Even they sent, and took Jeremiah out of the court of the prison, and committed him unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, that he should carry him home: so he dwelt among the people.
Even they sent {H7971}, and took {H3947} Jeremiah {H3414} out of the court {H2691} of the prison {H4307}, and committed {H5414} him unto Gedaliah {H1436} the son {H1121} of Ahikam {H296} the son {H1121} of Shaphan {H8227}, that he should carry {H3318} him home {H1004}: so he dwelt {H3427} among {H8432} the people {H5971}.
sent to have Yirmeyahu taken out of the guards' quarters; they committed him to the care of G'dalyahu the son of Achikam, the son of Shafan, to be brought home. There he lived among the people.
had Jeremiah brought from the courtyard of the guard, and they turned him over to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to take him home. So Jeremiah remained among his own people.
they sent, and took Jeremiah out of the court of the guard, and committed him unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, that he should carry him home. So he dwelt among the people.
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Jeremiah 38:28
So Jeremiah abode in the court of the prison until the day that Jerusalem was taken: and he was [there] when Jerusalem was taken. -
2 Kings 25:22
¶ And [as for] the people that remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, even over them he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, ruler. -
2 Kings 25:25
But it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, came, and ten men with him, and smote Gedaliah, that he died, and the Jews and the Chaldees that were with him at Mizpah. -
Jeremiah 26:24
Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death. -
2 Kings 22:12
And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king's, saying, -
Jeremiah 40:1
¶ The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all that were carried away captive of Jerusalem and Judah, which were carried away captive unto Babylon. -
Jeremiah 41:3
Ishmael also slew all the Jews that were with him, [even] with Gedaliah, at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans that were found there, [and] the men of war.
Jeremiah 39:14 describes a pivotal moment in the life of the prophet Jeremiah following the devastating fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians. This verse highlights the unexpected mercy shown to Jeremiah amidst the chaos and destruction.
Context
The city of Jerusalem has just been conquered and destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. King Zedekiah has been captured, and the elite of Judah are being exiled. Jeremiah, who had faithfully prophesied the city's doom and advised surrender, had been imprisoned by King Zedekiah for his unpopular messages (see Jeremiah 38:6). However, King Nebuchadnezzar himself had issued a specific command regarding Jeremiah's welfare, recognizing his unique role and possibly his accurate prophecies (Jeremiah 39:11-12). This verse details the execution of that command: Babylonian officials were sent to release Jeremiah from the "court of the prison" where he was being held.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "court of the prison" (KJV) refers to an area within the royal palace grounds where Jeremiah was confined, indicating his status as a political prisoner rather than a common criminal. The term "committed him unto Gedaliah" emphasizes the formal transfer of responsibility and care, ensuring Jeremiah's safety and allowing him to return "home" and "dwell among the people," signifying his continued presence in the land of Judah rather than being exiled to Babylon.
Practical Application
Jeremiah 39:14 offers powerful lessons for believers today: