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Jeremiah 38:21

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 38:21 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “But if thou refuse to go forth, this is the word that Jehovah hath showed me:” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

But if thou refuse to go forth, this is the word that Jehovah hath showed me:
Jeremiah 38:21 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 38

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
18But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon`s princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand.
19And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen away to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me.
20But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of Jehovah, in that which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well with thee, and thy soul shall live.
21But if thou refuse to go forth, this is the word that Jehovah hath showed me:
22behold, 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 familiar friends have set thee on, and have prevailed over thee: [now that] thy feet are sunk in the mire, they are turned away back.
23And they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans; and thou shalt not escape out of their hand, but shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon: and thou shalt cause this city to be burned with fire.
24Then said Zedekiah unto Jeremiah, Let no man know of these words, and thou shalt not die.
← Jeremiah 38:20Jeremiah 38:22 →
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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
“But if thou refuse to go forth, etc.] Out of Jerusalem, to the Chaldean army, and submit to them: this [is] the word that the Lord hath showed me, or the thing which should certainly come to pass; the word of prophecy the Lord had showed to the prophet, and which he now declares to the king; who asked of him a word, was desirous to know whether there was a word from the Lord, and what it was; and this it is which follows, in case he continued impenitent, obstinate, and disobedient.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“if thou: Jer 5:3; Exo 10:3, Exo 10:4, Exo 16:28; Job 34:33; Pro 1:24-31; Isa 1:19, Isa 1:20; Heb 12:25 this is: Jer 15:19-21, Jer 26:15; Num 23:19, Num 23:20, Num 24:13; Job 23:13; Eze 2:4, Eze 2:5, Eze 2:7; Eze 3:17-19; Act 18:6, Act 20:26, Act 20:27 Jeremiah 38:22”
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Related study paths

Read Jeremiah 38 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification