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Jeremiah 38:6

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Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that [was] in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon [there was] no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.

Then took {H3947} they Jeremiah {H3414}, and cast {H7993} him into the dungeon {H953} of Malchiah {H4441} the son {H1121} of Hammelech {H4428}, that was in the court {H2691} of the prison {H4307}: and they let down {H7971} Jeremiah {H3414} with cords {H2256}. And in the dungeon {H953} there was no water {H4325}, but mire {H2916}: so Jeremiah {H3414} sunk {H2883} in the mire {H2916}.

Then they took Yirmeyahu and threw him into the cistern of Malkiyahu the king's son, which was in the guards' quarters; they let down Yirmeyahu into it with ropes. In the pit there was no water, but there was mud; and Yirmeyahu sank into the mud.

So they took Jeremiah and dropped him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king’s son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah with ropes into the cistern, which had no water but only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud.

Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchijah the king’s son, that was in the court of the guard: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire; and Jeremiah sank in the mire.

Commentary

Jeremiah 38:6 vividly describes the prophet Jeremiah's dire situation, illustrating the extreme lengths to which his adversaries went to silence his unpopular prophecies. This verse portrays his literal descent into a life-threatening pit, filled not with water, but with thick, suffocating mire.

Context

This event occurs during the final days of the Kingdom of Judah, as Jerusalem is under siege by the Babylonian army. Jeremiah had consistently delivered God's message of impending judgment and advised King Zedekiah and the people to surrender to Babylon, a message deemed treasonous by many officials. Just prior to this verse, the princes of Judah accused Jeremiah of weakening the hands of the soldiers and the people by speaking such words (Jeremiah 38:4). King Zedekiah, though sympathetic to Jeremiah, was weak and yielded to their demands, allowing them to do with the prophet as they wished. The "dungeon of Malchiah" was likely a disused cistern, a common feature in ancient Middle Eastern cities, often used for water storage but here repurposed as a prison, highlighting the cruelty and desperation of his captors.

Key Themes

  • Persecution of God's Messengers: Jeremiah's suffering is a powerful example of the opposition faced by those who faithfully deliver God's truth, especially when that truth is uncomfortable or goes against popular opinion. His experience echoes the struggles of many prophets throughout history.
  • Extreme Suffering and Desperation: The description of "no water, but mire" and Jeremiah sinking in it emphasizes the profound physical and psychological distress he endured. It was a slow, agonizing form of death designed to silence him completely.
  • Faithfulness Under Duress: Despite the immense personal cost, Jeremiah remained steadfast in his prophetic calling, demonstrating remarkable courage and obedience to God's word, even when it led to such severe punishment.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "dungeon" here is bor (בּוֹר), which typically refers to a cistern or pit, often dug into the earth or rock to collect rainwater. This perfectly explains why there was "no water, but mire" (ṭîṭ, טִיט). The presence of mire, or thick mud, indicates a pit that had either collected runoff or was partially filled with sewage, making it a particularly vile and dangerous place. The phrase "sunk in the mire" vividly conveys the prophet's helplessness and the life-threatening nature of his confinement.

Practical Application

Jeremiah's ordeal in the miry pit serves as a poignant reminder for believers today:

  • The Cost of Truth: Standing for biblical truth may bring opposition, even from those in power. We are called to speak God's word faithfully, regardless of the consequences (2 Timothy 4:2).
  • God's Presence in Suffering: Even in the deepest pits of despair, God is aware of His servants' plight. Though this verse highlights the suffering, the subsequent verses in Jeremiah 38 describe his miraculous rescue, illustrating God's faithfulness to His own (Psalm 40:2 speaks of being drawn out of a horrible pit and miry clay).
  • Empathy and Action: This account should stir compassion for those who suffer for their faith and inspire us to act on behalf of the persecuted.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 37:21 (5 votes)

    Then Zedekiah the king commanded that they should commit Jeremiah into the court of the prison, and that they should give him daily a piece of bread out of the bakers' street, until all the bread in the city were spent. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.

  • Psalms 69:2 (4 votes)

    I sink in deep mire, where [there is] no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.

  • Psalms 69:14 (4 votes)

    Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.

  • Psalms 69:15 (4 votes)

    Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.

  • Jeremiah 38:22 (4 votes)

    And, behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah's house [shall be] brought forth to the king of Babylon's princes, and those [women] shall say, Thy friends have set thee on, and have prevailed against thee: thy feet are sunk in the mire, [and] they are turned away back.

  • Jeremiah 37:16 (4 votes)

    When Jeremiah was entered into the dungeon, and into the cabins, and Jeremiah had remained there many days;

  • Zechariah 9:11 (3 votes)

    As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein [is] no water.