Jeremiah 37:15

Wherefore the princes were wroth with Jeremiah, and smote him, and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe: for they had made that the prison.

Wherefore the princes {H8269} were wroth {H7107} with Jeremiah {H3414}, and smote {H5221} him, and put {H5414} him in prison {H612} in the house {H1004} of Jonathan {H3083} the scribe {H5608}: for they had made {H6213} that the prison {H3608}.

The officials, furious with Yirmeyahu, had him beaten and jailed in the house of Y'honatan the secretary, which had been made over into a prison.

The officials were angry with Jeremiah, and they beat him and placed him in jail in the house of Jonathan the scribe, for it had been made into a prison.

And the princes were wroth with Jeremiah, and smote him, and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe; for they had made that the prison.

Context of Jeremiah 37:15

Jeremiah 37:15 finds the prophet Jeremiah in a highly volatile and dangerous period for the Kingdom of Judah. The city of Jerusalem was under siege by the Babylonians, led by King Nebuchadnezzar. During a temporary withdrawal of the Babylonian army due to the approach of Pharaoh's army from Egypt (mentioned in Jeremiah 37:5), Jeremiah attempted to leave Jerusalem to go to his hometown, Anathoth, in the territory of Benjamin. He was intercepted at the Benjamin Gate by a captain named Irijah, who falsely accused him of deserting to the Chaldeans (Babylonians).

Despite Jeremiah's vehement denial, the princes, who were highly influential and often opposed to Jeremiah's unpopular prophetic messages of surrender to Babylon, seized this opportunity. They were already "wroth" (furious) with Jeremiah because he consistently prophesied the city's downfall and urged submission to God's judgment through Babylon, a message that contradicted their hopes of Egyptian aid and nationalistic pride. This verse marks a significant escalation in Jeremiah's persecution, moving from verbal opposition to physical assault and imprisonment.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Persecution of God's Messengers: This verse starkly illustrates the consistent theme of prophets being rejected and persecuted for delivering God's challenging truths. Jeremiah's suffering mirrors the experiences of many who speak God's word to a resistant audience, a pattern seen throughout biblical history (e.g., Matthew 5:12).
  • Injustice and False Accusation: Jeremiah was innocent of the charge of desertion, yet he was unjustly beaten and imprisoned. This highlights the corruption and moral decay among Judah's leadership, who prioritized their own anger and political agenda over truth and justice.
  • The Cost of Faithfulness: Jeremiah's unwavering obedience to God's difficult message came at a tremendous personal cost. Despite the abuse and imprisonment, he continued to serve as God's mouthpiece, demonstrating profound faithfulness under duress.
  • Ad-Hoc Imprisonment: The fact that Jeremiah was imprisoned in "the house of Jonathan the scribe," which had been converted into a prison, speaks to the chaotic and arbitrary nature of justice in Jerusalem during these tumultuous times. It suggests a lack of formal, established correctional facilities or the urgency with which they wanted to silence Jeremiah.

Linguistic Insight

The KJV phrase "were wroth" translates the Hebrew word charah (חָרָה), which conveys a strong, burning anger, often implying fury or rage. This emphasizes the intense emotional hostility the princes harbored towards Jeremiah. The word "smote" comes from the Hebrew nakah (נָכָה), meaning to strike, beat, or inflict a blow. This indicates not merely a push or a shove, but a deliberate act of physical violence, underscoring the severity of the ill-treatment Jeremiah endured.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 37:15 serves as a powerful reminder that speaking truth, especially God's truth, can often provoke opposition and even persecution. For believers today, this verse offers:

  • Encouragement in Adversity: When facing criticism, false accusations, or hostility for standing for what is right, remember Jeremiah's steadfastness. His experience reminds us that suffering for righteousness is not uncommon (1 Peter 4:16).
  • A Call to Discernment: The princes' reaction reveals how pride and a refusal to acknowledge uncomfortable truths can lead to irrational and unjust actions. This calls us to examine our own hearts and be open to God's challenging messages, even when they go against popular opinion or personal comfort.
  • Trust in God's Sovereignty: Even imprisoned, Jeremiah remained in God's hand. His confinement did not thwart God's ultimate plan, nor did it silence the prophet indefinitely. We can trust that God is at work even in our darkest moments of injustice or suffering.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.
  • Jeremiah 38:26

    Then thou shalt say unto them, I presented my supplication before the king, that he would not cause me to return to Jonathan's house, to die there.
  • 2 Chronicles 16:10

    Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for [he was] in a rage with him because of this [thing]. And Asa oppressed [some] of the people the same time.
  • 2 Chronicles 18:26

    And say, Thus saith the king, Put this [fellow] in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.
  • Acts 5:18

    And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
  • Jeremiah 20:1

    ¶ Now Pashur the son of Immer the priest, who [was] also chief governor in the house of the LORD, heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things.
  • Jeremiah 20:3

    And it came to pass on the morrow, that Pashur brought forth Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then said Jeremiah unto him, The LORD hath not called thy name Pashur, but Magormissabib.
  • Genesis 39:20

    And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners [were] bound: and he was there in the prison.

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