¶ The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, when king Zedekiah sent unto him Pashur the son of Melchiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, saying,
The word {H1697} which came unto Jeremiah {H3414} from the LORD {H3068}, when king {H4428} Zedekiah {H6667} sent {H7971} unto him Pashur {H6583} the son {H1121} of Melchiah {H4441}, and Zephaniah {H6846} the son {H1121} of Maaseiah {H4641} the priest {H3548}, saying {H559},
This is the word that came to Yirmeyahu from ADONAI when King Tzidkiyahu sent to him Pash'chur the son of Malkiyah and Tz'fanyah the son of Ma'aseiyah with this message:
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur son of Malchijah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah. They said,
The word which came unto Jeremiah from Jehovah, when king Zedekiah sent unto him Pashhur the son of Malchijah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, saying,
-
Jeremiah 37:3
And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Pray now unto the LORD our God for us. -
Jeremiah 29:25
Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, Because thou hast sent letters in thy name unto all the people that [are] at Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, and to all the priests, saying, -
Jeremiah 52:24
¶ And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door: -
Jeremiah 38:1
¶ Then Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashur the son of Malchiah, heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken unto all the people, saying, -
2 Kings 24:17
And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah. -
2 Kings 24:18
Zedekiah [was] twenty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name [was] Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. -
Jeremiah 32:1
¶ The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which [was] the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar.
Jeremiah 21:1 serves as the introductory verse to a critical prophecy concerning the fate of Jerusalem and the Kingdom of Judah during the Babylonian siege.
Context and Historical Setting
This verse opens a significant section of Jeremiah's prophecies, setting the scene for a direct confrontation between King Zedekiah's desperate plea and God's unyielding judgment. The historical backdrop is the final years of the Kingdom of Judah, specifically around 588 BC, when Jerusalem was under intense siege by Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian army. King Zedekiah, the last king of Judah and a puppet ruler installed by Babylon, finds himself in a dire situation. In a moment of crisis, he sends two prominent figures—Pashur the son of Melchiah (a royal official, distinct from the Pashur in Jeremiah 20:1) and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest—to inquire of the prophet Jeremiah. Zedekiah's hope, as revealed in the subsequent verses, was for a miraculous intervention by God, similar to past deliverances, to lift the siege. This desperate inquiry highlights the immense pressure on the king and the people of Jerusalem as the Babylonian forces closed in, leading to the ultimate fall of Jerusalem.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD" is a standard prophetic formula in the Old Testament. The Hebrew term for "word" is dabar (דָּבָר), which carries a broader meaning than just spoken words. It encompasses a divine decree, a matter, an event, or a thing. In this context, it signifies a definitive and authoritative message from God that will bring about specific events or consequences. It highlights the active and powerful nature of God's communication to His prophets.
Practical Application
This verse, while historical, offers timeless insights. It reminds us that God's word is sovereign and authoritative, even when it delivers difficult truths. It also illustrates the human tendency to turn to God in times of crisis, sometimes hoping for a convenient rescue rather than a genuine change of heart. For believers today, it serves as a reminder to seek God's will consistently, not just in moments of desperation, and to understand that His message, though sometimes challenging, is always for our ultimate good and salvation, echoing the call to seek Him with all our heart.