Back to Jeremiah 39

Jeremiah 39:16-18

“Go, and speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, ‘Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I will bring my words on this city for evil, and not for good; and they will be accomplished before you in that day. But I will deliver you in that day,” says Yahweh; “and you will not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. For I will surely save you, and you won’t fall by the sword, but you will escape with your life; because you have put your trust in me,” says Yahweh.’ ”

World English Bible · Public Domain
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Jeremiah 39:16-18 sits inside this longer paragraph.

Now Yahweh’s word came to Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the guard, saying, “Go, and speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, ‘Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I will bring my words on this city for evil, and not for good; and they will be accomplished before you in that day. But I will deliver you in that day,” says Yahweh; “and you will not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. For I will surely save you, and you won’t fall by the sword, but you will escape with your life; because you have put your trust in me,” says Yahweh.’ ”

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    “Go, and speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, ‘Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I will bring my words on this city for evil, and not for good; and they will be accomplished before you in that day.

    But I will deliver you in that day,” says Yahweh; “and you will not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid.

    For I will surely save you, and you won’t fall by the sword, but you will escape with your life; because you have put your trust in me,” says Yahweh.’ ”

  • KJV King James Version

    Go and speak to Ebed-melech 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.

    But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the LORD: and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid.

    For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD.

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  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    'Go, and speak to Ebed-melech 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 before thee in that day.

    But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the LORD; and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid.

    For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee; because thou hast put thy trust in Me, saith the LORD.'

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Cross-references (51)

  • Psalms 34:22 (v18) Yahweh redeems the soul of his servants. None of those who take refuge in him shall be condemned.
  • Jeremiah 38:2 (v18) “Yahweh says, ‘He who remains in this city will die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence; but he who goes out to the…
  • Jeremiah 21:9 (v18) He who remains in this city will die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence; but he who goes out and passes over to the…
  • Ephesians 1:12 (v18) to the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ.
  • Psalms 41:1-2 (v17) Blessed is he who considers the poor. Yahweh will deliver him in the day of evil. Yahweh will preserve him, and keep him alive. He shall be…
Show all 51 cross-references
  • Psalms 50:15 (v17) Call on me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
  • Psalms 84:12 (v18) Yahweh of Armies, blessed is the man who trusts in you.
  • 1 Chronicles 5:20 (v18) They were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all who were with them; for they cried to God in the…
  • Psalms 91:14-15 (v17) “Because he has set his love on me, therefore I will deliver him. I will set him on high, because he has known my name. He will call on me,…
  • Psalms 147:11 (v18) Yahweh takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his loving kindness.
  • 2 Samuel 24:14 (v17) David said to Gad, “I am in distress. Let us fall now into Yahweh’s hand; for his mercies are great. Let me not fall into man’s hand.”
  • Jeremiah 1:19 (v17) They will fight against you, but they will not prevail against you; for I am with you”, says Yahweh, “to rescue you.”
  • Genesis 15:1 (v17) After these things Yahweh’s word came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great…
  • Psalms 33:18 (v18) Behold, Yahweh’s eye is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his loving kindness,
  • Psalms 37:3 (v18) Trust in Yahweh, and do good. Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture.
  • Psalms 37:39-40 (v18) But the salvation of the righteous is from Yahweh. He is their stronghold in the time of trouble. Yahweh helps them and rescues them. He…
  • Psalms 146:3-6 (v18) Don’t put your trust in princes, in a son of man in whom there is no help. His spirit departs, and he returns to the earth. In that very…
  • Jeremiah 38:9 (v17) “My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon. He is…
  • Job 5:19-21 (v17) He will deliver you in six troubles; yes, in seven no evil will touch you. In famine he will redeem you from death; in war, from the power…
  • Psalms 2:12 (v18) Give sincere homage to the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish on the way, for his wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all those who…
  • Isaiah 26:3 (v18) You will keep whoever’s mind is steadfast in perfect peace, because he trusts in you.
  • Jeremiah 17:7-8 (v18) “Blessed is the man who trusts in Yahweh, and whose confidence is in Yahweh. For he will be as a tree planted by the waters, who spreads…
  • Jeremiah 45:4-5 (v18) “You shall tell him, Yahweh says: ‘Behold, that which I have built, I will break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up; and…
  • Daniel 9:12 (v16) He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us, and against our judges who judged us, by bringing on us a great evil; for under the…
  • 2 Timothy 1:16-18 (v17) May the Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain, but when he was in Rome,…
  • 1 Peter 1:21 (v18) who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead, and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope might be in God.
  • Jeremiah 38:1 (v17) Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashhur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur the son of Malchijah, heard the…
  • Daniel 6:16 (v17) Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Your God whom you…
  • Matthew 10:40-42 (v17) He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will…
  • Matthew 25:40 (v17) “The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
  • Romans 2:12 (v18) For as many as have sinned without the law will also perish without the law. As many as have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.
  • Zechariah 1:6 (v16) But my words and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, didn’t they overtake your fathers? “Then they repented and said,…
  • Joshua 23:14-15 (v16) “Behold, today I am going the way of all the earth. You know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all…
  • 2 Chronicles 36:21 (v16) to fulfill Yahweh’s word by Jeremiah’s mouth, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. As long as it lay desolate, it kept Sabbath, to…
  • Psalms 91:8-9 (v16) You will only look with your eyes, and see the recompense of the wicked. Because you have made Yahweh your refuge, and the Most High your…
  • Psalms 92:11 (v16) My eye has also seen my enemies. My ears have heard of the wicked enemies who rise up against me.
  • Jeremiah 5:14 (v16) Therefore Yahweh, the God of Armies says, “Because you speak this word, behold, I will make my words in your mouth fire, and this people…
  • Jeremiah 19:11-12 (v16) and shall tell them, ‘Yahweh of Armies says: “Even so I will break this people and this city, as one breaks a potter’s vessel, that can’t…
  • Jeremiah 21:7-10 (v16) Afterward,” says Yahweh, “I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, his servants, and the people, even those who are left in this city from…
  • Jeremiah 24:8-10 (v16) “ ‘As the bad figs, which can’t be eaten, they are so bad,’ surely Yahweh says, ‘So I will give up Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his…
  • Jeremiah 26:15 (v16) Only know for certain that, if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood on yourselves, on this city, and on its inhabitants; for…
  • Jeremiah 26:18 (v16) “Micah the Morashtite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah; and he spoke to all the people of Judah, saying, ‘Yahweh of Armies…
  • Jeremiah 26:20 (v16) There was also a man who prophesied in Yahweh’s name, Uriah the son of Shemaiah of Kiriath Jearim; and he prophesied against this city and…
  • Jeremiah 32:28-29 (v16) Therefore Yahweh says: Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the Chaldeans, and into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon,…
  • Jeremiah 34:2-3 (v16) “Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, ‘Go, and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah, and tell him, Yahweh says, “Behold, I will give this city into…
  • Jeremiah 34:22 (v16) Behold, I will command,” says Yahweh, “and cause them to return to this city. They will fight against it, take it, and burn it with fire. I…
  • Jeremiah 35:17 (v16) “Therefore Yahweh, the God of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Behold, I will bring on Judah and on all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all…
  • Jeremiah 36:31 (v16) I will punish him, his offspring, and his servants for their iniquity. I will bring on them, on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and on the…
  • Jeremiah 38:7-13 (v16) Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, a eunuch, who was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon (the king was…
  • Jeremiah 44:28-29 (v16) Those who escape the sword will return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah few in number. All the remnant of Judah, who have…
  • Matthew 24:35 (v16) Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (16 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain On vv16–18 The word Ethiopian is now repeated, because God intended,…

The word Ethiopian is now repeated, because God intended, in the person of an alien indirectly to reprove the Jews; for no doubt they despised him, because he was not of the holy seed of Abraham. But God shews that he peculiarly regarded him, while he rejected the masked and hypocritical children of Abraham, who were only born of him according to the flesh, but had, by their impiety, renounced him, so that they were wholly unworthy of so high an honor.

And he says, Go and say, Behold, I am bringing my words on this city for evil and not for good; and they shall be before thee in that day. We conclude, from these words, that this was spoken to Ebedmelech before the city was taken by the Chaldeans, in order that he might remain quietly at home, and not flee away with the king, who, as we have seen, tried to escape. God then intended to strengthen the confidence of Ebedmelech, so that he might not fear and tremble like others, and expose himself to death, in trying to secure his safety. For this is the design of all God’s promises, even to keep us from being disturbed, to give us quietness of mind, and to cause us to look for the help promised to us. For we know that when fear lays hold on our minds, there is no settled purpose, but we are harassed by disquietude, and, as it were, tossed to and fro. It was therefore God’s design to bring aid beforehand, so that Ebedmelech might not, with others, be hurried into despair. He says, Behold, I am bringing, etc. God here confirms Ebedmelech in the truth, that he would be the author of the calamity; for had Jerusalem been taken by chance, Ebedmelech might justly have feared; but when he was taught that it was to happen through God’s just judgment he would feel sure of his safety; for it would be in the power of the same God to save one man and even many, while he was destroying the whole people. This, then, is the reason why God declared that he was bringing his words for evil and not for good; for except Ebedmelech had been convinced that the city and its inhabitants were in God’s hand and power, he could never have been led to entertain good hope; but when he knew that the city would perish through the righteous vengeance of God, he would then be fully confident as to his own safety; for God promised to preserve him in the midst of the common ruin.

Read full note →

He says, Thou shalt see, my words shall be before thee, as though he had said, “Thou shalt be an eye-witness of my power.” It was indeed necessary, as I have said, that Ebedmelech should see God’s hand in the destruction of the city and people; for he would ever have vacillated, and would have known no rest, had he not before his eyes the hand and the vengeance of God, This is one thing. But as to the words, I am bringing my words for evil and not for good, we have explained them elsewhere. The word evil does not mean sin here, but according to a common usage, evil is said to be whatever men regard as adverse to them; so all punishments inflicted by God are called evils, as we find in Isaiah,

“I am God, who create light and darkness, life and death, good and evil.” (Isaiah 45:7)

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v18 Thus God recompensed his zeal and favor, which he…
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv16–18 Jer 39:16 Go and speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian,…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv16–18 Ebed-melech is here again called the
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv16–18 Go and speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopians,.... Not that…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv16, 18 Verse 16. Go and speak to Ebed-melech] The king's…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv17–18 Of whom thou art afraid - The Chaldaeans. Ebed-melech…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On v18 Saved. Hebrew, "a booty," chap. xxi. 9. Thus God…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv16–18 Go--not literally, for he was in confinement, but figuratively.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv16–17 16. Go and speak — This language suggests that…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv17–18 17. the men of whom thou art afraid] meaning…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On v16 (16) Go and speak to Ebed-melech.—It lies in the…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv16, 18 Go and speak. Ebed-melech must be supposed to come…
Alexander MacLaren 1905 · Public Domain On v18
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v18 (See Scofield "Psa 2:12").
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v17 General Information:
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