Jeremiah 37:17

KJV

Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took him out: and the king asked him secretly in his house, and said, Is there [any] word from the LORD? And Jeremiah said, There is: for, said he, thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then Zedekiah {H6667} the king {H4428} sent {H7971}, and took him out {H3947}: and the king {H4428} asked {H7592} him secretly {H5643} in his house {H1004}, and said {H559}, Is there any word {H1697} from the LORD {H3068}? And Jeremiah {H3414} said {H559}, There is {H3426}: for, said {H559} he, thou shalt be delivered {H5414} into the hand {H3027} of the king {H4428} of Babylon {H894}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then Tzidkiyahu the king sent and had him brought; and the king asked him secretly, in his palace, "Is there any word from ADONAI?" "There is," Yirmeyahu said. "You will be handed over to the king of Bavel."

Berean Standard Bible

Later, King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah and received him in his palace, where he asked him privately, “Is there a word from the LORD?” “There is,” Jeremiah replied. “You will be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.”

American Standard Version

then Zedekiah the king sent, and fetched him: and the king asked him secretly in his house, and said, Is there any word from Jehovah? And Jeremiah said, There is. He said also, Thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 37:17 records a critical, clandestine meeting between King Zedekiah and the prophet Jeremiah amidst the desperate final siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonian army. In this secret encounter, the king, yearning for a hopeful divine message, instead receives an unwavering and grim prophecy from Jeremiah: Judah's ultimate surrender and Zedekiah's inevitable delivery into the hands of the king of Babylon. This verse powerfully illustrates the prophet's unyielding faithfulness to God's difficult truth, even while imprisoned and facing personal danger, and underscores the certainty of divine judgment against a persistently rebellious nation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 37 is strategically placed within the latter portion of the book of Jeremiah, which chronicles the prophet's arduous ministry during the tumultuous reigns of Judah's final kings, culminating in the devastating Babylonian exile. This chapter immediately follows a brief, deceptive reprieve in the Babylonian siege, prompted by the advance of Pharaoh's army, which caused the Babylonians to temporarily withdraw (Jeremiah 37:5). This momentary relief ignited a false sense of hope among the people and their leaders, who prematurely believed the siege had ended. Jeremiah, however, swiftly disabused them of this illusion, prophesying the Babylonians' imminent return and the city's unavoidable fall (Jeremiah 37:7-10). It is within this precarious atmosphere of fleeting hope and impending doom that King Zedekiah, despite having previously imprisoned Jeremiah for his unpopular prophecies, secretly seeks him out. The verse thus serves as a direct and poignant continuation of Jeremiah's consistent and unyielding message of divine judgment and the necessity of surrender.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events depicted in Jeremiah 37:17 transpired during the final, agonizing years of the Kingdom of Judah, approximately between 588 and 586 BC. Jerusalem was under a relentless siege by Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon. King Zedekiah, a puppet ruler installed by Nebuchadnezzar after the first deportation of Judah's elite in 597 BC, a detail found in [2 Kings 24:17](/2_kings/24-17 "2 Kings 24:17 - Zedekiah's Appointment"), found himself precariously positioned between the formidable Babylonian empire and his own people's fervent desire for independence, often swayed by pro-Egyptian factions. The prevailing cultural context included a deeply entrenched, yet misguided, belief in Jerusalem's temple immunity and divine protection, a theological conviction that Jeremiah consistently and courageously challenged. While it was customary for kings to consult prophets for divine guidance, especially during times of national crisis, Zedekiah's clandestine meeting emphasizes his profound fear of public opinion and his own officials, who largely perceived Jeremiah as a traitor for advocating surrender. The "house" where the meeting occurs would have been a private, secluded chamber within the royal palace, underscoring the highly secretive nature of the consultation.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 37:17 makes a profound contribution to several overarching themes woven throughout the book of Jeremiah. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates the theme of **Prophetic Fidelity vs. Royal Desperation**. Jeremiah, despite enduring severe suffering and imprisonment for his message, remains unswervingly faithful to delivering God's unvarnished truth, standing in stark contrast to Zedekiah's wavering faith and his desperate search for a more palatable word. Secondly, the verse unequivocally reinforces the theme of **Divine Sovereignty and Inevitable Judgment**. God's decree, spoken with absolute clarity through Jeremiah, that Zedekiah "shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon" underscores the immutable truth that no human maneuver, political alliance, or military strategy can thwart the divine plan of judgment against persistent rebellion. This message is consistently echoed throughout Jeremiah, as seen in passages like [Jeremiah 27:8](/jeremiah/27-8 "Jeremiah 27:8 - Nations to Serve Babylon"). Thirdly, it highlights the dire **Consequences of Disobedience and Rejection of God's Word**. Judah's long and tragic history of idolatry, covenant breaking, and persistent refusal to heed prophetic warnings culminates in this pivotal moment, where the final, bitter consequence of their rebellion is unequivocally confirmed.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Word (Hebrew, _dâbâr'_):** (H1697) This term, employed by Zedekiah in his desperate inquiry, is far more expansive than a simple utterance. While it can denote 'speech' or 'thing,' when directly coupled with "from the LORD," it signifies a direct, authoritative, and often prophetic message or decree originating from God Himself. Zedekiah is not merely seeking advice or a suggestion; he is pleading for a definitive divine revelation—a "word" that carries the immense weight of God's will and truth, which Jeremiah, with unflinching honesty, indeed provides.
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** (H3068) This is the sacred covenant name of God, frequently rendered as "Yahweh" or "Jehovah," emphasizing His self-existence, eternal nature, and unwavering covenant faithfulness. Zedekiah's question, "Is there any word from the LORD?" indicates his recognition, however fleeting or borne of desperation, that the true authority and ultimate source of truth lies solely with the God of Israel, not with human counsel, political maneuvering, or military might. Jeremiah's subsequent answer is a direct, unmediated pronouncement from this sovereign God.
* **Hand (Hebrew, _yâd'_):** (H3027) This word is remarkably versatile, literally meaning 'hand' but frequently used figuratively to convey concepts of power, authority, control, or means. When Jeremiah prophesies, "thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon," it signifies complete and utter surrender, subjugation, and loss of autonomy. It implies that Zedekiah will be entirely within the power and control of Nebuchadnezzar, stripped of his own royal authority and personal freedom, presenting a stark and tragic contrast to the divine "hand" of protection that Judah had consistently rejected.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took him out:"** This opening clause immediately establishes the king's direct initiative and the setting for the clandestine encounter. The phrase "took him out" refers to Jeremiah's release from his prior imprisonment in the court of the guard (Jeremiah 37:15-16), clearly indicating Zedekiah's personal intervention and the highly secretive nature of the meeting. The king's profound desperation evidently overrides his previous punitive actions against the prophet.
* **"and the king asked him secretly in his house, and said, Is there [any] word from the LORD?"** This segment vividly highlights both the secrecy and the king's profound, urgent need for divine insight. The meeting occurring "in his house" (specifically, a private chamber within the palace) underscores Zedekiah's deep-seated fear of his own officials and the general populace, who would have been enraged by any perceived collaboration with Jeremiah, the prophet who advocated surrender. His question, "Is there any word from the LORD?" is a poignant plea for divine revelation, perhaps harboring a desperate hope for a different, more favorable prophecy than Jeremiah had consistently delivered.
* **"And Jeremiah said, There is: for, said he, thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon."** Jeremiah's concise and immediate response, "There is," unequivocally confirms the divine origin and absolute certainty of the message he is about to deliver. The subsequent prophecy is direct, unambiguous, and utterly devastating: Zedekiah's inevitable capture and complete subjugation by Nebuchadnezzar. This blunt statement leaves no room for negotiation, evasion, or alternative outcomes, powerfully reiterating the consistent, unchangeable nature of God's decreed judgment.

#### Literary Devices
The passage masterfully employs several potent literary devices to convey its powerful message. **Irony** is strikingly prominent, as King Zedekiah, who had previously imprisoned Jeremiah precisely for speaking God's unvarnished truth, now secretly seeks that very truth, albeit hoping for a different, more comforting outcome. This highlights the king's deeply conflicted and desperate state. **Foreshadowing** is central to the verse's impact, as Jeremiah's prophecy explicitly and grimly foretells Zedekiah's capture and the ultimate fall of Jerusalem, events that are tragically soon to unfold. The direct, unadorned **Dialogue** between the king and the prophet emphasizes the stark contrast between human hope and divine certainty. Furthermore, the phrase "into the hand of the king of Babylon" serves as a powerful **Metonymy**, where "hand" represents the full power, authority, and absolute control of the Babylonian king, signifying Zedekiah's complete and inescapable subjugation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 37:17 stands as a profound testament to the unyielding nature of God's prophetic word and His sovereign control over the unfolding of human history. It underscores the immutable truth that divine judgment, once justly decreed due to persistent rebellion and the rejection of God's covenant, is inevitable and will be fulfilled, regardless of human attempts to evade or circumvent it. The king's desperate, secret inquiry reveals a common human tendency: to seek God's comfort and guidance without a genuine commitment to repentance or alignment with His divine will, often hoping for a convenient truth rather than a challenging one. Jeremiah's unwavering response exemplifies the prophet's essential role as a faithful messenger, called to deliver God's word without compromise, even when that message is unpopular, personally dangerous, or carries severe consequences. This passage serves as a powerful reminder that God's truth is not subject to human desires, political expediency, or popular opinion; it stands firm and will ultimately be fulfilled.

* [Jeremiah 39:7](/jeremiah/39-7 "Jeremiah 39:7 - Zedekiah's Capture and Blinding")
* [2 Kings 25:7](/2_kings/25-7 "2 Kings 25:7 - Zedekiah's Fate Confirmed")
* [Numbers 23:19](/numbers/23-19 "Numbers 23:19 - God is Not a Man That He Should Lie")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 37:17 offers profound and challenging lessons for contemporary believers. It compels us to honestly examine our own hearts: do we, like King Zedekiah, seek God's word primarily when we are desperate or in crisis, secretly hoping for a comfortable answer that merely affirms our existing desires? Or do we genuinely seek His truth, even when it is difficult, convicting, or calls us to uncomfortable and costly obedience? The unwavering nature of Jeremiah's prophecy reminds us that God's character is consistent, and His word will always stand, regardless of our resistance, our preferences, or the prevailing cultural narrative. This should instill in us both a healthy, reverent fear of God's justice and a profound, unshakable trust in His faithfulness. Furthermore, Jeremiah's extraordinary courage in delivering an unpopular, life-threatening message serves as a powerful model for us. It calls us to speak truth, rooted firmly in God's word, in a world that often prefers comforting lies, trusting that God will uphold His message and faithfully sustain His messengers.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific areas of my life might I be inadvertently mimicking Zedekiah, secretly hoping for a "word from the LORD" that aligns with my comfort rather than His challenging truth?**
* **How does Jeremiah's unwavering faithfulness in delivering God's difficult and unpopular message challenge my own willingness to speak truth, even when it is costly or socially inconvenient?**
* **What does the absolute certainty of God's judgment, as demonstrated in this verse, teach me about the profound importance of consistent obedience and genuine repentance in my own walk with Him?**

### FAQ
**Why did King Zedekiah ask Jeremiah secretly?**

Answer: King Zedekiah sought Jeremiah secretly primarily because he was deeply afraid of his own officials and the people of Judah. Jeremiah had consistently prophesied surrender to Babylon, a message widely perceived as treasonous by many, especially the influential pro-Egyptian factions and the military leaders who advocated resistance. Zedekiah had already demonstrated his disapproval by imprisoning Jeremiah for these very prophecies (Jeremiah 37:15). Conducting the meeting "in his house" and "secretly" allowed Zedekiah to consult the prophet without publicly appearing to endorse Jeremiah's unpopular message or to display weakness and fear to his court and the populace. He was caught in a precarious position, torn between the divine will, which Jeremiah represented, and the intense political pressures and popular sentiment within his besieged kingdom.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 37:17, with its portrayal of a prophet delivering an unpalatable truth that leads to suffering and ultimate "delivery into the hand" of an enemy, finds a profound Christ-centered fulfillment. Jeremiah's faithful, suffering witness powerfully foreshadows Jesus Christ, the ultimate Prophet, who likewise delivered God's uncompromising truth to a rebellious people, even when it led to His rejection, suffering, and crucifixion. Just as Jeremiah was "taken out" of prison to deliver a message of inevitable judgment, Jesus was "taken out" of the Garden of Gethsemane to be delivered into the "hands" of His enemies (as foretold in [Matthew 26:45](/matthew/26-45 "Matthew 26:45 - Jesus Delivered into the Hands of Sinners")). The "hand of the king of Babylon" into which Zedekiah was delivered finds its ultimate parallel in the "hands" of sinful men and the spiritual powers of darkness into which Christ was given, according to God's predetermined plan (cf. [Acts 2:23](/acts/2-23 "Acts 2:23 - Jesus Delivered by God's Set Purpose")). Yet, unlike Zedekiah, who faced judgment for his disobedience, Jesus, though delivered unto death, was not overcome by it but triumphed over the grave, fulfilling God's ultimate plan of salvation. His unwavering truth-telling, even unto death on the cross, secured not judgment but eternal life and reconciliation for all who believe, demonstrating God's ultimate sovereignty and redemptive purpose, far transcending the temporal judgment of Babylon.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Jeremiah 21:7

And afterward, saith the LORD, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life: and he shall smite them with the edge of the sword; he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy.

Jeremiah 38:5

Then Zedekiah the king said, Behold, he [is] in your hand: for the king [is] not [he that] can do [any] thing against you.

Jeremiah 38:24

Then said Zedekiah unto Jeremiah, Let no man know of these words, and thou shalt not die.

Jeremiah 38:27

Then came all the princes unto Jeremiah, and asked him: and he told them according to all these words that the king had commanded. So they left off speaking with him; for the matter was not perceived.

Jeremiah 38:14

¶ Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that [is] in the house of the LORD: and the king said unto Jeremiah, I will ask thee a thing; hide nothing from me.

Jeremiah 38:16

So Zedekiah the king sware secretly unto Jeremiah, saying, [As] the LORD liveth, that made us this soul, I will not put thee to death, neither will I give thee into the hand of these men that seek thy life.

Ezekiel 12:12

And the prince that [is] among them shall bear upon [his] shoulder in the twilight, and shall go forth: they shall dig through the wall to carry out thereby: he shall cover his face, that he see not the ground with [his] eyes.