Jeremiah 38:20

But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver [thee]. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the LORD, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live.

But Jeremiah {H3414} said {H559}, They shall not deliver {H5414} thee. Obey {H8085}, I beseech thee, the voice {H6963} of the LORD {H3068}, which I speak {H1696} unto thee: so it shall be well {H3190} unto thee, and thy soul {H5315} shall live {H2421}.

Yirmeyahu answered, "They won't hand you over. I beg you, listen to the voice of ADONAI concerning what I'm telling you about; then it will go well with you, and you will live.

“They will not hand you over,” Jeremiah replied. “Obey the voice of the LORD in what I am telling you, that it may go well with you and you may live.

But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of Jehovah, in that which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well with thee, and thy soul shall live.

Jeremiah 38:20 presents a pivotal moment in the life of King Zedekiah and the prophet Jeremiah, encapsulating Jeremiah's consistent message of obedience to God's will as the path to preservation amidst impending destruction. It highlights the stark choice between fearful human strategy and divine counsel.

Context

This verse is set during the final, desperate days of the Kingdom of Judah, specifically during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. King Zedekiah, a weak and indecisive ruler, secretly consults Jeremiah, who is imprisoned but still delivering God's challenging message. Zedekiah fears that if he follows Jeremiah's advice to surrender to the Babylonians, he will be handed over to the Jews who had already defected, and they would mock him. Jeremiah's response in this verse directly addresses Zedekiah's fear, assuring him that his perceived danger from his own people is unfounded if he simply obeys the Lord.

Key Themes

  • The Call to Obedience: The core of Jeremiah's message is a direct command to "Obey... the voice of the LORD." This emphasizes that true safety and well-being come not from human machinations or political alliances, but from aligning oneself with God's revealed will.
  • Divine Promise of Protection: Jeremiah offers a clear consequence of obedience: "so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live." This promise of peace and life is contingent upon Zedekiah's willingness to trust God's plan, even when it seems counterintuitive or humiliating from a worldly perspective.
  • Fear vs. Faith: Zedekiah's predicament is a classic illustration of a leader paralyzed by fear of man rather than fear of God. Jeremiah urges him to overcome this fear with faith in God's protective hand, reminding us that the fear of man brings a snare.
  • Prophetic Authority: Jeremiah speaks with unwavering authority, not as his own opinion, but as the direct "voice of the LORD." This underscores the weight and truthfulness of his counsel, indicating that rejecting it is tantamount to rejecting God Himself.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "it shall be well unto thee" translates from the Hebrew root shalom (שָׁלוֹם), which means much more than just absence of conflict. It encompasses a holistic sense of peace, completeness, welfare, prosperity, and well-being. For Zedekiah, it meant not just physical survival but also a state of peace and harmony with God, even amidst national defeat. "And thy soul shall live" refers to the preservation of his very life, both physically and in a broader sense of a continued existence under God's favor.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 38:20 serves as a timeless reminder that difficult circumstances often require radical obedience to God's voice, even when it contradicts our fears or worldly logic.

  • Trusting God's Guidance: We are often faced with choices where God's path seems challenging or unpopular. This verse encourages us to trust that His way, though perhaps difficult, ultimately leads to true peace and life. As it is written, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."
  • Overcoming Fear: Like Zedekiah, we can be paralyzed by fear of human judgment, failure, or loss. Jeremiah's counsel calls us to prioritize God's command above all earthly anxieties, promising divine protection and blessing for such obedience.
  • The Promise of Life: The assurance "thy soul shall live" extends beyond mere physical preservation to spiritual vitality and eternal life. Obedience to God's voice is intrinsically linked to experiencing the abundant life He offers, both now and in eternity.

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.

  • Daniel 4:27

    Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.

  • Jeremiah 26:13

    Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you.

  • Isaiah 55:3

    Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, [even] the sure mercies of David.

  • 2 Chronicles 20:20

    ¶ And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

  • Acts 26:29

    And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:11

    Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

  • Jeremiah 11:4

    Which I commanded your fathers in the day [that] I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God:

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