Jeremiah 37:20

KJV

Therefore hear now, I pray thee, O my lord the king: let my supplication, I pray thee, be accepted before thee; that thou cause me not to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there.

KJV (with Strong's)

Therefore hear {H8085} now, I pray thee, O my lord {H113} the king {H4428}: let my supplication {H8467}, I pray thee, be accepted {H5307} before {H6440} thee; that thou cause me not to return {H7725} to the house {H1004} of Jonathan {H3083} the scribe {H5608}, lest I die {H4191} there.

Complete Jewish Bible

So now, please listen, my lord king! I beg you, approve my request - don't make me return to the house of Y'honatan the secretary, or I will die there."

Berean Standard Bible

But now please listen, O my lord the king. May my petition come before you. Do not send me back to the house of Jonathan the scribe, or I will die there.”

American Standard Version

And now hear, I pray thee, O my lord the king: let my supplication, I pray thee, be presented before thee, that thou cause me not to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 37:20 presents the prophet Jeremiah's desperate and humble appeal to King Zedekiah, seeking immediate relief from the life-threatening conditions of his imprisonment. Having been confined to the "house of Jonathan the scribe," which served as a makeshift dungeon, Jeremiah pleads for his earnest petition to be favorably received by the king, expressing a profound and human fear of imminent death if he is forced to return to such a perilous environment. This verse starkly reveals the prophet's personal vulnerability and precarious situation, even as he faithfully delivers God's unpopular message under a wavering and indecisive monarch.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This poignant verse is situated at a critical juncture in the narrative of Jerusalem's final siege by the Babylonians. Immediately prior to this appeal, Jeremiah had been arrested on a false accusation of desertion to the Babylonians, leading to his severe beating and imprisonment in the house of Jonathan the scribe, which had been converted into a dungeon ([Jeremiah 37:15](/jeremiah/37-15 "Jeremiah's Imprisonment and Suffering")). King Zedekiah, despite his inherent weakness and vacillation, secretly summoned Jeremiah to inquire of the Lord's will regarding the siege. After Jeremiah delivered God's unyielding message—that Jerusalem would indeed fall to the Babylonians—he seized this rare and direct audience with the king to make a personal, life-or-death plea. His supplication in this verse is a direct and urgent follow-up to this private consultation, highlighting the immediate and dire consequences of his prophetic obedience.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical setting is the climactic siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian army, roughly between 588 and 586 BC. King Zedekiah, a figurehead installed by Babylon, was perpetually caught between the pro-Egyptian and pro-Babylonian factions within his own court, struggling to assert any true authority. Jeremiah's consistent prophecy of surrender to Babylon was deeply unpopular and widely perceived as treasonous by the Judean officials and much of the populace, who clung to a misguided hope of divine intervention or Egyptian military aid. Imprisonment in the ancient Near East, particularly for political dissenters or perceived threats, was often characterized by extreme brutality, including severe deprivation of food, water, and light, coupled with unsanitary conditions that frequently led to death. The "house of Jonathan the scribe" was not a formal, purpose-built prison but a private dwelling repurposed for detention, underscoring the ad-hoc, unregulated, and inherently severe nature of Jeremiah's confinement.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 37:20 powerfully encapsulates several pervasive themes throughout the book of Jeremiah. A primary theme is the **suffering of the prophet**, as Jeremiah, God's faithful and obedient messenger, endures profound personal hardship, persecution, and even life-threatening conditions for delivering an unpopular divine word ([Jeremiah 20:7-9](/jeremiah/20-7-9 "Jeremiah's Lament and Persecution")). It also vividly illustrates **King Zedekiah's indecisive and weak leadership**, as he repeatedly seeks Jeremiah's divine counsel in secret but consistently lacks the moral fortitude to act upon God's word, frequently capitulating to the demands of his hostile officials ([Jeremiah 38:5](/jeremiah/38-5 "Zedekiah's Weakness Before His Officials")). Furthermore, the verse underscores the profound **human vulnerability** of even a divinely appointed prophet, revealing a relatable fear of death and a fundamental desire for survival. Finally, it subtly highlights the **power and necessity of supplication**, even to earthly authorities, as Jeremiah humbly petitions for mercy, echoing the broader biblical emphasis on earnest prayer and petition to God for deliverance, a theme beautifully articulated in passages like [Lamentations 3:55-58](/lamentations/3-55-58 "Lamentations 3:55-58 - A Cry from the Depths") and throughout the Psalms.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **my lord (Hebrew, _ʼâdôwn'_):** (H113) This term, derived from a root meaning "to rule," signifies a sovereign, master, or owner, whether human or divine. In this context, Jeremiah uses it to address King Zedekiah, acknowledging his supreme authority and position. The use of "my lord" emphasizes the prophet's humble posture and the respect due to the king, even as he makes a desperate plea.
* **supplication (Hebrew, _tᵉchinnâh'_):** (H8467) This word conveys the idea of graciousness, entreaty, or favor. It specifically refers to a humble, earnest, and often urgent request made to a superior, seeking compassion and a positive response. Jeremiah is not issuing a demand but making a respectful, heartfelt plea for mercy, fully recognizing the king's power to grant or deny his request.
* **accepted (Hebrew, _nâphal'_):** (H5307) Literally meaning "to fall," this verb is used here idiomatically to mean "to be accepted" or "to fall favorably" before someone. Jeremiah desires that his petition "fall" in such a way that it finds favor and is granted by the king, implying a compassionate and positive reception of his plea, rather than it falling flat or being rejected.
* **die (Hebrew, _mûwth'_):** (H4191) This primitive root means "to die" (literally or figuratively) or, causatively, "to kill." In Jeremiah's plea, it refers to the literal and imminent threat of death he faced due to the unsanitary, deprived, and potentially torturous conditions within the makeshift prison in Jonathan the scribe's house. This word powerfully conveys the extreme urgency and life-threatening severity of his situation, making his plea a matter of survival.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Therefore hear now, I pray thee, O my lord the king:"** Jeremiah initiates his appeal with a direct, humble, and urgent address to King Zedekiah. The introductory "Therefore" connects his plea to the preceding secret consultation with the king. The repeated phrase "I pray thee" (which appears again later) underscores the respectful yet desperate nature of his appeal, acknowledging the king's supreme authority while pleading for his immediate attention and compassion.
* **"let my supplication, I pray thee, be accepted before thee;"** This constitutes the core of Jeremiah's earnest request. He asks that his humble and urgent plea for grace and favor be received positively by the king. The reiteration of "I pray thee" emphasizes the sincerity, humility, and profound vulnerability of his petition, highlighting his total dependence on the king's mercy for his very survival.
* **"that thou cause me not to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe,"** This clause specifies the immediate and critical relief that Jeremiah seeks. The "house of Jonathan the scribe" was a place of severe suffering, deprivation, and likely imminent death, as indicated by Jeremiah's prior experience there. He begs the king not to be sent back to those horrific and life-threatening conditions.
* **"lest I die there."** This chilling and stark final clause reveals the ultimate fear and motivation behind Jeremiah's desperate supplication. He is not merely seeking comfort or improved conditions but survival itself. The conditions in Jonathan's house were so dire that continued imprisonment there was tantamount to a death sentence, whether from starvation, disease, or deliberate neglect, making his plea a matter of life or death.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 37:20 employs several potent literary devices to underscore the prophet's desperate plight and the gravity of his situation. The most prominent is **Pathos**, an appeal to emotion, as Jeremiah lays bare his raw vulnerability and profound fear of death, aiming to elicit compassion and mercy from King Zedekiah. His direct, personal address, "O my lord the king," serves as a form of **Direct Address**, which creates an intimate, urgent, and deeply personal tone, drawing the listener into the immediacy of Jeremiah's suffering. The repeated phrase, "I pray thee," functions as **Repetition** (specifically, anaphora if at the beginning of clauses, but here more generally for emphasis), powerfully underscoring the earnestness, sincerity, and humility of his desperate plea. Furthermore, the stark and concise phrase "lest I die there" is a powerful form of **Understatement** in its brevity, yet it profoundly conveys the extreme and life-threatening nature of his imprisonment, relying on the listener's understanding of the dire and inhumane conditions of such a dungeon.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah's desperate plea in 37:20, even to an earthly king, resonates deeply with the broader biblical understanding of human vulnerability and the appropriateness of seeking mercy and justice from both divine and human authorities. While Jeremiah's ultimate trust and allegiance were unequivocally in God, this moment reveals that divine faithfulness does not exempt one from profound human suffering or the necessity of appealing to human powers for relief. It underscores God's overarching sovereignty even amidst human injustice, political weakness, and personal suffering, reminding us that He hears the cries of His servants, whether expressed in lament, earnest prayer, or direct petition. The prophet's survival, despite constant threats and persecution, ultimately points to God's overarching purpose and protective hand over His chosen instruments, ensuring that His divine word is delivered, regardless of the personal cost.

* [Psalm 116:1-2](/psalms/116-1-2 "Psalm 116:1-2 - The Lord Hears My Cry")
* [Lamentations 3:55-58](/lamentations/3-55-58 "Lamentations 3:55-58 - A Cry from the Depths")
* [2 Timothy 3:12](/2_timothy/3-12 "2 Timothy 3:12 - Persecution for Godliness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 37:20 offers a profound and deeply human glimpse into the cost of prophetic ministry and the universal experience of suffering. It serves as a powerful reminder that unwavering faithfulness to God does not guarantee an easy or comfortable path, but often leads to significant hardship, intense opposition, and even life-threatening circumstances. Jeremiah, despite being God's very mouthpiece, was not above pleading for his physical life, demonstrating a raw, relatable human vulnerability that transcends time. This verse encourages believers today to persevere steadfastly in their faith even when confronted with dire circumstances, to boldly yet humbly make their supplications known—whether to God in prayer or to earthly authorities for justice and mercy—and to trust that God is intimately present even in the darkest "dungeons" of life. It also serves as a poignant reminder of the inherent value of every human life and the severity of conditions that can lead to its demise, thereby urging compassion, advocacy, and action where possible to alleviate suffering.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jeremiah's desperate plea challenge your understanding of what it means to be faithful to God amidst intense suffering and personal danger?**
* **In what specific ways might you be called to make a "supplication" for yourself or others today, whether to God in prayer or to human authorities for justice or mercy?**
* **How does Jeremiah's vulnerability and honest expression of fear encourage you to be more transparent about your own struggles and anxieties, even when serving God?**

### FAQ

**Why was Jeremiah imprisoned in the "house of Jonathan the scribe"?**

Answer: Jeremiah was initially imprisoned in the house of Jonathan the scribe, which had been converted into a dungeon, after being falsely accused of attempting to desert to the Babylonians ([Jeremiah 37:13-15](/jeremiah/37-13-15 "Jeremiah's Arrest and Imprisonment")). This accusation arose when Jeremiah attempted to leave Jerusalem to go to his hometown of Anathoth to attend to some property matters. However, in the highly charged atmosphere of the Babylonian siege, any movement out of the besieged city was viewed with extreme suspicion, especially for someone like Jeremiah who had consistently prophesied the city's inevitable fall to Babylon. The conditions in this makeshift prison were notoriously harsh and life-threatening, leading Jeremiah to fear for his very survival.

**What was the nature of King Zedekiah's relationship with Jeremiah?**

Answer: King Zedekiah's relationship with Jeremiah was complex, marked by profound indecision, fear, and a tragic lack of courage. While Zedekiah clearly recognized Jeremiah as a true prophet of God and frequently sought his counsel in private ([Jeremiah 37:17](/jeremiah/37-17 "Zedekiah Consults Jeremiah"), [Jeremiah 38:14-28](/jeremiah/38-14-28 "Zedekiah's Secret Consultations with Jeremiah")), he consistently lacked the conviction and moral fortitude to follow God's word. He often succumbed to the intense pressure from his pro-war officials and princes, who vehemently opposed Jeremiah's message of surrender. Although Zedekiah would attempt to protect Jeremiah to some extent (e.g., moving him to the less severe court of the guard in [Jeremiah 37:21](/jeremiah/37-21 "Jeremiah Moved to the Court of the Guard")), he was ultimately too weak-willed to defy his court and implement the divine command to surrender to Babylon, leading to Jerusalem's destruction.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah's suffering and desperate plea for life, though a profoundly human and relatable moment, serves as a poignant foreshadowing of the ultimate suffering and intercession of Christ. Jeremiah, the faithful prophet, endures intense persecution and faces imminent death for courageously speaking God's unpopular truth, much like Jesus, the Prophet par excellence, who was rejected, reviled, and ultimately condemned for His divine message and unwavering obedience to the Father ([Luke 13:33-34](/luke/13-33-34 "Jesus Laments Over Jerusalem")). Jeremiah's chilling fear of death in the dungeon, expressed as "lest I die there," echoes Christ's own profound anguish and earnest supplication in the Garden of Gethsemane, where He prayed, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done" ([Luke 22:42](/luke/22-42 "Jesus' Prayer in Gethsemane")). While Jeremiah pleads for release from physical death, Jesus willingly embraced death on the cross, not to escape it, but to conquer it definitively for all humanity. Ultimately, Christ's perfect sacrifice and glorious resurrection mean that for those who believe, the "house of Jonathan the scribe"—any place of suffering, imprisonment, or even the very grave—no longer holds the final say, for Christ triumphantly holds "the keys of death and Hades" ([Revelation 1:18](/revelation/1-18 "Christ Holds the Keys of Death and Hades")). His perfect supplication on the cross was fully "accepted" by the Father, securing eternal life and deliverance from spiritual death for all who trust in Him, making Him our compassionate and sympathetic High Priest who understands our weaknesses, having been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet without sin ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Our Sympathetic High Priest")).

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 36:7

It may be they will present their supplication before the LORD, and will return every one from his evil way: for great [is] the anger and the fury that the LORD hath pronounced against this people.

Jeremiah 38:6

Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that [was] in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon [there was] no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.

Jeremiah 38:9

My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon; and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is: for [there is] no more bread in the city.

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.

Acts 28:18

Who, when they had examined me, would have let [me] go, because there was no cause of death in me.

Acts 28:19

But when the Jews spake against [it], I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.

Jeremiah 26:15

But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the LORD hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears.