Jeremiah 38:24

24 Then Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “Do not let anyone know about this conversation, or you may die.

Jeremiah 38:24 in Other Translations

KJV
24 Then said Zedekiah unto Jeremiah, Let no man know of these words, and thou shalt not die.
ESV
24 Then Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, "Let no one know of these words, and you shall not die.
NLT
24 Then Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “Don’t tell anyone you told me this, or you will die!
MSG
24 Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, "Don't let anyone know of this conversation, if you know what's good for you.
CSB
24 Then Zedekiah warned Jeremiah, "Don't let anyone know about these things or you will die.

Jeremiah 38:24 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 38:24

Then said Zedekiah to Jeremiah
Not a word signifying his approbation of the counsel given him, or that he intended to take it; his silence showed the reverse: let no man know of these words:
that had passed between them; of the conference and conversation they had had together, at least not the particulars of it; the thing itself was known, as appears by what follows, that the king and prophet had been discoursing together; but what they talked of, he desires might be concealed, pretending the prophet's good, though it was his own honour and safety he sought: and thou shall not die;
as he had promised he should not, and had sworn to it; but suggests by this, that if he disclosed the conversation, he should took upon himself free from his word and oath; so that this carried something menacing in it: or it may be rendered "that thou die not" F3; intimating, that if the princes should come to the knowledge of what he had said, of the advice he had given, they would surely put him to death; and therefore, for his own safety, he desires the whole may be kept a secret.


FOOTNOTES:

F3 (twmt alw) "ne moriaris", Gataker, Schmidt; "ut non moriaris", Piscator.

Jeremiah 38:24 In-Context

22 All the women left in the palace of the king of Judah will be brought out to the officials of the king of Babylon. Those women will say to you: “ ‘They misled you and overcame you— those trusted friends of yours. Your feet are sunk in the mud; your friends have deserted you.’
23 “All your wives and children will be brought out to the Babylonians. You yourself will not escape from their hands but will be captured by the king of Babylon; and this city will be burned down.”
24 Then Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “Do not let anyone know about this conversation, or you may die.
25 If the officials hear that I talked with you, and they come to you and say, ‘Tell us what you said to the king and what the king said to you; do not hide it from us or we will kill you,’
26 then tell them, ‘I was pleading with the king not to send me back to Jonathan’s house to die there.’ ”

Cross References 1

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