Jeremiah 40:4

And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which [were] upon thine hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come; and I will look well unto thee: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land [is] before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go.

And now, behold, I loose {H6605} thee this day {H3117} from the chains {H246} which were upon thine hand {H3027}. If it seem good {H2896}{H5869} unto thee to come {H935} with me into Babylon {H894}, come {H935}; and I will look well {H7760}{H5869} unto thee: but if it seem ill {H7489}{H5869} unto thee to come {H935} with me into Babylon {H894}, forbear {H2308}: behold {H7200}, all the land {H776} is before {H6440} thee: whither it seemeth {H413} good {H2896} and convenient {H3477}{H5869} for thee to go {H3212}, thither go {H3212}.

Now, today, I am freeing you from the chains on your hand. If it seems good to you to come with me to Bavel, come; and I will look after you well. But if it seems not good to you to come with me to Bavel, then don't - the entire land is in front of you: wherever it seems good and right for you to go, go there."

But now, behold, I am freeing you today from the chains that were on your wrists. If it pleases you to come with me to Babylon, then come, and I will take care of you. But if it seems wrong to you to come with me to Babylon, go no farther. Look, the whole land is before you. Wherever it seems good and right to you, go there.”

And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which are upon thy hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come, and I will look well unto thee; but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land is before thee; whither it seemeth good and right unto thee to go, thither go.

Commentary on Jeremiah 40:4

Jeremiah 40:4 marks a pivotal moment for the prophet Jeremiah amidst the devastating aftermath of Jerusalem's fall to Babylon. This verse records the words of Nebuzaradan, captain of Nebuchadnezzar's guard, to Jeremiah. The city has been conquered, the temple destroyed, and the people are being led into exile. Jeremiah, who had been imprisoned for prophesying Jerusalem's destruction and urging submission to Babylon, was found among the captives in chains.

Context

Following the brutal siege and destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC, the Babylonian forces under Nebuchadnezzar were rounding up the remaining population for deportation. Jeremiah, though a prophet of God, had been seen by many in Judah as a traitor because he consistently preached that God's will was for them to surrender to Babylon (see Jeremiah 38:17-18). Ironically, this stance led to his favor with the Babylonians. Nebuzaradan, aware of Jeremiah's prophecies and his counsel to the Judeans, singles him out for special treatment. This act highlights a remarkable instance of divine providence, as God protects His messenger even through the hands of an enemy.

Key Themes

  • Divine Protection & Providence: Even in the midst of national catastrophe and personal suffering, God's hand is evident in preserving His prophet. Jeremiah, who had faced immense persecution from his own people (Jeremiah 37:15-16), now receives unexpected kindness and freedom from his captors.
  • Freedom of Choice: Nebuzaradan offers Jeremiah a genuine choice: to go to Babylon where he would be cared for, or to remain in the desolate land of Judah. This contrasts sharply with the forced exile of the vast majority of the Judean population. The phrase "whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go" emphasizes the complete liberty given to Jeremiah.
  • Unexpected Grace: The offer of freedom and provision from the very empire that had just destroyed his nation is a testament to God's unexpected ways of working. It demonstrates that God can use even foreign powers to accomplish His purposes and protect His servants.
  • Aftermath of Judgment: The verse also subtly paints a picture of the ruined land. The choice to remain implies staying in a devastated, leaderless territory, yet it was still "all the land before thee."

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase translated "I will look well unto thee" (Hebrew: ve'samti 'eyni 'aleyka) literally means "I will set my eye upon you for good." This conveys a strong sense of personal care, watchfulness, and provision, assuring Jeremiah that he would be well-provided for and protected if he chose to go to Babylon. The word "forbear" (Hebrew: chadal) means to cease, refrain, or hold back, giving Jeremiah the clear option to decline the invitation to Babylon without negative consequences.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 40:4 reminds us that even in the darkest times, God remains faithful to His people. It teaches us to recognize God's hand in unexpected places and through unlikely individuals. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of making choices, even when faced with difficult circumstances. Jeremiah's situation underscores that God often grants us agency, and while He guides, we are called to discern and act on the path that seems "good and convenient" in light of His revealed will and our own conscience.

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 39:11

    ¶ Now Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying,

  • Jeremiah 39:12

    Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee.

  • Genesis 20:15

    And Abimelech said, Behold, my land [is] before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.

  • Genesis 13:9

    [Is] not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if [thou wilt take] the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if [thou depart] to the right hand, then I will go to the left.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back