Jeremiah 38 יִרְמְיָהוּ פרק ל״ח

Masoretic Text, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Jeremiah 38 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1. 1

   וַיִּשְׁמַעand he heardשְׁפַטְיָהShephatiahבֶן־מַתָּןson of Mattanוּגְדַלְיָהוּand Gedaliahבֶּן־פַּשְׁחוּרson of Pashurוְיוּכַלand Jucalבֶּן־שֶׁלֶמְיָהוּson of Shelemiahוּפַשְׁחוּרand Pashurבֶּן־מַלְכִּיָּהson of Malchijahאֶת־הַדְּבָרִיםthe wordsאֲשֶׁרwhichיִרְמְיָהוּJeremiahמְדַבֵּרspeaksאֶל־כׇּל־הָעָםto all the peopleלֵאמֹר׃saying

   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 Jeremiah had spoken unto all the people, saying,

2. 2

   כֹּהthusאָמַרsaidיְהֹוָהthe LORDהַיֹּשֵׁבthe one who was dwellingבָּעִירin the cityהַזֹּאתthisיָמוּתhe shall dieבַּחֶרֶבwith the swordבָּרָעָבby the famineוּבַדָּבֶרand by the pestilenceוְהַיֹּצֵאand the one who goes outאֶל־הַכַּשְׂדִּיםto the Chaldeans(יחיה)[וְחָיָה]and he will liveוְהָיְתָה־לּוֹand shall be to himנַפְשׁוֹhis soulלְשָׁלָלto the spoilוָחָי׃and he shall live

   Thus 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.

3. 3

   כֹּהthusאָמַרsaidיְהֹוָהthe LORDהִנָּתֹןsurelyתִּנָּתֵןwill be givenהָעִירthe cityהַזֹּאתthisבְּיַדin the hand ofחֵילthe army ofמֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶלking of Babylonוּלְכָדָהּ׃and he will capture it

   Thus saith the LORD, This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, which shall take it.

4. 4

   וַיֹּאמְרוּand they saidהַשָּׂרִיםthe princesאֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְunto the kingיוּמַתshall be put to deathנָאI prayאֶת־הָאִישׁthe manהַזֶּהthisכִּי־עַל־כֵּןbecause upon thusהוּא־מְרַפֵּאhe is weakeningאֶת־יְדֵיhands ofאַנְשֵׁיthe men ofהַמִּלְחָמָהthe battleהַנִּשְׁאָרִיםthe remainingבָּעִירin the cityהַזֹּאתthisוְאֵתandיְדֵיhands ofכׇל־הָעָםall the peopleלְדַבֵּרto speakאֲלֵיהֶםto themכַּדְּבָרִיםaccording to the wordsהָאֵלֶּהtheseכִּיbecauseהָאִישׁthe manהַזֶּהthisאֵינֶנּוּhe is notדֹרֵשׁone who seeksלְשָׁלוֹםfor peaceלָעָםto the peopleהַזֶּהthisכִּיbecauseאִם־לְרָעָה׃if for evil

   Therefore 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.

5. 5

   וַיֹּאמֶרand saidהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingצִדְקִיָּהוּZedekiahהִנֵּה־הוּאbehold he isבְּיֶדְכֶםinto your handsכִּי־אֵיןbecause there is noהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingיוּכַלis ableאֶתְכֶםyouדָּבָר׃a thing

   Then Zedekiah the king said, Behold, he is in your hand: for the king is not he that can do any thing against you.

6. 6

   וַיִּקְחוּand they tookאֶת־יִרְמְיָהוּJeremiahוַיַּשְׁלִכוּand they threwאֹתוֹhimאֶל־הַבּוֹרto the pitמַלְכִּיָּהוּMalchijahבֶן־הַמֶּלֶךְson of the kingאֲשֶׁרwhichבַּחֲצַרin the courtyard ofהַמַּטָּרָהthe guardוַיְשַׁלְּחוּand they let downאֶת־יִרְמְיָהוּJeremiahבַּחֲבָלִיםwith cordsוּבַבּוֹרand in the pitאֵין־מַיִםthere is no waterכִּיbecauseאִם־טִיטif mudוַיִּטְבַּעand he sankיִרְמְיָהוּJeremiahבַּטִּיט׃in the mud

   Then 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.

7. 7

   וַיִּשְׁמַעand he heardעֶבֶד־מֶלֶךְEbed-melechהַכּוּשִׁיthe Cushiאִישׁa manסָרִיסa court officialוְהוּאand heבְּבֵיתin the house ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingכִּי־נָתְנוּbecause they gaveאֶת־יִרְמְיָהוּJeremiahאֶל־הַבּוֹרto the pitוְהַמֶּלֶךְand the kingיוֹשֵׁבsittingבְּשַׁעַרin the gate ofבִּנְיָמִן׃Benjamin

   Now 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;

8. 8

   וַיֵּצֵאand went outעֶבֶד־מֶלֶךְEbed-melechמִבֵּיתfrom the house ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingוַיְדַבֵּרand spokeאֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְunto the kingלֵאמֹר׃saying

   Ebed-melech went forth out of the king's house, and spake to the king, saying,

9. 9

   אֲדֹנִיmy lordהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingהֵרֵעוּthey have done evilהָאֲנָשִׁיםthe menהָאֵלֶּהtheseאֵת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁרall thatעָשׂוּthey didלְיִרְמְיָהוּto Jeremiahהַנָּבִיאthe prophetאֵת־אֲשֶׁר־הִשְׁלִיכוּthat which they castאֶל־הַבּוֹרto the pitוַיָּמׇתand he shall dieתַּחְתָּיוin his steadמִפְּנֵיbecause ofהָרָעָבthe famineכִּיthatאֵיןthere is noהַלֶּחֶםthe breadעוֹדany moreבָּעִיר׃in the city

   My 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.

10. 10

    וַיְצַוֶּהand commandedהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingאֵת־עֶבֶד־מֶלֶךְEbed-melechהַכּוּשִׁיthe Cushiלֵאמֹרsayingקַחtakeבְּיָדְךָin your handמִזֶּהfrom hereשְׁלֹשִׁיםthirtyאֲנָשִׁיםmenוְהַעֲלִיתָand you shall bring upאֶת־יִרְמְיָהוּJeremiahהַנָּבִיאthe prophetמִן־הַבּוֹרfrom the pitבְּטֶרֶםbeforeיָמוּת׃he shall die

    Then 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.

11. 11

    וַיִּקַּחand tookעֶבֶד־מֶלֶךְEbed-melechאֶת־הָאֲנָשִׁיםthe menבְּיָדוֹin his handוַיָּבֹאand cameבֵית־הַמֶּלֶךְhouse of the kingאֶל־תַּחַתto underהָאוֹצָרthe treasuryוַיִּקַּחand tookמִשָּׁםfrom thereבְּלוֹיֵworn out things of(הסחבות)[סְחָבוֹת]clothesוּבְלוֹיֵand worn out things ofמְלָחִיםragsוַיְשַׁלְּחֵםand he let them downאֶל־יִרְמְיָהוּto Jeremiahאֶל־הַבּוֹרto the pitבַּחֲבָלִים׃with cords

    So 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.

12. 12

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidעֶבֶד־מֶלֶךְEbed-melechהַכּוּשִׁיthe Cushiאֶל־יִרְמְיָהוּto JeremiahשִׂיםputנָאI prayבְּלוֹאֵיthe worn out things ofהַסְּחָבוֹתthe clothesוְהַמְּלָחִיםand the ragsתַּחַתunderאַצִּלוֹתthe joints ofיָדֶיךָyour handsמִתַּחַתfrom beneathלַחֲבָלִיםto the ropesוַיַּעַשׂand he didיִרְמְיָהוּJeremiahכֵּן׃thus

    And 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.

13. 13

    וַיִּמְשְׁכוּand they drewאֶת־יִרְמְיָהוּJeremiahבַּחֲבָלִיםwith cordsוַיַּעֲלוּand they ascendedאֹתוֹhimמִן־הַבּוֹרfrom the pitוַיֵּשֶׁבand he dweltיִרְמְיָהוּJeremiahבַּחֲצַרin the courtyard ofהַמַּטָּרָה׃the guard

    So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.

14. 14

    וַיִּשְׁלַחand sentהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingצִדְקִיָּהוּZedekiahוַיִּקַּחand tookאֶת־יִרְמְיָהוּJeremiahהַנָּבִיאthe prophetאֵלָיוto himאֶל־מָבוֹאto an entranceהַשְּׁלִישִׁיthe thirdאֲשֶׁרwhichבְּבֵיתin the house ofיְהֹוָהthe LORDוַיֹּאמֶרand saidהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingאֶל־יִרְמְיָהוּto JeremiahשֹׁאֵלaskingאֲנִיIאֹתְךָyouדָּבָרa wordאַל־תְּכַחֵדdo not hideמִמֶּנִּיfrom meדָּבָר׃a word

    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 Jeremiah, I will ask thee a thing; hide nothing from me.

15. 15

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidיִרְמְיָהוּJeremiahאֶל־צִדְקִיָּהוּto ZedekiahכִּיbecauseאַגִּידI tellלְךָfor youהֲלוֹאis it notהָמֵתsurelyתְּמִיתֵנִיyou will kill meוְכִיand thatאִיעָצְךָlet me advise youלֹאnotתִשְׁמַעyou would hearken toאֵלָי׃unto me

    Then 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?

16. 16

    וַיִּשָּׁבַעand sworeהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingצִדְקִיָּהוּZedekiahאֶל־יִרְמְיָהוּto Jeremiahבַּסֵּתֶרin secretלֵאמֹרsayingחַי־יְהֹוָהas the LORD-lives(את)אֲשֶׁרwhichעָשָׂה־לָנוּhe made for usאֶת־הַנֶּפֶשׁthe soulהַזֹּאתthisאִם־אֲמִיתֶךָif I put you to deathוְאִם־אֶתֶּנְךָand if I will give youבְּיַדin the hand ofהָאֲנָשִׁיםthe menהָאֵלֶּהtheseאֲשֶׁרwhichמְבַקְשִׁיםseekאֶת־נַפְשֶׁךָ׃your life

    So 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.

17. 17

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidיִרְמְיָהוּJeremiahאֶל־צִדְקִיָּהוּto Zedekiahכֹּה־אָמַרthus saysיְהֹוָהthe LORDאֱלֹהֵיthe God ofצְבָאוֹתHostsאֱלֹהֵיthe God ofיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelאִם־יָצֹאif certainlyתֵצֵאshall proceedאֶל־שָׂרֵיto princes ofמֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶלking of Babylonוְחָיְתָהand it will liveנַפְשֶׁךָyour soulוְהָעִירand the cityהַזֹּאתthisלֹאnotתִשָּׂרֵףit will be burnedבָּאֵשׁby fireוְחָיִתָהand you will liveאַתָּהyouוּבֵיתֶךָ׃and your household

    Then 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:

18. 18

    וְאִםand ifלֹא־תֵצֵאnot shall proceedאֶל־שָׂרֵיto princes ofמֶלֶךְthe king ofבָּבֶלBabylonוְנִתְּנָהand givenהָעִירthe cityהַזֹּאתthisבְּיַדin the hand ofהַכַּשְׂדִּיםthe Chaldeansוּשְׂרָפוּהָand they will burn itבָּאֵשׁby fireוְאַתָּהand youלֹא־תִמָּלֵטnot you will escapeמִיָּדָם׃out of their hands

    But 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.

19. 19

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingצִדְקִיָּהוּZedekiahאֶל־יִרְמְיָהוּto JeremiahאֲנִיIדֹאֵגam dreadingאֶת־הַיְּהוּדִיםthe Jewsאֲשֶׁרwhichנָפְלוּfellאֶל־הַכַּשְׂדִּיםto the Chaldeansפֶּן־יִתְּנוּlest they should impartאֹתִיmeבְּיָדָםinto their handsוְהִתְעַלְּלוּ־בִי׃and they will deal wantonly against me

    And 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.

20. 20

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidיִרְמְיָהוּJeremiahלֹאnotיִתֵּנוּthey will giveשְׁמַע־נָאhearken I prayבְּקוֹלthe voice ofיְהֹוָהthe LORDלַאֲשֶׁרin that whichאֲנִיIדֹּבֵרspeakingאֵלֶיךָto youוְיִיטַבand well shall beלְךָfor youוּתְחִיand shall liveנַפְשֶׁךָ׃your soul

    But 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.

21. 21

    וְאִם־מָאֵןand if refusingאַתָּהyouלָצֵאתto come forthזֶהthisהַדָּבָרthe wordאֲשֶׁרwhichהִרְאַנִיhas shown meיְהֹוָה׃the LORD

    But if thou refuse to go forth, this is the word that the LORD hath shewed me:

22. 22

    וְהִנֵּהand beholdכׇל־הַנָּשִׁיםall the womenאֲשֶׁרwhichנִשְׁאֲרוּremainedבְּבֵיתin the house ofמֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָהking of Judahמוּצָאוֹתbrought outאֶל־שָׂרֵיto princes ofמֶלֶךְthe king ofבָּבֶלBabylonוְהֵנָּהand they areאֹמְרֹתsayהִסִּיתוּךָthey misled youוְיָכְלוּand couldלְךָfor youאַנְשֵׁיthe men ofשְׁלֹמֶךָyour peaceהׇטְבְּעוּthey are sunkבַבֹּץin the mireרַגְלֶךָyour footנָסֹגוּwithdrewאָחוֹר׃back

    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 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.

23. 23

    וְאֶת־כׇּל־נָשֶׁיךָand all your wivesוְאֶת־בָּנֶיךָand your sonsמוֹצִאִיםthey will bring outאֶל־הַכַּשְׂדִּיםto the Chaldeansוְאַתָּהand youלֹא־תִמָּלֵטnot you will escapeמִיָּדָםout of their handsכִּיbecauseבְיַדby the hand ofמֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶלking of Babylonתִּתָּפֵשׂyou will be capturedוְאֶת־הָעִירand the cityהַזֹּאתthisתִּשְׂרֹףyou will burnבָּאֵשׁ׃by fire

    So 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.

24. 24

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidצִדְקִיָּהוּZedekiahאֶל־יִרְמְיָהוּto Jeremiahאִישׁa manאַל־יֵדַעdo not shall knowבַּדְּבָרִים־הָאֵלֶּהin the words theseוְלֹאand notתָמוּת׃you shall die

    Then said Zedekiah unto Jeremiah, Let no man know of these words, and thou shalt not die.

25. 25

    וְכִי־יִשְׁמְעוּand that they hearkenהַשָּׂרִיםthe princesכִּי־דִבַּרְתִּיbecause I spokeאִתָּךְwith youוּבָאוּand they comeאֵלֶיךָto youוְאָמְרוּand they shall sayאֵלֶיךָto youהַגִּידָה־נָּאtell nowלָנוּto usמַה־דִּבַּרְתָּwhat you have spokenאֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְunto the kingאַל־תְּכַחֵדdo not hideמִמֶּנּוּfrom himוְלֹאand notנְמִיתֶךָwe will kill youוּמַה־דִּבֶּרand what spokeאֵלֶיךָto youהַמֶּלֶךְ׃the king

    But 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:

26. 26

    וְאָמַרְתָּand sayאֲלֵיהֶםto themמַפִּיל־אֲנִיletting fall Iתְחִנָּתִיmy supplicationלִפְנֵיbeforeהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingלְבִלְתִּיto notהֲשִׁיבֵנִיto bring me backבֵּיתthe house ofיְהוֹנָתָןJonathanלָמוּתto dieשָׁם׃there

    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.

27. 27

    וַיָּבֹאוּand they cameכׇל־הַשָּׂרִיםall the princesאֶל־יִרְמְיָהוּto Jeremiahוַיִּשְׁאֲלוּand they askedאֹתוֹhimוַיַּגֵּדand he toldלָהֶםto themכְּכׇל־הַדְּבָרִיםas all the wordsהָאֵלֶּהtheseאֲשֶׁרwhichצִוָּהcommandedהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingוַיַּחֲרִשׁוּand they kept silentמִמֶּנּוּfrom himכִּיforלֹא־נִשְׁמַעnot was heardהַדָּבָר׃the word

    Then 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.

28. 28

    וַיֵּשֶׁבand he dweltיִרְמְיָהוּJeremiahבַּחֲצַרin the courtyard ofהַמַּטָּרָהthe guardעַד־יוֹםuntil the day ofאֲשֶׁר־נִלְכְּדָהwhich it was capturedיְרוּשָׁלָ͏ִםJerusalemוְהָיָהand beכַּאֲשֶׁרasנִלְכְּדָהit was capturedיְרוּשָׁלָ͏ִם׃Jerusalem

    So Jeremiah abode in the court of the prison until the day that Jerusalem was taken: and he was there when Jerusalem was taken.