English Standard Version
Jeremiah 40:5
5If you remain, then return to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon appointed governor of the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people. Or go wherever you think it right to go." So the captain of the guard gave him an allowance of food and a present, and let him go.
Jeremiah 40:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Now while he was not yet gone back, he said, Go back also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people: or go wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a reward, and let him go.
- New International Version (NIV)However, before Jeremiah turned to go, Nebuzaradan added, “Go back to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the towns of Judah, and live with him among the people, or go anywhere else you please.” Then the commander gave him provisions and a present and let him go.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now while Jeremiah had not yet gone back, Nebuzaradan said, “Go back to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people. Or go wherever it seems convenient for you to go.” So the captain of the guard gave him rations and a gift and let him go.
- New Living Translation (NLT)If you decide to stay, then return to Gedaliah son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan. He has been appointed governor of Judah by the king of Babylon. Stay there with the people he rules. But it’s up to you; go wherever you like.” Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, gave Jeremiah some food and money and let him go.
Context of Jeremiah 40:5
3The Lord has brought it about, and has done as he said. Because you sinned against the Lord and did not obey his voice, this thing has come upon you. 4Now, behold, I release you today from the chains on your hands. If it seems good to you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you well, but if it seems wrong to you to come with me to Babylon, do not come. See, the whole land is before you; go wherever you think it good and right to go. If you remain, then return to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon appointed governor of the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people. Or go wherever you think it right to go." So the captain of the guard gave him an allowance of food and a present, and let him go. 6Then Jeremiah went to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, at Mizpah, and lived with him among the people who were left in the land. 7When all the captains of the forces in the open country and their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land and had committed to him men, women, and children, those of the poorest of the land who had not been taken into exile to Babylon,
Read all of Jeremiah 40Jeremiah 40:5 word by word
וְעוֹדֶ֣נּוּ לֹֽא־יָשׁ֗וּב וְשֻׁ֡בָה אֶל־גְּדַלְיָ֣ה בֶן־אֲחִיקָ֣ם בֶּן־שָׁפָ֡ן אֲשֶׁר֩ הִפְקִ֨יד מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֜ל בְּעָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֗ה וְשֵׁ֤ב אִתּוֹ֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ הָעָ֔ם א֠וֹ אֶל־כָּל־הַיָּשָׁ֧ר בְּעֵינֶ֛יךָ לָלֶ֖כֶת לֵ֑ךְ וַיִּתֶּן־ל֧וֹ רַב־טַבָּחִ֛ים אֲרֻחָ֥ה וּמַשְׂאֵ֖ת וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵֽהוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Now while he was not yet gone backשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
- also to Gedaliahגְּדַלְיָהgedalyâh gedalyâhû · GedaliahH1436
- the sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- of Ahikamאֲחִיקָם'ăchîyqâm · AhikamH296
- of Shaphanשָׁפָןshâphân · ShaphanH8227
- whom the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- of Babylonבָּבֶ֫ל, בָּבֶלbâbel · BabylonH894
- hath made governorפָּקַדpâqad · to reckon: overseerH6485
- over the citiesעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
- of Judahיְהוּדָהyehûdâh · JudahH3063
- and dwellיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
- with him amongתָּ֫וֶךְtâvek · midstH8432
- the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- or goיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
- wheresoever it seemeth convenientעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eye: appearanceH5869
- wheresoever it seemeth convenientיָשָׁרyâshâr · uprightH3477
- So the captainרַבrab · chiefH7227
- of the guardטַבָּחţabbâch · guardH2876
- gaveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- him victualsאֲרֻחָה'ărûchâh · rationH737
- and a rewardמַשְׂאֵתmaώ'êth · tributeH4864
- and let him goשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: let goH7971
Cross-references for Jeremiah 40:5
- Jeremiah 39:14sent and took Jeremiah from the court of the guard. They entrusted him to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, that he should take him home. So he lived among the people.
- Jeremiah 41:2Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and the ten men with him rose up and struck down Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, with the sword, and killed him, whom the king of Babylon had appointed governor in the land.
- 2 Kings 25:22And over the people who remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, he appointed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, governor.
- Jeremiah 26:24But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah so that he was not given over to the people to be put to death.
- 2 Kings 22:12And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying,
- 2 Chronicles 34:20And the king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Abdon the son of Micah, Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying,
- Jeremiah 40:4Now, behold, I release you today from the chains on your hands. If it seems good to you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you well, but if it seems wrong to you to come with me to Babylon, do not come. See, the whole land is before you; go wherever you think it good and right to go.
- Jeremiah 15:11The Lord said, "Have I not set you free for their good? Have I not pleaded for you before the enemy in the time of trouble and in the time of distress?
- Ezra 7:6this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.
- Nehemiah 1:11O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man." Now I was cupbearer to the king.
- Nehemiah 2:4Then the king said to me, "What are you requesting?" So I prayed to the God of heaven.
- Proverbs 16:7When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
- Proverbs 21:1The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.
- Jeremiah 52:31And in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-fifth day of the month, Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, graciously freed Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him out of prison.
- 2 Kings 8:7Now Elisha came to Damascus. Ben-hadad the king of Syria was sick. And when it was told him, "The man of God has come here,"
- Job 22:29For when they are humbled you say, 'It is because of pride'; but he saves the lowly.
Commentaries on Jeremiah 40:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5Go back also to Gedaliah - If thou wilt stay in thy own land, thou hadst best put thyself under the protection of thy countryman Gedaliah, whom the King of Babylon has made governor of the land.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5Now while he was not yet gone back - Most modern commentators render “And as he yet answered nothing, Return then, he said, to Gedaliah ” Victuals - A ration of food. A reward - A present.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-6This passage explains what happened to Jeremiah right after Jerusalem fell.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. while he was not yet gone back--parenthetical. When Jeremiah hesitated whether it would be best for him to go, Nebuzara-dan proceeded to say, "Go, then, to Gedaliah," (not as English Version, "Go back, also"), if thou preferrest (as Nebuzara-dan inferred from Jeremiah's hesitancy) to stop here rather than go with me. victuals--(Is 33:16). reward--rather, "a present." This must have been a seasonable relief to the prophet, who probably lost his all in…Read the comment
Topics related to Jeremiah 40:5
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Jeremiah 40
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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