Jeremiah 38:18

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.)

Jeremiah 38:18 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 38:18

But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon's
princes
And surrender to them: then shall this city be given into the hands of the Chaldeans;
if not willingly delivered up by the king of Judah, it shall be forcibly taken by the king of Babylon's army, through the permission of God; with respect to whom it is said to be given unto them, even by him who has the disposing of cities and kingdoms: and they shall burn it with fire;
as it had been often foretold it should, and as it accordingly was, ( Jeremiah 39:8 ) ; and thou shalt not escape out of their hand;
though he might hope he should, and would attempt to do it, yet should be taken; and though he should not be slain, yet should never regain his liberty, or get out of their hands, when once in them; see ( Jeremiah 52:7-9 Jeremiah 52:11 ) .

Jeremiah 38:18 In-Context

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.)

20 Forsooth Jeremy answered, and said to him, They shall not betake thee; I beseech, hear thou the voice of the Lord, which I shall speak to thee, and it shall be well to thee, and thy soul shall live. (And Jeremiah answered, and said to him, They shall not deliver thee up; I beseech thee, listen thou to the words of the Lord, which I say to thee, and it shall be well with thee, and thou shalt live.)