New English Translation
Jeremiah 37:21
21Then King Zedekiah ordered that Jeremiah be committed to the courtyard of the guardhouse. He also ordered that a loaf of bread be given to him every day from the baker’s street until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah was kept in the courtyard of the guardhouse.
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 now are the prophets who prophesied to you that the king of Babylon would not attack you or this land? 20But now please listen, your royal Majesty, and grant my plea for mercy. Do not send me back to the house of Jonathan, the royal secretary. If you do, I will die there.” Then King Zedekiah ordered that Jeremiah be committed to the courtyard of the guardhouse. He also ordered that a loaf of bread be given to him every day from the baker’s street until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah was kept in the courtyard of the guardhouse.
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 32:2Now at that time, the armies of the king of Babylon were besieging Jerusalem. The prophet Jeremiah was confined in the courtyard of the guardhouse attached to the royal palace of Judah.
- Jeremiah 38:13So they pulled Jeremiah up from the cistern with ropes. Jeremiah, however, still remained confined to the courtyard of the guardhouse.
- 1 Kings 17:4Drink from the stream; I have already told the ravens to bring you food there.”
- Job 5:20In time of famine he will redeem you from death, and in time of war from the power of the sword.
- Psalms 33:18Look, the Lord takes notice of his loyal followers, those who wait for him to demonstrate his faithfulness
- Psalms 34:9Remain loyal to the Lord, you chosen people of his, for his loyal followers lack nothing!
- Psalms 37:3Trust in the Lord and do what is right! Settle in the land and maintain your integrity!
- Proverbs 16:7When a person’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he even reconciles his enemies to himself.
- Proverbs 21:1The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord like channels of water; he turns it wherever he wants.
- Isaiah 33:16This is the person who will live in a secure place; he will find safety in the rocky, mountain strongholds; he will have food and a constant supply of water.
- Matthew 6:33But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
- Jeremiah 38:9“Your royal Majesty, those men have been very wicked in all that they have done to the prophet Jeremiah. They have thrown him into a cistern and he is sure to die of starvation there because there is no food left in the city.
- Jeremiah 52:6By the ninth day of the fourth month the famine in the city was so severe the residents had no food.
- Deuteronomy 28:52They will besiege all of your villages until all of your high and fortified walls collapse – those in which you put your confidence throughout the land. They will besiege all your villages throughout the land the Lord your God has given you.
- 2 Kings 25:3By the ninth day of the fourth month the famine in the city was so severe the residents had no food.
- Lamentations 2:11My eyes are worn out from weeping; my stomach is in knots. My heart is poured out on the ground due to the destruction of my helpless people; children and infants faint in the town squares. ל (Lamed)
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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