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.

So Zedekiah {H6667} the king {H4428} sware {H7650} secretly {H5643} unto Jeremiah {H3414}, saying {H559}, As the LORD {H3068} liveth {H2416}, that made {H6213} us this soul {H5315}, I will not put thee to death {H4191}, neither will I give {H5414} thee into the hand {H3027} of these men {H582} that seek {H1245} thy life {H5315}.

So Tzidkiyahu swore secretly to Yirmeyahu, "As ADONAI lives, who gave us our lives, I will not put you to death; nor will I hand you over to these men who want you put to death."

But King Zedekiah swore secretly to Jeremiah, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has given us this life, I will not kill you, nor will I deliver you into the hands of these men who are seeking your life.”

So Zedekiah the king sware secretly unto Jeremiah, saying, As Jehovah 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.

Jeremiah 38:16 captures a pivotal, private moment between King Zedekiah of Judah and the prophet Jeremiah during the final siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. This verse reveals Zedekiah's conflicted state: he seeks divine counsel from Jeremiah but is simultaneously terrified of his own officials and the invading enemy.

Historical and Cultural Context

At this time, Jerusalem was under a severe Babylonian siege. Jeremiah had been prophesying for decades, warning Judah to repent and submit to Babylon as God's instrument of judgment. His message was deeply unpopular with the ruling elite, who viewed him as a traitor and a demoralizing influence. Earlier in chapter 38, these princes had thrown Jeremiah into a deep, miry cistern, intending for him to die there (Jeremiah 38:6). He was rescued by Ebed-melech, a Cushite eunuch, and was then held in the court of the guard. Zedekiah, a weak and indecisive king, secretly consults Jeremiah, acknowledging the prophet's connection to God but lacking the courage to openly follow his advice. This secret oath highlights the intense political pressure and spiritual confusion within the kingdom leading up to Jerusalem's fall.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The King's Fear and Indecision: Zedekiah's oath, made "secretly," underscores his deep fear of his own officials and his inability to make firm decisions based on God's word. He knows Jeremiah speaks truth but is paralyzed by human fear (Proverbs 29:25 warns against the snare of the fear of man).
  • A Solemn Divine Oath: The phrase "As the LORD liveth, that made us this soul" is a profound and binding oath. By invoking God as the living Creator and Giver of life, Zedekiah attempts to assure Jeremiah of his commitment to protect him. This emphasizes the gravity with which such oaths were taken in ancient Israel.
  • Divine Protection for the Prophet: Despite being hated and persecuted, Jeremiah is continually protected by God's providence, even through the reluctant and fearful actions of the king. God ensures His prophet survives to deliver His message.
  • The Cost of Compromise: While Zedekiah promises protection, his refusal to publicly embrace Jeremiah's message and act decisively on God's command ultimately leads to the tragic downfall of Jerusalem and his own capture (Jeremiah 39:5).

Linguistic Insights

The oath "As the LORD liveth, that made us this soul" (Hebrew: חַי-יְהוָה אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה-לָּנוּ אֶת-הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַזֹּאת, Chai Yahweh asher asah-lanu et-ha-nefesh hazot) is exceptionally strong. The phrase "As the LORD liveth" (חַי-יְהוָה, Chai Yahweh) is a common, powerful affirmation of truth and commitment, invoking God's very existence. The addition "that made us this soul" further deepens the oath, appealing to God as the ultimate Giver of life and implying that the oath-taker's own life is forfeit if the promise is broken. It highlights God's sovereignty over life itself and the profound responsibility of an oath made in His name.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers of indecision and the fear of man. Zedekiah's secret assurance to Jeremiah, while seemingly protective, reveals a deeper spiritual weakness. For believers today, it challenges us to consider:

  • Are we willing to stand for truth, even when it is unpopular or costly?
  • Do we prioritize human approval and fear of consequences over obedience to God's clear word?
  • God's protection extends to His servants even in the most perilous circumstances. We can trust in His faithfulness to shield and sustain us as we walk in His will.
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 37:17

    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.

  • 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,

  • 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.

  • Isaiah 57:16

    For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls [which] I have made.

  • John 3:2

    The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

  • Zechariah 12:1

    ¶ The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.

  • Numbers 27:16

    Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,

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