God’s Word Translation
Jeremiah 37:21
21King Zedekiah gave the command to have Jeremiah put in the courtyard of the prison. He gave him a loaf of bread every day from the bakers’ street until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the prison.
Jeremiah 37:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then Zedekiah the king commanded that they should commit Jeremiah into the court of the prison, and that they should give him daily a piece of bread out of the bakers’ street, until all the bread in the city were spent. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.
- New International Version (NIV)King Zedekiah then gave orders for Jeremiah to be placed in the courtyard of the guard and given a loaf of bread from the street of the bakers each day until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard.
- English Standard Version (ESV)So King Zedekiah gave orders, and they committed Jeremiah to the court of the guard. And a loaf of bread was given him daily from the bakers' street, until all the bread of the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then Zedekiah the king commanded that they should commit Jeremiah to the court of the prison, and that they should give him daily a piece of bread from the bakers’ street, until all the bread in the city was gone. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.
Context of Jeremiah 37:21
19Where are the prophets who told you that the king of Babylon wouldn’t attack you and this land? 20But now, Your Majesty, please listen, and accept my plea for mercy. Don’t return me to the scribe Jonathan’s house, or I will die there.” King Zedekiah gave the command to have Jeremiah put in the courtyard of the prison. He gave him a loaf of bread every day from the bakers’ street until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the prison.
Read all of Jeremiah 37Jeremiah 37:21 word by word
וַיְצַוֶּ֞ה הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ צִדְקִיָּ֗הוּ וַיַּפְקִ֣דוּ אֶֽת־יִרְמְיָהוּ֮ בַּחֲצַ֣ר הַמַּטָּרָה֒ וְנָתֹן֩ ל֨וֹ כִכַּר־לֶ֤חֶם לַיּוֹם֙ מִח֣וּץ הָאֹפִ֔ים עַד־תֹּ֥ם כָּל־הַלֶּ֖חֶם מִן־הָעִ֑יר וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ בַּחֲצַ֖ר הַמַּטָּרָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Then Zedekiahצִדְקִיָּ֫הוּtsidqîyâh tsidqîyâhû · ZedekiahH6667
- the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- commandedצָוָהtsâvâh · to commandH6680
- that they should commitפָּקַדpâqad · to reckon: overseerH6485
- Jeremiahיִרְמְיָ֫הוּyirmeyâh yirmeyâhû · JeremiahH3414
- into the courtחָצֵרchâtsêr · courtH2691
- of the prisonמַטָּרָהmaţţârâ' maţţârâh · guardhouseH4307
- and that they should giveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- him dailyיוֹםyôm · day: dailyH3117
- a pieceכִּכָּרkikâr · talentH3603
- of breadלֶ֫חֶםlechem · food: breadH3899
- out of the bakers’אָפָה'âphâh · to bakeH644
- streetחוּץchûts chûts · outsideH2351
- in the cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
- were spentתָּמַםtâmam · to finishH8552
- remainedיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
Cross-references for Jeremiah 37:21
- Jeremiah 32:2At that time the army of the king of Babylon was blockading Jerusalem. The prophet Jeremiah was locked up in the courtyard of the prison. This prison was in the palace of the king of Judah.
- Jeremiah 38:13They used the ropes to pull Jeremiah up and lift him out of the cistern. Then Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the prison.
- 1 Kings 17:4You can drink from the stream, and I’ve commanded ravens to feed you there.”
- Job 5:20“In famine he will save you from death, and in war he will save you from the sword.
- Psalms 33:18The Lord’s eyes are on those who fear him, on those who wait with hope for his mercy
- Psalms 34:9Fear the Lord, you holy people who belong to him. Those who fear him are never in need.
- Psalms 37:3Trust the Lord, and do good things. Live in the land, and practice being faithful.
- Proverbs 16:7When a person’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
- Proverbs 21:1The king’s heart is like streams of water. Both are under the Lord’s control. He turns them in any direction he chooses.
- Isaiah 33:16This person will live on high. His stronghold will be a fortress made of rock. He will have plenty of food and a dependable supply of water.
- Matthew 6:33But first, be concerned about his kingdom and what has his approval. Then all these things will be provided for you.
- Jeremiah 38:9“Your Majesty, everything that these men have done to the prophet Jeremiah is wrong. They have thrown him into the cistern, where he’ll starve to death, because there’s no more bread in the city.”
- Jeremiah 52:6On the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine in the city became so severe that the common people had no food.
- Deuteronomy 28:52They will blockade all your cities until the high, fortified walls in which you trust come down everywhere in your land. They’ll blockade all the cities everywhere in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
- 2 Kings 25:3On the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine in the city became so severe that the common people had no food.
- Lamentations 2:11My eyes are worn out with tears. My stomach is churning. My heart is poured out on the ground because of the destruction of my people. Little children and infants faint in the city streets.
Commentaries on Jeremiah 37:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Then Zedekiah - the court of the prison - Was contiguous to the king's house, where the prisoners could readily see their friends. Give him daily a piece of bread out of the bakers' street - From the public stores; which he received till all the provisions were spent.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21The prison - the watch (marginal reference). Piece - literally, a circle, i. e., a round cake. The bakers‘ street - It is usual in oriental towns for each trade to have a special place set apart for it. Compare Acts 10:6.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-21Verses 11-21 There are times when it is the wisdom of good men to retire, to enter into their chambers, and to shut the doors, Is. 26:20. Jeremiah was seized as a deserter, and committed to prison. But it is no new thing for the best friends of the church to be belied, as in the interests of her worst enemies. When thus falsely accused, we may deny the charge, and commit our cause to Him who judges righteously. Jeremiah obtained mercy of the Lord to be…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21The king went against his officials and told the guards to keep Jeremiah in the palace courtyard under protective watch. During the long siege, food was scarce, so a fresh loaf of bread each day was a generous amount.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. court of the prison--(Jr 32:2; 38:13, 28). bakers' street--Persons in the same business in cities in the East commonly reside in the same street. all the bread ... spent--Jeremiah had bread supplied to him until he was thrown into the dungeon of Malchiah, at which time the bread in the city was spent. Compare this verse with Jr 38:9; that time must have been very shortly before the capture of the city (Jr 52:6). God saith of His children, "In the days…Read the comment
Topics related to Jeremiah 37:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Jeremiah 37
- 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
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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