Jeremiah 40:16

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing: for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.

Complete Jewish Bible:

But G'dalyahu the son of Achikam said to Yochanan the son of Kareach, "Don't do it. What you are saying about Yishma'el is not true."

Berean Standard Bible:

But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, “Do not do such a thing! What you are saying about Ishmael is a lie.”

American Standard Version:

But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing; for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

But Gedaliah^{H1436} the son^{H1121} of Ahikam^{H296} said^{H559} unto Johanan^{H3110} the son^{H1121} of Kareah^{H7143}, Thou shalt not do^{H6213} this thing^{H1697}: for thou speakest^{H1696} falsely^{H8267} of Ishmael^{H3458}.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Jeremiah 40:16

Jeremiah 40:16 is a verse set within the broader narrative of the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians in 586 BCE and the subsequent events that followed. The Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, had appointed Gedaliah as governor over the remaining Jews in the land of Judah. Gedaliah was the son of Ahikam, who had previously shown kindness to the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 26:24).

In this verse, Gedaliah is addressing Johanan, the son of Kareah, who was a military leader among the Jews. Johanan had expressed concern that Ishmael, another Jew who had ties to the former royal family, was plotting against Gedaliah with the intent to kill him. Johanan offered to kill Ishmael in secret to protect Gedaliah, but Gedaliah refused this offer, accusing Johanan of spreading falsehoods about Ishmael.

The themes present in this verse include trust, leadership, and the tension between different factions within the Jewish community during a time of great upheaval. Gedaliah's refusal to sanction Johanan's proposed action reflects his commitment to justice and his trust in Ishmael, despite the potential danger. This moment of decision also foreshadows the tragic events that unfold in Jeremiah 41, where Ishmael does indeed assassinate Gedaliah, leading to further turmoil and the eventual flight of the remaining Jews to Egypt, against the counsel of Jeremiah.

This verse captures a moment of decision that highlights the complex political and social dynamics at play in a devastated society trying to rebuild after the catastrophic loss of their nation's independence. It underscores the challenges of leadership and the consequences of misplaced trust in a time of crisis.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H1436
   There are 31 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גְּדַּלְיָה
   Transliteration: Gᵉdalyâh
   Pronunciation: ghed-al-yaw'
   Description: or (prolonged) גְּדַלְיָהוּ; from גָּדַל and יָהּ; Jah has become great; Gedaljah, the name of five Israelites; Gedaliah.
   
2. Strong's Number: H1121
   There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֵּן
   Transliteration: bên
   Pronunciation: bane
   Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
   
3. Strong's Number: H296
   There are 83 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֲחִיקָם
   Transliteration: ʼĂchîyqâm
   Pronunciation: akh-ee-kawm'
   Description: from אָח and קוּם; brother of rising (i.e. high); Achikam, an Israelite; Ahikam.
   
4. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
5. Strong's Number: H3110
   There are 24 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יוֹחָנָן
   Transliteration: Yôwchânân
   Pronunciation: yo-khaw-nawn'
   Description: a form of יְהוֹחָנָן; Jochanan, the name of nine Israelites; Johanan.
   
6. Strong's Number: H7143
   There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קָרֵחַ
   Transliteration: Qârêach
   Pronunciation: kaw-ray'-akh
   Description: from קָרַח; bald; Kareach, an Israelite; Careah, Kareah.
   
7. Strong's Number: H6213
   There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָשָׂה
   Transliteration: ʻâsâh
   Pronunciation: aw-saw'
   Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
   
8. Strong's Number: H1697
   There are 1290 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָּבָר
   Transliteration: dâbâr
   Pronunciation: daw-baw'
   Description: from דָבַר; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause; act, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dearth, decree, deed, [idiom] disease, due, duty, effect, [phrase] eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, [phrase] glory, [phrase] harm, hurt, [phrase] iniquity, [phrase] judgment, language, [phrase] lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, [idiom] ought, [idiom] parts, [phrase] pertaining, [phrase] please, portion, [phrase] power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, [idiom] (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, [phrase] sign, [phrase] so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, [phrase] song, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, task, [phrase] that, [idiom] there done, thing (concerning), thought, [phrase] thus, tidings, what(-soever), [phrase] wherewith, which, word, work.
   
9. Strong's Number: H1696
   There are 1050 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָבַר
   Transliteration: dâbar
   Pronunciation: daw-bar'
   Description: a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue; answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter, [idiom] well, [idiom] work.
   
10. Strong's Number: H8267
    There are 109 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שֶׁקֶר
    Transliteration: sheqer
    Pronunciation: sheh'-ker
    Description: from שָׁקַר; an untruth; by implication, a sham (often adverbial); without a cause, deceit(-ful), false(-hood, -ly), feignedly, liar, [phrase] lie, lying, vain (thing), wrongfully.
    
11. Strong's Number: H3458
    There are 44 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יִשְׁמָעֵאל
    Transliteration: Yishmâʻêʼl
    Pronunciation: yish-maw-ale'
    Description: from שָׁמַע and אֵל; God will hear; Jishmael, the name of Abraham's oldest son, and of five Israelites; Ishmael.