Jeremiah Cast into a Cistern
Jeremiah 38:1-13
Jer.38.1 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וישמע: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- שפטיה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מתן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וגדליהו: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- פשחור: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויוכל: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שלמיהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ופשחור: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלכיה: NOUN,m,pl,abs+SUFF:3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- הדברים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- ירמיהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מדבר: VERB,qal,ptc,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- כל: DET
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
Parallels
- Jeremiah 37:3 (structural): Same group of royal officials (including Jucal/Yucal son of Shelemiah and Pashhur son of Malchiah) appear earlier; there they press the king about Jeremiah — shows continuity of opposition from the court.
- Jeremiah 38:4–6 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation: these officials demand Jeremiah’s execution and ultimately have him thrown into a cistern — direct unfolding of the response to what they heard in 38:1.
- Jeremiah 26:8–11 (thematic): Priests, prophets, and elders seek to arrest and punish Jeremiah for his prophecies to the people — parallels the pattern of official hostility and attempts to silence the prophet.
- Jeremiah 20:1–2 (verbal): Pashhur (a priestly official) violently opposes and punishes Jeremiah for his prophecies; the recurrence of the name Pashhur and similar hostile action highlights recurring official persecution of Jeremiah.
Alternative generated candidates
- Now Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jucal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malchiah heard the words that Jeremiah spoke to all the people, saying,
- Now when Shephatiah son of Mattan and Gedaliah son of Pashhur and Jucal son of Shelemiah and Pashhur son of Malchiah heard the words that Jeremiah spoke to all the people, saying,
Jer.38.2 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- כה: ADV
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- הישב: PTCP,qal,act,ms,sg,def
- בעיר: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- הזאת: DEM,f,sg,def
- ימות: VERB,qal,juss,3,m,sg
- בחרב: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ברעב: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ובדבר: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- והיצא: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- הכשדים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- וחיה: VERB,qal,juss,2,m,sg
- והיתה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- נפשו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- לשלל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וחי: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Jeremiah 21:9 (verbal): Uses the same judgment-triad (“by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence”) and declares the city will be given into the hand of the Babylonians — a near-verbatim or closely parallel prophetic formula.
- Jeremiah 34:4 (thematic): God threatens to hand Jerusalem and its inhabitants over to the king of Babylon so they will be taken away or slain — a parallel threat of capture and death by enemy action.
- Jeremiah 39:4-7 (structural): Narrative fulfillment of the warning: Zedekiah is captured by the Chaldeans; the passage recounts the city's fall and the treatment of the king and people, illustrating the outcome foretold in 38:2.
- 2 Kings 25:4-7 (structural): Historical account of Jerusalem’s fall and Zedekiah’s capture by the Babylonians (sons killed, Zedekiah blinded) — a parallel historical realization of the prophetic threat of sword, famine, and exile.
Alternative generated candidates
- Thus says the LORD: Whoever remains in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence; but whoever goes out to the Chaldeans shall save his life and live.
- Thus says the LORD: Whoever remains in this city shall die by sword, by famine, and by pestilence. Whoever goes out to the Chaldeans shall live; he will live—his life shall be for booty, and he shall live.
Jer.38.3 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- כה: ADV
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- הנתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- תנתן: VERB,niphal,impf,3,f,sg
- העיר: NOUN,f,sg,def
- הזאת: DEM,f,sg,def
- ביד: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- חיל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- בבל: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ולכדה: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg,obj:3f
Parallels
- Jeremiah 21:9 (verbal): Same prophetic formula—'I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon'—a parallel warning about Jerusalem's delivery to Babylon.
- Jeremiah 34:2 (verbal): A like declaration that the city will be handed over to the king of Babylon; repeats the theme and wording of imminent capture.
- Jeremiah 39:1-2 (structural): Narrative account of Nebuchadnezzar's siege and capture of Jerusalem, presenting the fulfillment of Jeremiah's pronouncement.
- 2 Kings 25:1-7 (structural): Historical report of the Babylonian siege and final taking of the city (including Zedekiah's capture), which corresponds to the prophecy that Jerusalem would be given into the king of Babylon's hand.
Alternative generated candidates
- Thus says the LORD: I will give this city into the hand of the army of the king of Babylon, and they will capture it.
- Thus says the LORD: I will give this city into the hand of the army of the king of Babylon, and they shall capture it.
Jer.38.4 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמרו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,pl
- השרים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- אל: NEG
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- יומת: VERB,niphal,impf,3,m,sg
- נא: PART
- את: PRT,acc
- האיש: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הזה: DEM,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- על: PREP
- כן: ADV
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- מרפא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- ידי: NOUN,f,pl,cons
- אנשי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- המלחמה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- הנשארים: PART,m,pl,def
- בעיר: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- הזאת: DEM,f,sg,def
- ואת: CONJ
- ידי: NOUN,f,pl,cons
- כל: DET
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לדבר: INF,qal
- אליהם: PREP,3,m,pl
- כדברים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- האלה: DEM,pl
- כי: CONJ
- האיש: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הזה: DEM,m,sg
- איננו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl,neg
- דרש: VERB,qal,ptc,ms,sg
- לשלום: PREP
- לעם: PREP
- הזה: DEM,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- אם: CONJ
- לרעה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Jeremiah 26:11 (verbal): Almost identical accusation and phrasing — officials demand Jeremiah’s death, saying he does not seek the people’s welfare but their hurt.
- Jeremiah 37:13-15 (structural): Immediate narrative context: Jeremiah is seized and imprisoned during the siege, the same chain of events that leads to the princes’ demand in 38:4.
- Jeremiah 20:2 (thematic): Pashhur the priest assaults and imprisons Jeremiah for prophesying; officials punish the prophet because his words are judged harmful to morale.
- 1 Kings 18:17-18 (thematic): Ahab accuses Elijah of being the ‘troubler’/‘disturber’ of Israel for prophesying disaster — a parallel charge that a prophet’s message weakens the nation.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then the princes said to the king, “Put this man to death! For he is discouraging the hands of the soldiers who remain in this city and the hands of all the people, by speaking such words to them. This man is not seeking the welfare of this people but their harm.”
- Then the officials said to the king, “Let this man be put to death, for he weakens the hands of the soldiers remaining in this city and the hands of all the people, by speaking to them these words. For this man does not seek the welfare of this people but their harm.”
Jer.38.5 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- צדקיהו: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- הנה: PART
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- בידכם: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,pl
- כי: CONJ
- אין: PART,neg
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- יוכל: VERB,qal,impf,3,ms
- אתכם: PRT+PRON,2,m,pl
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Jeremiah 38:6 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation: the princes seize Jeremiah and cast him into a cistern—directly follows the king’s statement that Jeremiah is “in your hand.”
- Jeremiah 26:8-15 (thematic): Earlier episode where officials and the people demand Jeremiah’s death for his prophecies; parallels the hostile council of princes and the threat of extrajudicial punishment.
- Daniel 6:14-16 (thematic): King Darius protests Daniel’s condemnation but is powerless to reverse the law/decree—echoes the motif that a king may be unable to thwart the actions or decisions of others in power.
- 1 Kings 21:10-13 (thematic): False witnesses and officials are used to bring about Naboth’s death at Jezebel’s instigation; parallels the use of princes/officials to carry out fatal measures despite the king’s role.
Alternative generated candidates
- King Zedekiah said, “Behold, he is in your hand; for the king can do nothing against you.”
- And King Zedekiah said, “Behold, he is in your hand; for the king can do nothing against you.”
Jer.38.6 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויקחו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- ירמיהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וישלכו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- אתו: PRON,3,m,sg,acc
- אל: NEG
- הבור: NOUN,m,sg,def
- מלכיהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- בחצר: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- המטרה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- וישלחו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- ירמיהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בחבלים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ובבור: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אין: PART,neg
- מים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- כי: CONJ
- אם: CONJ
- טיט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויטבע: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ירמיהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בטיט: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Jeremiah 39:15-18 (structural): Same book, narrative resolution: after Jerusalem's fall Nebuzaradan is instructed to take care of Jeremiah and secure his release from the cistern/dungeon — continuation and aftermath of the imprisonment in 38:6.
- Genesis 37:24 (thematic): Joseph is cast into a pit by his brothers; parallels themes of betrayal, confinement in a cistern/pit, and subsequent rescue.
- Psalm 40:2 (verbal): Uses the language of being lifted out of a 'miry pit' or 'mud' (Heb. tīt), echoing Jeremiah’s sinking in mud and the motif of deliverance from a pit.
- Jonah 2:6 (verbal): Jonah’s prayer speaks of being brought up from the 'pit' and uses similar imagery of sinking and rescue from mire — comparable symbolic language of peril in a pit.
- Psalm 69:2 (verbal): The psalmist laments, 'I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing,' echoing the image of sinking in mud and helplessness found in Jeremiah 38:6.
Alternative generated candidates
- So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchiah the king’s son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah with ropes; the cistern had no water, only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.
- So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchiah the king’s son, which was in the court of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah with ropes; the cistern had no water but mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.
Jer.38.7 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וישמע: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- עבד: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- הכושי: ADJ,m,sg,def
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- סריס: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- והוא: CONJ+PRON,3,m,sg
- בבית: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- כי: CONJ
- נתנו: VERB,qal,perf,3,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- ירמיהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- הבור: NOUN,m,sg,def
- והמלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- יושב: VERB,qal,ptcp,1,m,sg
- בשער: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בנימן: NOUN,m,sg,proper
Parallels
- Jeremiah 38:6 (verbal): Immediate narrative parallel describing the act — Jeremiah is cast into the cistern/pit and left in the mire; 38:7 picks up that situation and reports who heard of it.
- Jeremiah 38:8-13 (structural): Direct continuation of the same episode: these verses recount how the Cushite (Ebed‑Melech) obtains the king's permission and rescues Jeremiah from the cistern.
- Jeremiah 39:15-18 (thematic): Later resolution of the episode: God addresses and rewards Ebed‑Melech the Cushite for rescuing Jeremiah, promising his safety when Jerusalem falls.
- Jeremiah 26:24 (thematic): Parallel motif of a court official protecting Jeremiah (Ahikam son of Shaphan intervenes on Jeremiah's behalf), echoing the theme of officials who shield the prophet from execution.
Alternative generated candidates
- But Ebed‑Melech the Cushite, a eunuch and a servant of the king, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern; and the king was sitting at the Benjamin Gate.
- Now Ebed‑Melech the Cushite, a eunuch who was in the palace, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern; and the king was sitting in the Benjamin Gate.
Jer.38.8 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויצא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- עבד: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- מבית: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- וידבר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
Parallels
- Jeremiah 39:15-18 (structural): Same episode continued: God promises safety to Ebed‑Melech the king's servant who had intervened for Jeremiah — direct resolution to the one who 'went out from the king's house' and spoke.
- 1 Kings 1:15-21 (structural): Court scene in which messengers/attendants (Nathan and Bathsheba) go to the king to deliver a crucial report and request — parallel in form to a palace servant leaving the king's house to speak to the king.
- 1 Samuel 25:24-31 (thematic): Abigail personally intercedes to David to avert violence and to plead for justice — parallels Ebed‑Melech's intercession on Jeremiah's behalf before the king.
- 2 Samuel 12:1-7 (thematic): Nathan the prophet directly confronts King David about his wrongdoing using a parable — another instance of an attendant/prophet speaking truth to a king about injustice and its consequences.
Alternative generated candidates
- Ebed‑Melech went out from the king’s house and spoke to the king, saying,
- Ebed‑Melech went out of the palace and spoke to the king, saying,
Jer.38.9 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- אדני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הרעו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- האנשים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- האלה: DEM,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- כל: DET
- אשר: PRON,rel
- עשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- לירמיהו: PREP+PROPN,m,sg
- הנביא: NOUN,m,sg,def
- את: PRT,acc
- אשר: PRON,rel
- השליכו: VERB,hif,impv,2,m,pl
- אל: NEG
- הבור: NOUN,m,sg,def
- וימת: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- תחתיו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- מפני: PREP
- הרעב: NOUN,m,sg,def
- כי: CONJ
- אין: PART,neg
- הלחם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- עוד: ADV
- בעיר: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Jeremiah 38:6 (structural): Same narrative event: Jeremiah is physically cast into a cistern (pit) where there is no water and he sinks in the mud — a direct structural/linguistic parallel within the same chapter.
- Jeremiah 20:2 (thematic): Earlier episode of official persecution of Jeremiah (Pashhur beats him and puts him in stocks) — parallels the motif of leaders/officials mistreating the prophet.
- Jeremiah 26:8 (thematic): Priests, prophets, and people demand Jeremiah’s death for his prophecies — thematically parallels the hostile intent to eliminate the prophet expressed in 38:9.
- Genesis 37:24 (verbal): Joseph is thrown into a pit by his brothers and left to die — a closely related verbal/motif parallel (pit/cistern as means of attempted killing).
- Psalm 31:13 (thematic): The psalmist laments enemies plotting to take his life and surrounding him — thematically similar language of persecution and threat to the prophet’s survival.
Alternative generated candidates
- “My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they did to Jeremiah the prophet: they have cast him into the cistern, and he will die there from hunger, for there is no more bread in the city.”
- “My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all they have done to Jeremiah the prophet by casting him into the cistern, so that he may die there from hunger—for there is no more bread in the city.”
Jer.38.10 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויצוה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- את: PRT,acc
- עבד: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- הכושי: ADJ,m,sg,def
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
- קח: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,sg
- בידך: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,suff,2,m,sg
- מזה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שלשים: NUM,m,pl,abs
- אנשים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- והעלית: VERB,hif,impf,2,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- ירמיהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הנביא: NOUN,m,sg,def
- מן: PREP
- הבור: NOUN,m,sg,def
- בטרם: PREP
- ימות: VERB,qal,juss,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Jeremiah 38:7-13 (structural): Immediate narrative parallel: earlier in the same scene Ebed-Melech appeals to the king and personally rescues Jeremiah from the cistern, showing the events that lead into the king's command in 38:10.
- Jeremiah 39:15-18 (structural): Follow-up promise to Ebed-Melech after Jerusalem's fall; repeats the figure of the Cushite eunuch and records God's assurance of his preservation, tying back to his intervention to save Jeremiah.
- Psalm 40:2 (thematic): Uses the same rescuing-from-a-pit imagery ('brought me up out of a horrible pit') to describe divine deliverance, thematically echoing Jeremiah's physical rescue from the cistern.
- Genesis 37:24-28 (thematic): Joseph's being cast into a pit by his brothers and subsequently removed (sold and later lifted out of misfortune) parallels the motif of a prophet/figure endangered in a pit and then rescued.
- Acts 8:26-40 (thematic): The Ethiopian/foreign eunuch motif (a non-Israelite court eunuch who plays a role in God's purposes) echoes Ebed-Melech the Cushite—both are Ethiopian eunuchs who feature positively in salvation narratives.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then the king commanded Ebed‑Melech the Cushite, “Take thirty men with you and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.”
- Then the king commanded Ebed‑Melech the Cushite, “Take thirty men with you from here, and hurry and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.”
Jer.38.11 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויקח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- עבד: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- את: PRT,acc
- האנשים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- בידו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- ויבא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אל: NEG
- תחת: PREP
- האוצר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויקח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- משם: PREP
- בלוי: ADJ,m,sg
- סחבות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- ובלוי: CONJ+ADJ,m,sg
- מלחים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- וישלחם: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf_wq,3,m,sg;obj=3,m,pl
- אל: NEG
- ירמיהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- הבור: NOUN,m,sg,def
- בחבלים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Jeremiah 38:6 (structural): Earlier verse describing Jeremiah being cast into the cistern/pit—same incident and place that 38:11 continues.
- Jeremiah 38:13 (verbal): Direct continuation: Ebed‑Melech and the men draw Jeremiah up with ropes and old rags, completing the rescue begun in 38:11.
- Genesis 37:24 (thematic): Joseph is thrown into a pit by his brothers—parallel motif of a prominent figure imprisoned in a pit by his own people.
- Acts 9:25 (thematic): Paul is lowered in a basket through the city wall to escape danger—parallel rescue/escape by lowering/raising through an opening using ropes or a basket.
- Psalm 40:2 (allusion): Imagery of being drawn out of the pit of destruction—religious/poetic parallel to deliverance from a pit, here realized as a human rescue.
Alternative generated candidates
- So Ebed‑Melech took the men with him, went to the king’s house beneath the treasury, and took from there old rags and worn-out cloths; he sent them to Jeremiah into the cistern with ropes.
- So Ebed‑Melech took the men with him and went to the storehouse under the royal quarters and took from there old rags and worn garments and let them down to Jeremiah into the cistern with ropes.
Jer.38.12 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- עבד: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- הכושי: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אל: NEG
- ירמיהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שים: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,sg
- נא: PART
- בלואי: NOUN,m,pl,cs
- הסחבות: NOUN,f,pl,def
- והמלחים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,def
- תחת: PREP
- אצלות: NOUN,f,pl,cs
- ידיך: NOUN,f,pl,cs,2ms
- מתחת: PREP
- לחבלים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ויעש: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ירמיהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כן: ADV
Parallels
- Jeremiah 38:6 (structural): Immediate narrative parallel in the same episode: v.6 describes Jeremiah being thrown into the cistern, which v.12–13 responds to when Ebed‑Melech arranges ropes and garments to lift him out.
- Genesis 37:24 (thematic): Joseph is thrown into a pit by his brothers (Hebrew bor), echoing the motif of a righteous man cast into a pit/cistern and in need of rescue.
- Psalm 40:2 (thematic): The psalmist speaks of being drawn out of a 'pit of destruction'—a common biblical image of deliverance that parallels Jeremiah’s physical rescue from the cistern.
- Acts 8:27–39 (thematic): An Ethiopian (Cushite) plays a notable role in Scripture as a foreign believer/outside figure interacting with Israelite prophetic witness—parallel to Ebed‑Melech the Cushite acting decisively to protect Jeremiah.
Alternative generated candidates
- Ebed‑Melech the Cushite said to Jeremiah, “Put these old rags and worn cloths under your armpits as padding beneath the ropes.” Jeremiah did so.
- Ebed‑Melech the Cushite said to Jeremiah, “Put these worn rags and garments under your armpits as padding beneath the ropes.” And Jeremiah did so.
Jer.38.13 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וימשכו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- ירמיהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בחבלים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ויעלו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- אתו: PRON,3,m,sg,acc
- מן: PREP
- הבור: NOUN,m,sg,def
- וישב: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ירמיהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בחצר: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- המטרה: NOUN,f,sg,def
Parallels
- Jeremiah 39:15-18 (structural): Later recounting of the same episode: Ebed‑Melek’s rescue of Jeremiah from the cistern and God's promise to spare him.
- Genesis 37:24-28 (thematic): Joseph is thrown into a pit by his brothers—shared motif of a vulnerable figure cast into a cistern/pit by conspirators.
- Daniel 6:16-23 (thematic): Daniel is confined in a lethal den and supernaturally delivered—parallel motif of imprisonment in a pit/den and rescue from death.
- Psalm 40:2 (verbal): The psalmist speaks of being drawn up out of a 'pit of destruction'—uses similar rescue imagery and language of being lifted from a pit.
Alternative generated candidates
- They pulled Jeremiah up with ropes and lifted him out of the cistern, and Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard.
- They pulled Jeremiah up with ropes and lifted him out of the cistern, and Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.
Now Shephatiah son of Mattan, and Gedaliah son of Pashhur, and Jucal son of Shelemiah, and Pashur son of Malchiah heard the words that Jeremiah was speaking to all the people, saying, Thus says the LORD: Whoever remains in this city shall die by sword, by famine, and by pestilence; but whoever goes out to the Chaldeans shall live—he will survive, though his life will be taken as spoil. Thus says the LORD: I give this city into the hand of the army of the king of Babylon, and he shall capture it.
Then the princes said to the king, “Please put this man to death; for he weakens the hands of the soldiers who remain in this city and the hands of all the people, by speaking such words to them. This man does not seek the welfare of this people but their harm.” And King Zedekiah said, “Behold, he is in your hand; for the king cannot do anything against you.” So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchiah the king’s son, which was in the court of the guard; they lowered Jeremiah with ropes. There was no water in the cistern, only mud, and Jeremiah sank into the mud. But Ebed‑melech the Cushite, a eunuch who was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern, and the king was sitting at the Benjamin Gate.
Then Ebed‑melech went out from the king’s house and spoke to the king, saying,
“My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they did to Jeremiah the prophet; they have thrown him into the cistern, intending that he should die there for lack of bread, for there is no more bread in the city.”
Then the king commanded Ebed‑melech the Cushite, “Take thirty men with you from here, and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.” So Ebed‑melech took the men with him and went into the king’s house under the treasury, and he took from there old rags and old worn-out cloths and let them down to Jeremiah into the cistern with ropes. And Ebed‑melech the Cushite said to Jeremiah, “Put the old rags and worn-out cloths under your armpits beneath the ropes,” and Jeremiah did so.
They drew Jeremiah up with the ropes and raised him out of the cistern, and Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.