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Jeremiah 37:14

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 37:14 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Then said Jeremiah, It is false; I am not falling away to the Chaldeans. But he hearkened not to him; so Irijah laid hold on Jeremiah, and brought him to the princes.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Then said Jeremiah, It is false; I am not falling away to the Chaldeans. But he hearkened not to him; so Irijah laid hold on Jeremiah, and brought him to the princes.
Jeremiah 37:14 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 37

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
11And it came to pass that, when the army of the Chaldeans was broken up from Jerusalem for fear of Pharaoh`s army,
12then Jeremiah went forth out of Jerusalem to go into the land of Benjamin, to receive his portion there, in the midst of the people.
13And when he was in the gate of Benjamin, a captain of the ward was there, whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and he laid hold on Jeremiah the prophet, saying, Thou art falling away to the Chaldeans.
14Then said Jeremiah, It is false; I am not falling away to the Chaldeans. But he hearkened not to him; so Irijah laid hold on Jeremiah, and brought him to the princes.
15And the princes were wroth with Jeremiah, and smote him, and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe; for they had made that the prison.
16When Jeremiah was come into the dungeon-house, and into the cells, and Jeremiah had remained there many days;
17Then Zedekiah the king sent, and fetched him: and the king asked him secretly in his house, and said, Is there any word from Jehovah? And Jeremiah said, There is. He said also, Thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.
← Jeremiah 37:13Jeremiah 37:15 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Then said Jeremiah, [it is] false, etc.] Or a “falsehood”f708; as undoubtedly it was; I fall not away to the Chaldeans; for the Chaldean army was gone from the city; nor did Jeremiah like so well to be with an idolatrous people; for after the city was taken, when Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard gave him his choice, either to go with him to Babylon, where he promised to take care of him; or to go to Gedaliah, who was made governor of Judah; he chose rather to be with him, and his poor company: but he hearkened not to him; would not hear his defence, or however would not give any credit to it, being unwilling to let slip this opportunity of doing him ill will: so Irijah took Jeremiah, and…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The princes - Not the noblemen trained in the days of Josiah and Jeremiah’s friends Jeremiah 26:16, but those described in Jeremiah 24:8. They assumed that the accusation was true; they first scourged and then imprisoned Jeremiah. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“said: Jer 40:4-6; Neh 6:8; Psa 27:12, Psa 35:11, Psa 52:1, Psa 52:2; Mat 5:11, Mat 5:12; Luk 6:22, Luk 6:23, Luk 6:26; Pe1 3:16, Pe1 4:14-16 false: Heb. falsehood, or, a lie Jeremiah 37:15”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“Jeremiah replied: "A lie \= not true; cf. [Kg2 9:12\]; I am not going over to the Chaldeans. But he gave no heed to him; so Jeriah seized Jeremiah, and brought him to the princes. Jer 37:15. And the princes were angry against Jeremiah, and smote him, and put him in prison, in the house of Jonathan the scribe; for they had made it the prison," - probably because it contained apartments suitable for the purpose. From Jer 37:16 we perceive that they were subterranean prisons and vaults into which the prisoners were thrust; and from v. 28 and Jer 38:26, it is clear that Jeremiah was in a confinement much more severe and dangerous to his life. There he sat many days, i.e., a pretty long time.…”
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Related study paths

Read Jeremiah 37 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification