Go and speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be [accomplished] in that day before thee.
Go {H1980} and speak {H559} to Ebedmelech {H5663} the Ethiopian {H3569}, saying {H559}, Thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068} of hosts {H6635}, the God {H430} of Israel {H3478}; Behold, I will bring {H935} my words {H1697} upon this city {H5892} for evil {H7451}, and not for good {H2896}; and they shall be accomplished in that day {H3117} before {H6440} thee.
"Go and tell 'Eved-Melekh the Ethiopian that ADONAI-Tzva'ot, the God of Isra'el, says: '"I am about to fulfill my words about this city for disaster, not for good; when the day arrives, they will come true before your eyes.
“Go and tell Ebed-melech the Cushite that this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘I am about to fulfill My words against this city for harm and not for good, and on that day they will be fulfilled before your eyes.
Go, and speak to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished before thee in that day.
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Daniel 9:12
And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem. -
Zechariah 1:6
But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us. -
Psalms 91:8
Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. -
Psalms 91:9
¶ Because thou hast made the LORD, [which is] my refuge, [even] the most High, thy habitation; -
Jeremiah 36:31
And I will punish him and his seed and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring upon them, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and upon the men of Judah, all the evil that I have pronounced against them; but they hearkened not. -
Jeremiah 21:7
And afterward, saith the LORD, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life: and he shall smite them with the edge of the sword; he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy. -
Jeremiah 21:10
For I have set my face against this city for evil, and not for good, saith the LORD: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.
Jeremiah 39:16 delivers a specific divine message from the LORD to Ebed-melech, the Ethiopian eunuch, through the prophet Jeremiah. This verse comes at a pivotal moment, as Jerusalem is on the brink of falling to the Babylonians. It confirms the LORD's unwavering intention to bring judgment upon the city, while subtly setting the stage for Ebed-melech's personal deliverance due to his faithfulness.
Context
This verse is situated during the final days of Jerusalem's siege by Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian army, a time of immense national crisis and the fulfillment of Jeremiah's long-standing prophecies of doom. Ebed-melech, a Cushite (Ethiopian) eunuch and an official in King Zedekiah's palace, had previously demonstrated courage and compassion by rescuing the prophet Jeremiah from a miry pit where he had been left to die (Jeremiah 38:7-13). This message from God is a direct response to Ebed-melech's righteous act, assuring him of his safety amidst the impending destruction that will befall the city of Jerusalem. The "words upon this city for evil" refer to the long-prophesied calamities and destruction.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word translated "evil" here is ra'ah (רָעָה), which can mean moral evil, but in this context, it clearly signifies disaster, calamity, or misfortune, as opposed to "good" (tov, טוֹב). This distinction is crucial for understanding that God is bringing about decreed consequences, not acting maliciously. The title "LORD of hosts" (Yahweh Sabaoth, יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת) emphasizes God's omnipotence and supreme authority as the commander of heavenly armies, underscoring the certainty of His pronouncements.
Practical Application
Jeremiah 39:16 reminds us that God's word is powerful and unfailing. Whether it is a word of warning, judgment, or promise, it will be accomplished. For believers today, this reinforces the trustworthiness of God's character and His promises. It also encourages us to live righteously, knowing that God sees and remembers acts of faith and compassion, even when they go unnoticed by others. Just as Ebed-melech's kindness was rewarded with deliverance, God continues to extend grace and protection to those who trust in Him and obey His commands, even when surrounded by turmoil.