New King James Version
Jeremiah 40:4
4And 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.”
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 Living Translation (NLT)But I am going to take off your chains and let you go. If you want to come with me to Babylon, you are welcome. I will see that you are well cared for. But if you don’t want to come, you may stay here. The whole land is before you—go wherever you like.
Context of Jeremiah 40:4
2And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said to him: “The Lord your God has pronounced this doom on this place. 3Now the Lord has brought it, and has done just as He said. Because you people have sinned against the Lord, and not obeyed His voice, therefore this thing has come upon you. 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.” 5Now while Jeremiah had not yet gone back, Nebuzaradan said, “Go back to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people. Or go wherever it seems convenient for you to go.” So the captain of the guard gave him rations and a gift and let him go. 6Then Jeremiah went to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, to Mizpah, and dwelt 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries