God’s Word Translation
Jeremiah 38:5
5King Zedekiah answered, “He’s in your hands. I won’t do anything to stop you.”
Jeremiah 38:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then Zedekiah the king said, Behold, he is in your hand: for the king is not he that can do any thing against you.
- New International Version (NIV)“He is in your hands,” King Zedekiah answered. “The king can do nothing to oppose you.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)King Zedekiah said, "Behold, he is in your hands, for the king can do nothing against you."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then Zedekiah the king said, “Look, he is in your hand. For the king can do nothing against you.”
Context of Jeremiah 38:5
3“This is what the Lord says: This city will certainly be handed over to the army of the king of Babylon, and it will capture the city.” 4Then the officials said to the king, “Have this man put to death. He discourages the soldiers who are left in this city and all the people by telling them such things. This man is not trying to help these people; he’s trying to hurt them.” King Zedekiah answered, “He’s in your hands. I won’t do anything to stop you.” 6So they took Jeremiah and threw him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king’s son. It was in the courtyard of the prison. They used ropes to lower Jeremiah into the cistern. There was no water in the cistern, only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud. 7But an official in the royal palace, Ebed Melech from Sudan, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the cistern. The king happened to be sitting at Benjamin Gate.
Read all of Jeremiah 38Jeremiah 38:5 word by word
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ צִדְקִיָּ֔הוּ הִנֵּה־ה֖וּא בְּיֶדְכֶ֑ם כִּֽי־אֵ֣ין הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ יוּכַ֥ל אֶתְכֶ֖ם דָּבָֽר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Jeremiah 38:5
- 1 Samuel 15:24Then Saul told Samuel, “I have sinned by not following the Lord’s command or your instructions. I was afraid of the people and listened to them.
- 1 Samuel 29:9Achish answered David, “I admit that in my judgment you’re as good as God’s Messenger. However, the Philistine officers said, ‘He shouldn’t go into battle with us.’
- 2 Samuel 3:39Today I’m weak, though I’m the anointed king. These men, Zeruiah’s sons, are too cruel for me. May the Lord repay this evildoer as his evil deeds deserve.”
- 2 Samuel 19:22David responded, “Are you sure we’re from the same family, sons of Zeruiah? You are my enemies today. Should anyone in Israel be killed today? Don’t I know that I’m king of Israel again?”
- Proverbs 29:25A person’s fear sets a trap ⌞for him⌟, but one who trusts the Lord is safe.
- John 19:12When Pilate heard what Jesus said, he wanted to free him. But the Jews shouted, “If you free this man, you’re not a friend of the emperor. Anyone who claims to be a king is defying the emperor.”
Commentaries on Jeremiah 38:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5He is in your hand - Ye have power to do as you please; I must act by your counsel. Poor weak prince! you respect the prophet, you fear the cabal, and you sacrifice an innocent man to your own weakness and their malice!Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5All real power was in their hands, and as they affirmed that Jeremiah‘s death was a matter of necessity, the king did not dare refuse it to them.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5The officials angrily confronted King Zedekiah and made their demands. He was weak and afraid.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. the king is not he--Zedekiah was a weak prince, and now in his straits afraid to oppose his princes. He hides his dislike of their overweening power, which prevented him shielding Jeremiah as he would have wished, under complimentary speeches. "It is not right that the king should deny aught to such faithful and wise statesmen"; the king is not such a one as to deny you your wishes [Jerome].Read the comment
Topics related to Jeremiah 38:5
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Jeremiah 38
- 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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