New Living Translation
Jeremiah 38:5
5King Zedekiah agreed. “All right,” he said. “Do as you like. I can’t 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
3The Lord also says: ‘The city of Jerusalem will certainly be handed over to the army of the king of Babylon, who will capture it.’” 4So these officials went to the king and said, “Sir, this man must die! That kind of talk will undermine the morale of the few fighting men we have left, as well as that of all the people. This man is a traitor!” King Zedekiah agreed. “All right,” he said. “Do as you like. I can’t stop you.” 6So the officials took Jeremiah from his cell and lowered him by ropes into an empty cistern in the prison yard. It belonged to Malkijah, a member of the royal family. There was no water in the cistern, but there was a thick layer of mud at the bottom, and Jeremiah sank down into it. 7But Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, an important court official, heard that Jeremiah was in the cistern. At that time the king was holding court at the 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 admitted to Samuel, “Yes, I have sinned. I have disobeyed your instructions and the Lord’s command, for I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded.
- 1 Samuel 29:9But Achish insisted, “As far as I’m concerned, you’re as perfect as an angel of God. But the Philistine commanders are afraid to have you with them in the battle.
- 2 Samuel 3:39And even though I am the anointed king, these two sons of Zeruiah—Joab and Abishai—are too strong for me to control. So may the Lord repay these evil men for their evil deeds.”
- 2 Samuel 19:22“Who asked your opinion, you sons of Zeruiah!” David exclaimed. “Why have you become my adversary today? This is not a day for execution, for today I am once again the king of Israel!”
- Proverbs 29:25Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety.
- John 19:12Then Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders shouted, “If you release this man, you are no ‘friend of Caesar.’ Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar.”
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
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