Revised Literal Translation

Jeremiah 38

1Then Shephatiahשְׁפַטְיָ֣הshe.fat.YahH8203the sonבֶן־ven-H1121of Mattanמַתָּ֗ןma.TanH4977,and Gedaliahוּגְדַלְיָ֙הוּ֙u.ge.dal.Ya.huH1436the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Pashurפַּשְׁח֔וּרpash.ChurH6583,and Jucalוְיוּכַל֙ve.yu.KhalH3116the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Shelemiahשֶׁ֣לֶמְיָ֔הוּshe.lem.Ya.huH8018,and Pashurוּפַשְׁח֖וּרu.fash.ChurH6583the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Malchiahמַלְכִּיָּ֑הmal.ki.YahH4441,heardוַיִּשְׁמַ֞עvai.yish.Ma'H8085the wordsהַדְּבָרִ֔יםha.de.va.RimH1697that Jeremiahיִרְמְיָ֛הוּyir.me.Ya.huH3414had spokenמְדַבֵּ֥רme.da.BerH1696unto all the peopleהָעָ֖םha.'AmH5971,sayingלֵאמֹֽר׃ סle.MorH559,

2Thus saithאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559Yhwhיְהוָה֒Yah.wehH3068,He that remainethהַיֹּשֵׁב֙hai.yo.ShevH3427in this cityבָּעִ֣ירba.'IrH5892shall dieיָמ֕וּתya.MutH4191by the swordבַּחֶ֖רֶבba.Che.revH2719,by the famineבָּרָעָ֣בba.ra.'AvH7458,and by the pestilenceוּבַדָּ֑בֶרu.va.Da.verH1698:but he that goeth forthוְהַיֹּצֵ֤אve.hai.yo.Tze'H3318to the Chaldeansהַכַּשְׂדִּים֙ha.kas.DimH3778shall liveוְחָיָ֔הve.cha.yahH2421;for he shall have his lifeנַפְשׁ֛וֹnaf.ShoH5315for a preyלְשָׁלָ֖לle.sha.LalH7998,and shall liveוָחָֽי׃ סva.ChaiH2425 H2421.

3Thus saithאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559Yhwhיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068,This cityהָעִ֣ירha.'IrH5892shall surelyהִנָּתֹ֨ןhi.na.TonH5414be givenתִּנָּתֵ֜ןti.na.TenH5414into the handבְּיַ֛דbe.YadH3027of the kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Babylon’sבָּבֶ֖לba.VelH894armyחֵ֥ילcheilH2428,which shall takeוּלְכָדָֽהּ׃u.le.kha.DahH3920it.

4Therefore the princesהַשָּׂרִ֜יםha.sa.RimH8269saidוַיֹּאמְר֨וּvai.yo.me.RuH559unto the kingהַמֶּ֗לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,We beseech thee, let this manהָאִ֣ישׁha.'IshH376be put to deathי֣וּמַתYu.matH4191:for thusכֵּ֡ןkenH3651he weakenethמְרַפֵּ֡אme.ra.Pe'H7503the handsיְדֵי֩ye.DeiH3027of the menאַנְשֵׁ֨י'an.SheiH582of warהַמִּלְחָמָ֜הha.mil.cha.MahH4421that remainהַֽנִּשְׁאָרִ֣ים׀ha.nish.'a.RimH7604in this cityבָּעִ֣ירba.'IrH5892,and the handsיְדֵ֣יye.DeiH3027of all the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971,in speakingלְדַבֵּ֣רle.da.BerH1696such wordsכַּדְּבָרִ֖יםka.de.va.RimH1697unto them: for this manהָאִ֣ישׁha.'IshH376seekethדֹרֵ֧שׁdo.ReshH1875not the welfareלְשָׁל֛וֹםle.sha.LomH7965of this peopleלָעָ֥םla.'AmH5971,but the hurtלְרָעָֽה׃le.ra.'AhH7451.

5Then Zedekiahצִדְקִיָּ֔הוּtzid.ki.Ya.huH6667the kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, Behold, he isin your handבְּיֶדְכֶ֑םbe.yed.KhemH3027:for the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428is not he thatcanיוּכַ֥לyu.KhalH3201do anythingדָּבָֽר׃da.VarH1697against you.

6Then tookוַיִּקְח֣וּvai.yik.ChuH3947they Jeremiahיִרְמְיָ֗הוּyir.me.Ya.huH3414,and castוַיַּשְׁלִ֨כוּvai.yash.Li.khuH7993him into the dungeonהַבּ֣וֹר׀ha.BorH953of Malchiahמַלְכִּיָּ֣הוּmal.ki.Ya.huH4441the sonבֶן־ven-H1121of Hammelechהַמֶּ֗לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428, that wasin the courtבַּחֲצַ֣רba.cha.TzarH2691of the prisonהַמַּטָּרָ֔הha.ma.ta.RahH4307:and they let downוַיְשַׁלְּח֥וּvay.sha.le.ChuH7971Jeremiahיִרְמְיָ֖הוּyir.me.Ya.huH3414with cordsבַּחֲבָלִ֑יםba.cha.va.LimH2256.And in the dungeonוּבַבּ֤וֹרu.va.BorH953there wasno waterמַ֙יִם֙ma.yimH4325,but mireטִ֔יטTitH2916:so Jeremiahיִרְמְיָ֖הוּyir.me.Ya.huH3414sunkוַיִּטְבַּ֥עvai.yit.Ba'H2883in the mireבַּטִּֽיט׃ סba.TitH2916.

7Now when Ebed–melechH5663the Ethiopianהַכּוּשִׁ֜יha.ku.ShiH3569,oneאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376of the eunuchsסָרִ֗יסsa.RisH5631which was in the king’sהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428houseבְּבֵ֣יתbe.VeitH1004,heardוַיִּשְׁמַ֡עvai.yish.Ma'H8085that they had putנָתְנ֥וּna.te.NuH5414Jeremiahיִרְמְיָ֖הוּyir.me.Ya.huH3414in the dungeonהַבּ֑וֹרha.BorH953;the kingוְהַמֶּ֥לֶךְve.ha.Me.lekhH4428then sittingיוֹשֵׁ֖בyo.ShevH3427in the gateבְּשַׁ֥עַרbe.Sha.'arH8179of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִֽן׃bin.ya.MinH1144;

8Ebed–melechH5663went forthוַיֵּצֵ֥אvai.ye.Tze'H3318out of the king’sהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428houseמִבֵּ֣יתmi.BeitH1004,and spakeוַיְדַבֵּ֥רvay.da.BerH1696to the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,sayingלֵאמֹֽר׃le.MorH559,

9My lordאֲדֹנִ֣י'a.do.NiH113the kingהַמֶּ֗לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,these menהָאֲנָשִׁ֤יםha.'a.na.ShimH582have done evilהֵרֵ֜עוּhe.Re.'uH7489in all that they have doneעָשׂוּ֙'a.SuH6213to Jeremiahלְיִרְמְיָ֣הוּle.yir.me.Ya.huH3414the prophetהַנָּבִ֔יאha.na.Vi'H5030,whom they have castהִשְׁלִ֖יכוּhish.Li.khuH7993into the dungeonהַבּ֑וֹרha.BorH953;and he is like to dieוַיָּ֤מָתvai.Ya.motH4191forמִפְּנֵ֣יmi.pe.NeiH6440hungerהָֽרָעָ֔בha.ra.'AvH7458in the placeתַּחְתָּיו֙tach.TavH8478where he is: for there isno more breadהַלֶּ֛חֶםha.Le.chemH3899in the cityבָּעִֽיר׃ba.'IrH5892.

10Then the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428commandedוַיְצַוֶּ֣הvay.tza.VehH6680Ebed–melechH5663the Ethiopianהַכּוּשִׁ֖יha.ku.ShiH3569,sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559,Takeקַ֣חkachH3947from hence thirtyשְׁלֹשִׁ֣יםshe.lo.ShimH7970menאֲנָשִׁ֔ים'a.na.ShimH582with theeבְּיָדְךָ֤be.ya.de.KhaH3027,and take upוְֽהַעֲלִ֜יתָve.ha.'a.Li.taH5927Jeremiahיִרְמְיָ֧הוּyir.me.Ya.huH3414the prophetהַנָּבִ֛יאha.na.Vi'H5030out of the dungeonהַבּ֖וֹרha.BorH953,before he dieיָמֽוּת׃ya.MutH4191.

11So Ebed–melechH5663tookוַיִּקַּ֣ח׀vai.yi.KachH3947the menהָאֲנָשִׁ֜יםha.'a.na.ShimH582with himבְּיָד֗וֹbe.ya.DoH3027,and wentוַיָּבֹ֤אvai.ya.Vo'H935into the houseבֵית־veit-H1004of the kingהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428under the treasuryהָאוֹצָ֔רha.'o.TzarH214,and tookוַיִּקַּ֤חvai.yi.KachH3947thence oldבְּלוֹיֵ֣be.lo.YeH1094cast cloutsסְחָב֔וֹתse.cha.VotH5499and oldוּבְלוֹיֵ֖u.ve.lo.YeH1094rotten ragsמְלָחִ֑יםme.la.ChimH4418,and let them downוַיְשַׁלְּחֵ֧םvay.sha.le.ChemH7971by cordsבַּחֲבָלִֽים׃ba.cha.va.LimH2256into the dungeonהַבּ֖וֹרha.BorH953to Jeremiahיִרְמְיָ֛הוּyir.me.Ya.huH3414.

12And Ebed–melechH5663the Ethiopianהַכּוּשִׁ֜יha.ku.ShiH3569saidוַיֹּ֡אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Jeremiahיִרְמְיָ֗הוּyir.me.Ya.huH3414,Putשִׂ֣יםsimH7760now theseoldבְּלוֹאֵ֨יbe.lo.'EiH1094cast cloutsהַסְּחָב֤וֹתha.se.cha.VotH5499and rotten ragsוְהַמְּלָחִים֙ve.ha.me.la.ChimH4418under thine armholesאַצִּל֣וֹת יָדֶ֔יךָ'a.tzi.Lot ya.Dei.khaH3027 H679under the cordsלַחֲבָלִ֑יםla.cha.va.LimH2256.And Jeremiahיִרְמְיָ֖הוּyir.me.Ya.huH3414didוַיַּ֥עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213so.

13So they drew upוַיִּמְשְׁכ֤וּvai.yim.she.KhuH4900Jeremiahיִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙yir.me.Ya.huH3414with cordsבַּֽחֲבָלִ֔יםba.cha.va.LimH2256,and took him upוַיַּעֲל֥וּvai.ya.'a.LuH5927out of the dungeonהַבּ֑וֹרha.BorH953:and Jeremiahיִרְמְיָ֔הוּyir.me.Ya.huH3414remainedוַיֵּ֣שֶׁבvai.Ye.shevH3427in the courtבַּחֲצַ֖רba.cha.TzarH2691of the prisonהַמַּטָּרָֽה׃ סha.ma.ta.RahH4307.

14Then Zedekiahצִדְקִיָּ֗הוּtzid.ki.Ya.huH6667the kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֞חvai.yish.LachH7971,and tookוַיִּקַּ֞חvai.yi.KachH3947Jeremiahיִרְמְיָ֤הוּyir.me.Ya.huH3414the prophetהַנָּבִיא֙ha.na.Vi'H5030unto him into the thirdהַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔יha.she.li.ShiH7992entryמָבוֹא֙ma.Vo'H3996that isin the houseבְּבֵ֣יתbe.VeitH1004of Yhwhיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068:and the kingהַמֶּ֜לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Jeremiahיִרְמְיָ֗הוּyir.me.Ya.huH3414,I will askשֹׁאֵ֨לsho.'ElH7592thee a thingH1697;hideתְּכַחֵ֥דte.kha.ChedH3582nothing from me.

15Then Jeremiahיִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙yir.me.Ya.huH3414saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Zedekiahצִדְקִיָּ֔הוּtzid.ki.Ya.huH6667,If I declareאַגִּ֣יד'a.GidH5046itunto thee, wilt thou not surelyהָמֵ֣תha.MetH4191put me to deathתְּמִיתֵ֑נִיte.mi.Te.niH4191?and if I give thee counselאִיעָ֣צְךָ֔'i.'A.tze.khaH3289,wilt thou not hearkenתִשְׁמַ֖עtish.Ma'H8085unto me?

16So Zedekiahצִדְקִיָּ֛הוּtzid.ki.Ya.huH6667the kingהַמֶּ֧לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428swareוַיִּשָּׁבַ֞עvai.yi.sha.Va'H7650secretlyבַּסֵּ֣תֶרba.Se.terH5643unto Jeremiahיִרְמְיָ֖הוּyir.me.Ya.huH3414,sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559, AsYhwhיְהוָ֞הYah.wehH3068livethחַי־chai-H2416,that madeעָשָׂה־'a.sah-H6213us this soulהַנֶּ֤פֶשׁha.Ne.feshH5315,I will not put thee to deathאֲמִיתֶ֔ךָ'a.mi.Te.khaH4191,neither will I giveאֶתֶּנְךָ֗'e.ten.KhaH5414thee into the handבְּיַד֙be.YadH3027of these menהָאֲנָשִׁ֣יםha.'a.na.ShimH582that seekמְבַקְשִׁ֖יםme.vak.ShimH1245thy lifeנַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃ סnaf.She.khaH5315.

17Then saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559Jeremiahיִרְמְיָ֣הוּyir.me.Ya.huH3414unto Zedekiahצִדְקִיָּ֡הוּtzid.ki.Ya.huH6667,Thus saithאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559Yhwhיְהוָה֩Yah.wehH3068,the Godאֱלֹהֵ֨י'e.lo.HeiH430of Armiesצְבָא֜וֹתtze.va.'otH6635,the Godאֱלֹהֵ֣י'e.lo.HeiH430of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לYis.ra.'ElH3478;If thou wilt assuredlyיָצֹ֨אya.Tzo'H3318go forthתֵצֵ֜אte.Tze'H3318unto the kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Babylon’sבָּבֶל֙ba.VelH894princesשָׂרֵ֤יsa.ReiH8269,then thy soulנַפְשֶׁ֔ךָnaf.She.khaH5315shall liveוְחָיְתָ֣הve.cha.ye.TahH2421,and this cityוְהָעִ֣ירve.ha.'IrH5892shall not be burnedתִשָּׂרֵ֖ףti.sa.RefH8313with fireבָּאֵ֑שׁba.'EshH784;and thou shalt liveוְחָיִ֖תָהve.cha.Yi.tahH2421,and thine houseוּבֵיתֶֽךָ׃u.vei.Te.khaH1004:

18But if thou wilt not go forthתֵצֵ֗אte.Tze'H3318to the kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Babylon’sבָּבֶ֔לba.VelH894princesשָׂרֵי֙sa.ReiH8269,then shall this cityהָעִ֤ירha.'IrH5892be givenוְנִתְּנָ֞הve.ni.te.NahH5414into the handבְּיַ֣דbe.YadH3027of the Chaldeansהַכַּשְׂדִּ֔יםha.kas.DimH3778,and they shall burnוּשְׂרָפ֖וּהָu.se.ra.Fu.haH8313it with fireבָּאֵ֑שׁba.'EshH784,and thou shalt not escape outתִמָּלֵ֥טti.ma.LetH4422of their handמִיָּדָֽם׃ סmi.ya.DamH3027.

19And Zedekiahצִדְקִיָּ֖הוּtzid.ki.Ya.huH6667the kingהַמֶּ֥לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428saidוַיֹּ֛אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Jeremiahיִרְמְיָ֑הוּyir.me.Ya.huH3414,I am afraidדֹאֵ֣גdo.'EgH1672of the Jewsהַיְּהוּדִ֗יםhai.ye.hu.DimH3064that are fallenנָֽפְלוּ֙na.fe.LuH5307to the Chaldeansהַכַּשְׂדִּ֔יםha.kas.DimH3778,lest they deliverיִתְּנ֥וּyi.te.NuH5414me into their handבְּיָדָ֖םbe.ya.DamH3027,and they mockוְהִתְעַלְּלוּ־ve.hit.'a.le.lu-H5953me.

20But Jeremiahיִרְמְיָ֖הוּyir.me.Ya.huH3414saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,They shall not deliverיִתֵּ֑נוּyi.Te.nuH5414thee.Obeyשְֽׁמַֽע־she.ma'-H8085,I beseech thee, the voiceבְּק֣וֹלbe.KolH6963of Yhwhיְהוָ֗הYah.wehH3068,which I speakדֹּבֵ֣רdo.VerH1696unto thee: so it shall be wellוְיִ֥יטַבve.Yi.tavH3190unto thee, and thy soulנַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃naf.She.khaH5315shall liveוּתְחִ֥יu.te.ChiH2421.

21But if thou refuseמָאֵ֥ןma.'EnH3986to go forthלָצֵ֑אתla.TzetH3318, this isthe wordהַדָּבָ֔רha.da.VarH1697that Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068hath shewedהִרְאַ֖נִיhir.'A.niH7200me:

22And, behold, all the womenהַנָּשִׁ֗יםha.na.ShimH802that are leftנִשְׁאֲרוּ֙nish.'a.RuH7604in the kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Judah’sיְהוּדָ֔הye.hu.DahH3063houseבְּבֵ֣יתbe.VeitH1004shall bebrought forthמוּצָא֕וֹתmu.tza.'otH3318to the kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Babylon’sבָּבֶ֑לba.VelH894princesשָׂרֵ֖יsa.ReiH8269, and those womenshall sayאֹמְר֗וֹת'o.me.RotH559,Thy friendsאַנְשֵׁ֣י שְׁלֹמֶ֔ךָ'an.Shei she.lo.Me.khaH7965 H582have set thee onהִסִּית֜וּךָhi.si.Tu.khaH5496,and have prevailedוְיָכְל֤וּve.ya.khe.LuH3201against thee: thy feetרַגְלֶ֖ךָrag.Le.khaH7272are sunkהָטְבְּע֥וּha.te.be.'UH2883in the mireבַבֹּ֛ץva.BotzH1206, andthey are turned awayנָסֹ֥גוּna.So.guH5472backאָחֽוֹר׃'a.ChorH268.

23So they shall bring outמֽוֹצִאִים֙mo.tzi.'ImH3318all thy wivesנָשֶׁ֣יךָna.Shei.khaH802and thy childrenבָּנֶ֗יךָba.Nei.khaH1121to the Chaldeansהַכַּשְׂדִּ֔יםha.kas.DimH3778:and thou shalt not escape outתִמָּלֵ֣טti.ma.LetH4422of their handמִיָּדָ֑םmi.ya.DamH3027,but shalt be takenתִּתָּפֵ֔שׂti.ta.FesH8610by the handבְיַ֤דve.YadH3027of the kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Babylonבָּבֶל֙ba.VelH894:and thou shalt cause this cityהָעִ֥ירha.'IrH5892to be burnedתִּשְׂרֹ֥ףtis.RofH8313with fireבָּאֵֽשׁ׃ פba.'EshH784.

24Then saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559Zedekiahצִדְקִיָּ֜הוּtzid.ki.Ya.huH6667unto Jeremiahיִרְמְיָ֗הוּyir.me.Ya.huH3414,Let no manאִ֛ישׁ'ishH376knowיֵדַ֥עye.Da'H3045of these wordsבַּדְּבָֽרִים־ba.de.va.rim-H1697,and thou shalt not dieתָמֽוּת׃ta.MutH4191.

25But if the princesהַשָּׂרִים֮ha.sa.RimH8269hearיִשְׁמְע֣וּyish.me.'UH8085that I have talkedדִבַּ֣רְתִּיdi.Bar.tiH1696with thee, and they comeוּבָ֣אוּu.Va.'uH935unto thee, and sayוְֽאָמְר֪וּve.'a.me.RuH559unto thee, Declareהַגִּֽידָה־ha.gi.dah-H5046unto us now what thou hast saidדִּבַּ֧רְתָּdi.Bar.taH1696unto the kingהַמֶּ֛לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,hideתְּכַחֵ֥דte.kha.ChedH3582it not from us, and we will not put thee to deathנְמִיתֶ֑ךָne.mi.Te.khaH4191;also what the kingהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428saidדִּבֶּ֥רdi.BerH1696unto thee:

26Then thou shalt sayוְאָמַרְתָּ֣ve.'a.mar.TaH559unto them, I presentedמַפִּיל־ma.pil-H5307my supplicationתְחִנָּתִ֖יte.chi.na.TiH8467beforeלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440the kingהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428,that he would not cause me to returnהֲשִׁיבֵ֛נִיha.shi.Ve.niH7725to Jonathan’sיְהוֹנָתָ֖ןye.ho.na.TanH3083houseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004,to dieלָמ֥וּתla.MutH4191there.

27Then cameוַיָּבֹ֨אוּvai.ya.Vo.'uH935all the princesהַשָּׂרִ֤יםha.sa.RimH8269unto Jeremiahיִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙yir.me.Ya.huH3414,and askedוַיִּשְׁאֲל֣וּvai.yish.'a.LuH7592him: and he toldוַיַּגֵּ֤דvai.ya.GedH5046them according to all these wordsהַדְּבָרִ֣יםha.de.va.RimH1697that the kingהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428had commandedצִוָּ֖הtzi.VahH6680.So they left off speakingוַיַּחֲרִ֣שׁוּvai.ya.cha.Ri.shuH2790with him; for the matterהַדָּבָֽר׃ פha.da.VarH1697was not perceivedנִשְׁמַ֖עnish.Ma'H8085.

28So Jeremiahיִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙yir.me.Ya.huH3414abodeוַיֵּ֤שֶׁבvai.Ye.shevH3427in the courtבַּחֲצַ֣רba.cha.TzarH2691of the prisonהַמַּטָּרָ֔הha.ma.ta.RahH4307until the dayי֖וֹםYomH3117that Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם סye.ru.sha.LimH3389was takenנִלְכְּדָ֣הnil.ke.DahH3920: and he was therewhen Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ פye.ru.sha.LimH3389was takenנִלְכְּדָ֖הnil.ke.DahH3920.

Commentaries on Jeremiah 38