God’s Word Translation
Jeremiah 40:4
4Today I’m removing the chains from your hands. If you would like to come with me to Babylon, come, and I’ll look after you. But if you don’t want to come with me to Babylon, don’t come. The whole land is yours. Go wherever you want.
Jeremiah 40:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which were upon thine hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come; and I will look well unto thee: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go.
- New International Version (NIV)But today I am freeing you from the chains on your wrists. Come with me to Babylon, if you like, and I will look after you; but if you do not want to, then don’t come. Look, the whole country lies before you; go wherever you please.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Now, 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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And now look, I free you this day from the chains that were on your hand. If it seems good to you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you. But if it seems wrong for you to come with me to Babylon, remain here. See, all the land is before you; wherever it seems good and convenient for you to go, go there.”
Context of Jeremiah 40:4
2The captain of the guard took Jeremiah aside and said to him, “The Lord your God threatened to bring this disaster on this place. 3He has carried out his threat. The Lord did as he promised because you Israelites have sinned against him and refused to obey him. That is why this has happened to you. Today I’m removing the chains from your hands. If you would like to come with me to Babylon, come, and I’ll look after you. But if you don’t want to come with me to Babylon, don’t come. The whole land is yours. Go wherever you want. 5“If you wish to remain, then go back to Gedaliah, son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon appointed to govern the cities of Judah. Live among the people with him, or go anywhere you want.” The captain of the guard gave Jeremiah some food and a present and let him go. 6Jeremiah went to Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, at Mizpah and lived with him among the people who were left in the land.
Read all of Jeremiah 40Jeremiah 40:4 word by word
וְעַתָּ֞ה הִנֵּ֧ה פִתַּחְתִּ֣יךָ הַיּ֗וֹם מִֽן־הָאזִקִּים֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־יָדֶךָ֒ אִם־ט֨וֹב בְּעֵינֶ֜יךָ לָב֧וֹא אִתִּ֣י בָבֶ֗ל בֹּ֚א וְאָשִׂ֤ים אֶת־עֵינִי֙ עָלֶ֔יךָ וְאִם־רַ֧ע בְּעֵינֶ֛יךָ לָבֽוֹא־אִתִּ֥י בָבֶ֖ל חֲדָ֑ל רְאֵה֙ כָּל־הָאָ֣רֶץ לְפָנֶ֔יךָ אֶל־ט֨וֹב וְאֶל־הַיָּשָׁ֧ר בְּעֵינֶ֛יךָ לָלֶ֥כֶת שָׁ֖מָּה לֵֽךְ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And now, behold, I looseפָּתַחpâthach · to openH6605
- thee this dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- from the chainsאֲזֵק'ăziqqîym · chainsH246
- upon thine handיָדyâd · handH3027
- If it seem goodעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eye: appearanceH5869
- If it seem goodטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
- unto thee to comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- with me into Babylonבָּבֶ֫ל, בָּבֶלbâbel · BabylonH894
- and I will look wellשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: considerH7760
- unto thee: but if it seem illרָעַעrâ‛a‛ · be evilH7489
- forbearחָדַלchâdal · to ceaseH2308
- beholdרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- all the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- thee: whither it seemethאֶל'êl 'el · to(wards)H413
- goodטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
- and convenientיָשָׁרyâshâr · uprightH3477
- for thee to goיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
Commentaries on Jeremiah 40:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Come; and I will look well unto thee - Thou art now at full liberty to do as thou pleasest; either to come to Babylon or to stay in thy own land.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. 44. look well unto thee--the very words of Nebuchadnezzar's charge (Jr 39:12). all the land is before thee ... seemeth good--(Ge 20:15, Margin). Jeremiah alone had the option given him of staying where he pleased, when all the rest were either carried off or forced to remain there.Read the comment
Topics related to Jeremiah 40:4
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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