Jeremiah 38:10

KJV

Then the king commanded Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirty men with thee, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then the king {H4428} commanded {H6680} Ebedmelech {H5663} the Ethiopian {H3569}, saying {H559}, Take {H3947} from hence thirty {H7970} men {H582} with thee {H3027}, and take up {H5927} Jeremiah {H3414} the prophet {H5030} out of the dungeon {H953}, before he die {H4191}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then the king ordered 'Eved-Melekh the Ethiopian, "Take thirty men with you from here, and bring Yirmeyahu the prophet up out of the cistern before he dies."

Berean Standard Bible

So the king commanded Ebed-melech the Cushite, “Take thirty men from here with you and pull Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.”

American Standard Version

Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirty men with thee, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 38:10 captures a critical moment during Jerusalem's final siege, where King Zedekiah, swayed by the courageous plea of Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, issues an urgent command for the immediate rescue of the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah had been unjustly cast into a deep, miry dungeon by hostile princes and left to perish. This pivotal intervention underscores divine providence, highlights the unexpected instruments God uses for His purposes, and reveals the king's fluctuating resolve amidst the city's impending destruction.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within the climactic final chapters of Jeremiah, detailing Jerusalem's desperate days leading up to its fall to Babylon. It directly follows the account of Jeremiah's severe persecution and imprisonment. Immediately prior to this, the prophet had been thrown into the cistern of Malchiah, described as a "dungeon" or "pit," by the princes of Judah who vehemently opposed his message of surrender and sought his death ([Jeremiah 38:4-6](/jeremiah/38-4-6 "Jeremiah 38:4-6 - Jeremiah Cast into the Cistern")). King Zedekiah, though privately seeking Jeremiah's counsel and acknowledging his prophetic authority ([Jeremiah 37:17](/jeremiah/37-17 "Jeremiah 37:17 - Zedekiah's Secret Consultation with Jeremiah")), had previously demonstrated a debilitating weakness, succumbing to the pressure of his powerful officials. Verse 10 marks a dramatic shift, initiated by Ebedmelech's courageous intercession, where the king, for a brief but crucial moment, asserts his authority to preserve the prophet's life, demonstrating a flicker of resolve against the prevailing opposition that had sought Jeremiah's demise.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical setting is the brutal final siege of Jerusalem (588-586 BC) by Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian army, a period of profound national catastrophe for the Kingdom of Judah. King Zedekiah, a puppet ruler installed by Babylon, found himself caught between warring internal factions: a nationalist party advocating resistance and alliance with Egypt, and a smaller, divinely-guided voice (represented by Jeremiah) urging submission to Babylon as God's decreed judgment. In ancient Near Eastern courts, prophets often faced severe persecution for delivering messages that contradicted popular sentiment or political expediency. The presence and influence of Ebedmelech, an "Ethiopian eunuch," is particularly noteworthy. Eunuchs frequently held positions of trust and influence in royal administrations, often as foreign officials, as they were perceived as having no dynastic ambitions. Ebedmelech's righteous act, transcending ethnic and social boundaries, highlights the potential for integrity and compassion to emerge from unexpected quarters, even within a corrupt and desperate court.

* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 38:10 profoundly contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Jeremiah and the broader biblical narrative. It powerfully illustrates **Divine Providence and Deliverance**, demonstrating how God sovereignly orchestrates events and uses unlikely individuals to protect His faithful servants, even when they are in the direst peril and abandoned by human institutions. The verse also highlights **Courage and Compassion**, exemplified by Ebedmelech, who risks his own life and standing to advocate for an unjustly persecuted prophet, standing in stark contrast to the fear, self-interest, and malice of many Judahite officials. Furthermore, the passage continues to expose **King Zedekiah's Ambivalence and Weakness**, as he vacillates between seeking God's word through Jeremiah and succumbing to the overwhelming pressure of his princes. This tragic lack of decisive, God-fearing leadership ultimately contributed to Judah's catastrophic downfall and Zedekiah's own grim fate ([Jeremiah 39:5-7](/jeremiah/39-5-7 "Jeremiah 39:5-7 - Zedekiah's Capture and Punishment")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **commanded (Hebrew, _tsâvâh'_):** This primitive root (H6680) signifies an intensive act of constituting, enjoining, appointing, or giving a charge. In this context, it underscores the king's authoritative decree, a formal and binding order that, for once, directly countermanded the malicious intentions of his princes. It was not a mere suggestion but a royal mandate, demonstrating a rare exercise of Zedekiah's ultimate power for a righteous cause.
* **Ebedmelech (Hebrew, _ʻEbed Melek'_):** Derived from the Hebrew words for "servant" and "king" (H5663), this name literally means "servant of the king." While it functions as a personal name, it inherently describes his role and position within the royal court. The profound irony and moral weight lie in the fact that a man whose very name declares his subservience to the king would courageously challenge the powerful princes and speak truth to power, demonstrating a loyalty to a higher principle than mere court politics or self-preservation.
* **dungeon (Hebrew, _bôwr'_):** This term (H953) refers to a pit-hole, specifically one used as a cistern or a prison. As explicitly noted in [Jeremiah 38:6](/jeremiah/38-6 "Jeremiah 38:6 - Jeremiah Cast into the Cistern"), Jeremiah was cast into a "cistern," which was a deep, often miry pit primarily used for water storage, not a typical prison cell. The use of "dungeon" here emphasizes the dire, life-threatening nature of Jeremiah's imprisonment—a place designed for slow death by starvation, exposure, or drowning in the thick mud, rather than a place of temporary, humane confinement.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then the king commanded Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying,"**: This opening clause immediately establishes the direct royal intervention and identifies the key figures involved. It highlights King Zedekiah's authority, which he finally chooses to exercise for good, and introduces Ebedmelech, the courageous official whose plea prompted this command. His identity as "the Ethiopian" (or Cushite) immediately sets him apart as a foreigner, making his righteous and compassionate act even more striking and unexpected within the corrupt Judahite court.
* **"Take from hence thirty men with thee,"**: The king's command specifies the significant resources Ebedmelech is authorized to utilize for the rescue operation. The number "thirty men" indicates a substantial force, sufficient to ensure the success of the mission and to deter or overcome any potential resistance from the princes or others who might oppose Jeremiah's release. This detail underscores the king's commitment to the operation's success and hints at the potential danger involved in retrieving the prophet from such powerful adversaries.
* **"and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon,"**: This is the core directive of the royal command—the explicit order to rescue Jeremiah. The phrase "the prophet" emphasizes Jeremiah's divine calling, a status that Zedekiah, despite his vacillation, acknowledged and respected. The rescue from the "dungeon" (the miry cistern) highlights the desperate and life-threatening situation Jeremiah was in, emphasizing the immediate and urgent need for intervention to save his life.
* **"before he die."**: This concluding phrase reveals the extreme urgency and the king's clear awareness of Jeremiah's perilous condition. It implies that the king fully understood the princes' intention to let Jeremiah perish in the pit and that immediate action was necessary to prevent his death. This urgency underscores the life-or-death stakes involved and Zedekiah's belated but crucial decision to save the prophet, preventing a tragic outcome.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 38:10 employs several significant literary devices that enrich its meaning and impact. **Irony** is profoundly present, as a foreign eunuch, Ebedmelech, demonstrates far greater moral courage, compassion, and righteous initiative than the native Judahite princes and even the indecisive King Zedekiah himself. This highlights the unexpected sources of divine agency and righteousness in a deeply corrupt and faithless society. There is also a powerful **Contrast** between the life-threatening "dungeon"—a symbol of despair, death, and human malice—and the king's command to "take up," which represents a dramatic shift from imminent death to hope and deliverance. The "thirty men" can be seen as **Symbolism**, representing the king's authority and resources finally being mobilized for a righteous cause, standing in stark opposition to the previous misuse of power by the princes who sought Jeremiah's death. The entire scene functions as a **Microcosm** of God's broader providence, demonstrating that even in the darkest moments of human depravity and despair, He raises up unexpected agents to deliver His faithful servants and advance His sovereign purposes.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 38:10 offers a profound theological statement about God's unwavering care for His chosen servants, even when they are abandoned by human authority, face imminent death, and are surrounded by hostility. It powerfully demonstrates that God's providence extends to raising up unlikely and unexpected individuals, like Ebedmelech, to intervene for His purposes. This narrative is a compelling testament to the fact that God is never without a witness or an agent of deliverance, even in the most desperate circumstances, and that His faithfulness will ultimately prevail over human malice, political weakness, and societal corruption. It also underscores the moral imperative for individuals to act with courage and compassion in the face of injustice, regardless of personal risk, social standing, or ethnic background, echoing the call to rescue those unjustly led to death.

* [Proverbs 24:11](/proverbs/24-11 "Proverbs 24:11 - Rescuing the Perishing")
* [Esther 4:14](/est/4-14 "Esther 4:14 - For Such a Time as This")
* [Psalm 34:19](/psalms/34-19 "Psalm 34:19 - Many are the Afflictions of the Righteous")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This passage calls us to profound reflection on the nature of courage, compassion, and divine providence in our own lives and in the broader world. Ebedmelech's actions serve as a powerful challenge, prompting us to consider whether we are willing to speak truth to power and stand up for the vulnerable and unjustly persecuted, even when such actions are unpopular, personally costly, or carry significant risk. His example reminds us that God often uses ordinary individuals, regardless of their background, social status, or perceived influence, to accomplish extraordinary acts of justice and mercy. We are encouraged to cultivate a deep trust in God's sovereign care, knowing that He watches over His faithful and can bring deliverance from the most perilous situations, often through unexpected means and agents. This verse also serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers inherent in indecisive leadership and the critical importance of moral conviction, urging us to cultivate a resolute faith that is not easily swayed by external pressures, fear, or the opinions of others.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might God be calling you to act with courage and compassion in your current circumstances, even if it feels risky or unpopular?**
* **How does Ebedmelech's example challenge your assumptions about who God can use to accomplish His purposes, and where might you be overlooking such instruments in your own life?**
* **When have you experienced God's unexpected deliverance in your life, perhaps through an unlikely person or circumstance, and how did it deepen your faith?**
* **What does King Zedekiah's indecisiveness teach us about the importance of firm moral conviction, both in leadership roles and in our personal walk of faith?**

### FAQ
**Who was Ebedmelech and why is he significant?**

Answer: Ebedmelech was an Ethiopian eunuch and an official in King Zedekiah's court in Jerusalem. He is profoundly significant because he displayed remarkable moral courage and compassion by interceding with King Zedekiah on behalf of the prophet Jeremiah, who had been unjustly cast into a deep, miry dungeon and left to die ([Jeremiah 38:7-9](/jeremiah/38-7-9 "Jeremiah 38:7-9 - Ebedmelech's Plea for Jeremiah")). As a foreigner and a eunuch, he was an outsider, yet he demonstrated more righteousness, integrity, and concern for justice than many of the native Judahite officials. His courageous act of faith and kindness was later divinely rewarded with a promise of personal deliverance from the impending Babylonian siege and destruction of Jerusalem ([Jeremiah 39:15-18](/jeremiah/39-15-18 "Jeremiah 39:15-18 - God's Promise to Ebedmelech")).

**Why was Jeremiah in the dungeon?**

Answer: Jeremiah was cast into the dungeon, specifically a miry cistern, by the princes of Judah because they accused him of undermining the morale of the city's soldiers and people. His prophecies consistently declared that Jerusalem would fall to the Babylonians and that the people should surrender to save their lives, a message seen as treasonous and demoralizing during the desperate siege ([Jeremiah 38:4-6](/jeremiah/38-4-6 "Jeremiah 38:4-6 - The Princes' Accusation Against Jeremiah")). The princes intended for him to die there, likely from starvation, exposure, or by sinking in the thick mud at the bottom of the pit, thus silencing his unpopular divine message.

**What does this verse teach us about King Zedekiah?**

Answer: Jeremiah 38:10, along with other passages in the book of Jeremiah, reveals King Zedekiah as a tragically weak and indecisive ruler. He frequently sought Jeremiah's counsel in private ([Jeremiah 37:17](/jeremiah/37-17 "Jeremiah 37:17 - Zedekiah's Secret Consultations with Jeremiah")), acknowledging the prophet's divine authority and the truth of his words, yet he consistently lacked the resolve and moral fortitude to stand against his powerful and hostile officials. He permitted Jeremiah's initial imprisonment due to their pressure, but when confronted by Ebedmelech's righteous plea, he then commanded Jeremiah's rescue. This vacillation highlights his internal conflict, his fear of man, and his tragic inability to exercise strong, righteous leadership, which ultimately contributed significantly to the downfall of Judah and his own severe punishment ([Jeremiah 39:5-7](/jeremiah/39-5-7 "Jeremiah 39:5-7 - Zedekiah's Capture and Punishment")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah's suffering in the miry pit, his abandonment by those in power, and his eventual deliverance through the unexpected intercession of an outsider powerfully prefigure the ultimate suffering, death, and vindication of Jesus Christ. Just as Jeremiah, the prophet of judgment and lament, was cast into a pit of despair and left for dead, so too did Christ descend into the depths of human suffering and death, bearing the full weight of the world's sin. The "dungeon" for Jeremiah can be seen as a profound type of the grave, the place of ultimate despair and separation, from which there seemed no human escape. Yet, just as Ebedmelech, a "servant of the king" and an outsider, courageously interceded for Jeremiah, so God, in His sovereign love and mercy, raised up the ultimate Deliverer in Jesus Christ. Christ's glorious resurrection from the grave ([Matthew 28:6](/matthew/28-6 "Matthew 28:6 - He is not here, for He has risen!")) is the definitive "taking up" from the pit of death, fulfilling the hope of deliverance for all who are imprisoned by sin and despair. He is the true [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), the one who rescues us from the miry clay of our fallen condition and sets our feet upon the solid rock of salvation ([Psalm 40:2](/psalms/40-2 "Psalm 40:2 - He drew me up from the pit of destruction")). Thus, Jeremiah's rescue is a poignant shadow of the greater salvation wrought by Christ, who, through His suffering, death, and resurrection, offers freedom, life, and eternal hope to all who call upon His name and trust in His finished work ([Romans 10:13](/romans/10-13 "Romans 10:13 - Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved")).

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

Proverbs 21:1

¶ The king's heart [is] in the hand of the LORD, [as] the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

Esther 8:7

Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.

Esther 5:2

And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, [that] she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that [was] in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.

Psalms 75:10

All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; [but] the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.