whose names are mentioned, ( Jeremiah 39:3 ) ; the king not being with his army at this time, but at Riblah, ( Jeremiah 39:5 ) ; the meaning is, if he would open the gates of Jerusalem, and go forth from thence to the Chaldean army, and surrender himself and the city into the hands of the princes in it, and general officers of it: then thy soul shall live;
in thy body, and not be separated from it; or live comfortably, in peace and safety, though not in so much splendour and glory as he had done: and this city shall not be burned with fire;
as had been threatened; and as the Chaldeans would be provoked to do, should it hold out to the last extremity; but should preserve it upon a surrender: and thou shall live, and thine house;
not only himself, but his wives and children, and servants.

Jeremiah 38:17 In-Context

15 Forsooth Jeremy said to Zedekiah, If I tell to thee, whether thou shalt not slay me? And if I give counsel to thee, thou shalt not hear me. (And Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, If I tell thee, shalt thou not kill me? And if I give counsel to thee, shalt thou truly listen to me?)

16 Therefore Zedekiah the king swore to Jeremy privily, and said, The Lord liveth, that made to us this soul, I shall not slay thee, and I shall not betake thee into the hands of these men, that seek thy life. (And so King Zedekiah privately swore to Jeremiah, and said, As the Lord liveth, who made these souls for us, I shall not kill thee, and I shall not deliver thee into the hands of these men who seek thy life.)

17 And Jeremy said to Zedekiah, The Lord of hosts, God of Israel, saith these things, If thou goest forth, and goest out to the princes of the king of Babylon, thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burnt with fire, and thou shalt be safe, thou and thine house. (And Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saith these things, If thou goest forth, and goest out to the leaders, or the officers, of the king of Babylon, thou shalt live, and this city shall not be burned down, and thou shalt be safe, thou and thy house.)

18 Forsooth if thou goest not out to the princes of the king of Babylon, this city shall be betaken into the hands of Chaldees; and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape from the hand of them. (But if thou goest not out to the officers of the king of Babylon, this city shall be delivered into the hands of the Chaldeans; and they shall burn it down, and thou shalt not escape from their hands.)

19 And king Zedekiah said to Jeremy, I am anguished for the Jews that fled over to [the] Chaldees, lest peradventure I be betaken into the hands of them, and they scorn me. (And King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, I am anguished about the Jews who fled over to the Chaldeans, lest perhaps I be delivered into their hands, and they mock me/and they harm me.)