New Living Translation
Jeremiah 38:6
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.
Jeremiah 38:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.
- New International Version (NIV)So they took Jeremiah and put him into the cistern of Malkijah, the king’s son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah by ropes into the cistern; it had no water in it, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud.
- English Standard Version (ESV)So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king's son, which was in the court of the guard, letting Jeremiah down by ropes. And there was no water in the cistern, but only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.
- New King James Version (NKJV)So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the king’s son, which was in the court of the prison, and they let Jeremiah down with ropes. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire. So Jeremiah sank in the mire.
Context of Jeremiah 38:6
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!” 5King Zedekiah agreed. “All right,” he said. “Do as you like. I can’t stop you.” So 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, 8so Ebed-melech rushed from the palace to speak with him.
Read all of Jeremiah 38Jeremiah 38:6 word by word
וַיִּקְח֣וּ אֶֽת־יִרְמְיָ֗הוּ וַיַּשְׁלִ֨כוּ אֹת֜וֹ אֶל־הַבּ֣וֹר׀ מַלְכִּיָּ֣הוּ בֶן־הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אֲשֶׁר֙ בַּחֲצַ֣ר הַמַּטָּרָ֔ה וַיְשַׁלְּח֥וּ אֶֽת־יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ בַּחֲבָלִ֑ים וּבַבּ֤וֹר אֵֽין־מַ֙יִם֙ כִּ֣י אִם־טִ֔יט וַיִּטְבַּ֥ע יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ בַּטִּֽיט׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Then tookלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
- they Jeremiahיִרְמְיָ֫הוּyirmeyâh yirmeyâhû · JeremiahH3414
- and castשָׁלַךְshâlak · to throwH7993
- him into the dungeonבּוֹרbôr · pitH953
- of Malchiahמַלְכִּיָּהוּmalkîyâh malkiyâhû · MalchiahH4441
- the sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- of Hammelechהַמֶּלֶךְmelek · `the king`H4428
- in the courtחָצֵרchâtsêr · courtH2691
- of the prisonמַטָּרָהmaţţârâ' maţţârâh · guardhouseH4307
- and they let downשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
- with cordsחֶ֫בֶלchebel chêbel · cordH2256
- no waterמַיmayim · waterH4325
- but mireטִיטţîyţ · mudH2916
- sunkטָבַעţâba‛ · to sinkH2883
Cross-references for Jeremiah 38:6
- Jeremiah 37:21So King Zedekiah commanded that Jeremiah not be returned to the dungeon. Instead, he was imprisoned in the courtyard of the guard in the royal palace. The king also commanded that Jeremiah be given a loaf of fresh bread every day as long as there was any left in the city. So Jeremiah was put in the palace prison.
- Psalms 109:5They repay evil for good, and hatred for my love.
- Luke 3:19John also publicly criticized Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, for marrying Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for many other wrongs he had done.
- Jeremiah 37:16Jeremiah was put into a dungeon cell, where he remained for many days.
- Lamentations 3:55But I called on your name, Lord, from deep within the pit.
- Acts 16:24So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.
- 2 Corinthians 4:8We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.
- Hebrews 10:36Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.
- Jeremiah 36:26Then the king commanded his son Jerahmeel, Seraiah son of Azriel, and Shelemiah son of Abdeel to arrest Baruch and Jeremiah. But the Lord had hidden them.
- Jeremiah 38:11So Ebed-melech took the men with him and went to a room in the palace beneath the treasury, where he found some old rags and discarded clothing. He carried these to the cistern and lowered them to Jeremiah on a rope.
- Jeremiah 38:26If this happens, just tell them you begged me not to send you back to Jonathan’s dungeon, for fear you would die there.”
- Jeremiah 37:20Listen, my lord the king, I beg you. Don’t send me back to the dungeon in the house of Jonathan the secretary, for I will die there.”
- Jeremiah 38:22All the women left in your palace will be brought out and given to the officers of the Babylonian army. Then the women will taunt you, saying, ‘What fine friends you have! They have betrayed and misled you. When your feet sank in the mud, they left you to your fate!’
- Genesis 37:24Then they grabbed him and threw him into the cistern. Now the cistern was empty; there was no water in it.
- Psalms 40:2He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.
- Psalms 69:2Deeper and deeper I sink into the mire; I can’t find a foothold. I am in deep water, and the floods overwhelm me.
Commentaries on Jeremiah 38:6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6So Jeremiah sunk in the mire - Their obvious design was, that he might be stifled in that place.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6The dungeon - The cistern. Every house in Jerusalem was supplied with a subterranean cistern, so well constructed that the city never suffered in a siege from want of water. So large were they that when dry they seem to have been used for prisons Zechariah 9:11. Hammelech - See Jeremiah 36:26 note. The prison - The guard. They threw Jeremiah into the nearest cistern, intending that he should die of starvation. Some have thought that Psalm 69 was composed…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6In front of everyone in the palace courtyard, they threw Jeremiah into an empty cistern. A thick layer of mud at the bottom slowly covered his body.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. dungeon--literally, the "cistern." It was not a subterranean prison as that in Jonathan's house (Jr 37:15), but a pit or cistern, which had been full of water, but was emptied of it during the siege, so that only "mire" remained. Such empty cisterns were often used as prisons (Zec 9:11); the depth forbade hope of escape. Hammelech--(Jr 36:26). His son followed in the father's steps, a ready tool for evil. sunk in the mire--Jeremiah herein was a type of…Read the comment
Topics related to Jeremiah 38:6
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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