God’s Word Translation
Jeremiah 39:16
16“Say to Ebed Melech from Sudan, ‘This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: I’m going to carry out my threat against this city by bringing disaster on it instead of prosperity. At that time these things will happen as you watch.
Jeremiah 39:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Go and speak to Ebed–melech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished in that day before thee.
- New International Version (NIV)“Go and tell Ebed-Melek the Cushite, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I am about to fulfill my words against this city—words concerning disaster, not prosperity. At that time they will be fulfilled before your eyes.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"Go, and say to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, 'Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will fulfill my words against this city for harm and not for good, and they shall be accomplished before you on that day.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Go and speak to Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Behold, I will bring My words upon this city for adversity and not for good, and they shall be performed in that day before you.
Context of Jeremiah 39:16
14They took Jeremiah out of the courtyard of the prison and handed him over to Gedaliah, son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, to take him home. So he lived among the people. 15While Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the prison, the Lord spoke his word to him. The Lord said, “Say to Ebed Melech from Sudan, ‘This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: I’m going to carry out my threat against this city by bringing disaster on it instead of prosperity. At that time these things will happen as you watch. 17But at that time I will rescue you, declares the Lord. You will not be handed over to those you fear. 18I will certainly rescue you. You will not die in war. You will escape with your life because you trusted me, declares the Lord.’ ”
Read all of Jeremiah 39Jeremiah 39:16 word by word
הָל֣וֹךְ וְאָמַרְתָּ֡ לְעֶבֶד־מֶ֨לֶךְ הַכּוּשִׁ֜י לֵאמֹ֗ר כֹּֽה־אָמַ֞ר יְהוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הִנְנִי֩ מֵבִ֨יא אֶת־דְּבָרַ֜י אֶל־הָעִ֥יר הַזֹּ֛את לְרָעָ֖ה וְלֹ֣א לְטוֹבָ֑ה וְהָי֥וּ לְפָנֶ֖יךָ בַּיּ֥וֹם הַהֽוּא׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Goהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
- and speakאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- to Ebed–melechעֶ֫בֶד מֶ֫לֶךְ‛ebed melek · Ebed-melechH5663
- the Ethiopianכּוּשִׁיkûshîy · EthiopianH3569
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- of hostsצָבָאtsâbâ' tsebâ'âh · HostsH6635
- the Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- Behold, I will bringבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): fulfillH935
- my wordsדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
- upon this cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
- for evilרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: harmH7451
- and not for goodטוֹבָהţôb · welfareH2896
- in that dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
Cross-references for Jeremiah 39:16
- Jeremiah 38:7But 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.
- Jeremiah 5:14This is what the Lord God of Armies says: Because you’ve talked like this, I’m going to put my words in your mouth like a fire. These people will be like wood. My words will burn them up.
- Jeremiah 19:11Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord of Armies says: I will smash these people and this city as this potter’s jar was smashed beyond repair. They will bury ⌞the dead⌟ in Topheth until there’s no other place to bury them.
- Jeremiah 21:7Afterwards, declares the Lord, I will hand over Judah’s King Zedekiah, his officials, the people, and everyone else in this city who survives the plague, war, and famine. They will be handed over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and to their enemies who want to kill them. Nebuchadnezzar will kill them with swords. He won’t spare them, show them compassion, or care for them.’
- Jeremiah 24:8“But this is what the Lord says about the bad figs that are so bad that they can’t be eaten. The Lord says, ‘Like these bad figs, I will abandon King Zedekiah of Judah, his princes, the remaining few in Jerusalem who stayed behind in this land, and those who are living in Egypt.
- Jeremiah 26:15But know for certain that if you put me to death, you, this city, and the people living in it will be guilty of killing an innocent person. The Lord has certainly sent me to speak all these things to you.”
- Jeremiah 32:28This is what the Lord says: I’m going to hand this city over to the Babylonians and King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. They will capture it.
- Jeremiah 34:2“This is what the Lord God of Israel says: Go to King Zedekiah of Judah, and tell him, ‘The Lord says: I’m going to hand this city over to the king of Babylon, and he will burn it down.
- Jeremiah 35:17“ ‘This is what the Lord God of Armies, the God of Israel, says: I am going to bring on Judah and on all those who live in Jerusalem all the disasters that I threatened. I have spoken to them, but they didn’t listen. I called to them, but they didn’t answer.’ ”
- Jeremiah 36:31I will punish him, his descendants, and his attendants for their wickedness. They refused to listen. So I will bring on them, on those who live in Jerusalem, and on the people of Judah all the disasters that I have threatened.’ ”
- Jeremiah 44:28Those who escape the wars will return to Judah from Egypt. Then all the people of Judah who went to live in Egypt will know whose words have come true, mine or theirs.
- Joshua 23:14“Pay attention, because I will soon die like everyone else. You know with all your heart and soul that not one single promise which the Lord your God has given you has ever failed to come true. Every single word has come true.
- 2 Chronicles 36:21This happened so that the Lord’s words spoken through Jeremiah would be fulfilled. The land had its years of rest and was made acceptable ⌞again⌟. While it lay in ruins, ⌞the land had its⌟ 70 years of rest.
- Daniel 9:12So you did what you said you would do to us and our rulers by bringing a great disaster on us. Nowhere in the world has anything ever happened like what has happened to Jerusalem.
- Zechariah 1:6Didn’t my warnings and my laws, which I’ve commanded my servants the prophets ⌞to preach⌟, finally catch up with your ancestors? Then your ancestors turned away from their sins and said, ‘The Lord of Armies has done to us what he had planned to do. He has dealt with us as our ways and deeds deserve.’ ”
- Matthew 24:35The earth and the heavens will disappear, but my words will never disappear.
Commentaries on Jeremiah 39:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Go and speak to Ebed-melech - The king's servant, the Cushite.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-18Verses 15-18 Here is a message to assure Ebed-melech of a recompence for his great kindness to Jeremiah. Because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the Lord. God recompenses men's services according to their principles. Those who trust God in the way of duty, as this good man did, will find that their hope shall not fail in times of the greatest danger.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15-17Ebed-melech saved Jeremiah from dying in the muddy cistern (Jeremiah 38:7–13). This promise was a serious declaration (see study note on Jeremiah 2:2).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 15-1815-18. Belonging to the time when the city was not yet taken, and when Jeremiah was still in the court of the prison (Jr 38:13). This passage is inserted here because it was now that Ebed-melech's good act (Jr 38:7-12; Mt 25:43) was to be rewarded in his deliverance.Read the comment
Topics related to Jeremiah 39:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Jeremiah 39
- 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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