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.

Then thou shalt say {H559} unto them, I presented {H5307} my supplication {H8467} before {H6440} the king {H4428}, that he would not cause me to return {H7725} to Jonathan's {H3083} house {H1004}, to die {H4191} there.

then tell them, 'I presented my request to the king that he would not make me return to Y'honatan's house, to die there.'"

then tell them, ‘I was presenting to the king my petition that he not return me to the house of Jonathan to die there.’”

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.

Jeremiah 38:26 (KJV) records a specific instruction given by King Zedekiah to the prophet Jeremiah. Following a secret meeting where Jeremiah advised the king to surrender to the Babylonians to save Jerusalem, Zedekiah, fearing his own officials, instructed Jeremiah to fabricate a reason for their meeting. Jeremiah was to tell the princes that he had merely pleaded with the king not to send him back to the dreadful prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe, where he had almost died.

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse is set during the final siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonian army, a time of immense national crisis and spiritual decline for the kingdom of Judah. King Zedekiah, a weak and indecisive ruler, was caught between the prophet Jeremiah's divine messages and the strong anti-Babylonian sentiment of his princes and officials. Jeremiah had been consistently prophesying Jerusalem's fall and advocating surrender, which was seen as treason by many. Consequently, he faced severe persecution, including being cast into a miry pit (Jeremiah 38:6).

The "Jonathan's house" mentioned refers to a specific house that had been converted into a prison, described elsewhere as a dungeon (Jeremiah 37:15). Jeremiah's previous imprisonment there was so severe that his life was in danger, making his plea to avoid returning a credible and relatable excuse for the princes.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Jeremiah's Suffering and Resilience: The verse highlights the prophet's ongoing hardship and the threat to his life, even as he faithfully delivers God's message. His plea to avoid Jonathan's house underscores the harshness of his previous imprisonment.
  • King Zedekiah's Fear and Weakness: Zedekiah's instruction to Jeremiah reveals his profound fear of his own officials and his inability to stand firm in the face of political pressure, despite knowing Jeremiah's words were from God.
  • The Ethical Dilemma: Jeremiah is placed in a morally complex situation, instructed by the king to give a partial truth or deception. This raises questions about obedience to authority versus absolute truthfulness, particularly when life is at stake. The narrative emphasizes the king's directive, not Jeremiah's initiative.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "supplication" here is tĕḥinnâ (תְּחִנָּה), which signifies a plea for favor, mercy, or grace, often made earnestly. It emphasizes the humble and urgent nature of Jeremiah's request, which was indeed a genuine desire given the life-threatening conditions of Jonathan's house. This word is also used in other contexts for prayers or petitions to God.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 38:26 offers several lessons for believers today:

  • Enduring Persecution: Jeremiah's experience reminds us that faithfulness to God's truth can lead to suffering and opposition, even from those in power. It encourages perseverance amidst adversity, trusting in God's ultimate protection, as seen in Jeremiah's rescue from the pit (Jeremiah 38:13).
  • The Dangers of Fear of Man: King Zedekiah's actions serve as a cautionary tale against allowing the fear of human disapproval or consequences to override obedience to divine truth. His indecisiveness ultimately led to tragic outcomes for himself and his kingdom.
  • Navigating Difficult Situations: While the Bible calls for truthfulness, this passage illustrates the complexities of life under oppressive regimes or in situations where one's life is directly threatened. Jeremiah's compliance with the king's command was a means of survival in a desperate situation, highlighting the nuanced challenges faced by God's servants in a fallen world.
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 37:20

    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.

  • Jeremiah 37:15

    Wherefore the princes were wroth with Jeremiah, and smote him, and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe: for they had made that the prison.

  • Jeremiah 42:2

    And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, [even] for all this remnant; (for we are left [but] a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:)

  • Esther 4:8

    Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew [it] unto Esther, and to declare [it] unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.

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