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◄ Jeremiah 38:9►

New International Version
“My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all they have done to Jeremiah the prophet. They have thrown him into a cistern, where he will starve to death when there is no longer any bread in the city.”

New Living Translation
“My lord the king,” he said, “these men have done a very evil thing in putting Jeremiah the prophet into the cistern. He will soon die of hunger, for almost all the bread in the city is gone.”

English Standard Version
“My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they did to Jeremiah the prophet by casting him into the cistern, and he will die there of hunger, for there is no bread left in the city.”

Berean Standard Bible
“My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet. They have dropped him into the cistern, where he will starve to death, for there is no more bread in the city.”

King James Bible
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; and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is: forthere is no more bread in the city.

New King James Version
“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, and he is likely to die from hunger in the place where he is. Forthere is no more bread in the city.”

New American Standard Bible
“My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet whom they have thrown into the cistern; and he will die right where he is because of the famine, for there is no more bread in the city.”

NASB 1995
“My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet whom they have cast into the cistern; and he will die right where he is because of the famine, for there is no more bread in the city.”

NASB 1977
“My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet whom they have cast into the cistern; and he will die right where he is because of the famine, for there is no more bread in the city.”

Legacy Standard Bible
“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 cistern; and he will die right where he is because of the famine, for there is no more bread in the city.”

Amplified Bible
“My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet whom they have thrown into the cistern; and he will die [of hunger] where he is because of the famine, for there is no more bread in the city.”

Christian Standard Bible
“My lord the king, these men have been evil in all they have done to the prophet Jeremiah. They have dropped him into the cistern where he will die from hunger, because there is no more bread in the city.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“My lord the king, these men have been evil in all they have done to Jeremiah the prophet. They have dropped him into the cistern where he will die from hunger, because there is no more bread in the city.”

American Standard Version
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; and he is like to die in the place where he is, because of the famine; for there is no more bread in the city.

Contemporary English Version
Ebedmelech said, "Your Majesty, Jeremiah is a prophet, and those men were wrong to throw him into a well. And when Jerusalem runs out of food, Jeremiah will starve to death down there."

English Revised Version
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; and he is like to die in the place where he is because of the famine: for there is no more bread in the city.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Your Majesty, everything that these men have done to the prophet Jeremiah is wrong. They have thrown him into the cistern, where he'll starve to death, because there's no more bread in the city."

Good News Translation
"Your Majesty, what these men have done is wrong. They have put Jeremiah in the well, where he is sure to die of starvation, since there is no more food in the city."

International Standard Version
"Your majesty, these men have acted wickedly in all they have done to the prophet Jeremiah by throwing him into the cistern. He will die where he is because of the famine since there is no more bread in the city."

NET Bible
"Your royal Majesty, those men have been very wicked in all that they have done to the prophet Jeremiah. They have thrown him into a cistern and he is sure to die of starvation there because there is no food left in the city.

New Heart English Bible
"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; and he is likely to die in the place where he is, because of the famine; for there is no more bread in the city."

Webster's Bible Translation
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; and he is like to die by hunger in the place where he is: for there is no more bread in the city.

Majority Text Translations

Majority Standard Bible
“My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet. They have dropped him into the cistern, where he will starve to death, for there is no more bread in the city.”

World English Bible
“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 likely to die in the place where he is, because of the famine; for there is no more bread in the city.”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
“My lord, O king, these men have done evil [in] all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the pit, and he dies in his place because of the famine, for there is no more bread in the city.”

Young's Literal Translation
My lord, O king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the pit, and he dieth in his place because of the famine, for there is no more bread in the city.'

Smith's Literal Translation
My lord the king, these men did evil all which they did to Jeremiah the prophet whom they cast into the pit; and he will die in his low place from the face of hunger, for no more bread in the city.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done against Jeremias the prophet, casting him into the dungeon to die there with hunger, for there is no more bread in the city.

Catholic Public Domain Version
“My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have perpetrated against Jeremiah the prophet, casting him into the pit so that he would die there from famine. For there is no more bread in the city.”

New American Bible
“My lord king, these men have done wrong in all their treatment of Jeremiah the prophet, throwing him into the cistern. He will starve to death on the spot, for there is no more bread in the city.”

New Revised Standard Version
“My lord king, these men have acted wickedly in all they did to the prophet Jeremiah by throwing him into the cistern to die there of hunger, for there is no bread left in the city.”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
My Lord, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, for they have cast him into the well; and, behold, he will die of hunger, for there is no more bread in the city.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
“My Lord, what these men have done to Jeremiah the Prophet whom they have cast into a well is evil, and behold, he is dying of starvation, because there is no bread in the city!”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
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 pit; and he is like to die in the place where he is because of the famine; for there is no more bread in the city.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Thou hast done evil in what thou hast done to slay this man with hunger: for there is no more bread in the city.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Jeremiah Rescued
…8Ebed-melech went out from the king’s palace and said to the king,9“My lord the king,these men have acted wickedly in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet.They have dropped him into the cistern,where he will starve to death,for there is no more bread in the city.”10So the king commanded Ebed-melech the Cushite, “Take thirty men from here with you and pull Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.”…

Berean Standard Bible ·Download

Cross References

Jeremiah 37:21
So King Zedekiah gave orders for Jeremiah to be placed in the courtyard of the guard and given a loaf of bread daily from the street of the bakers, until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard.

Jeremiah 39:18
For I will surely rescue you so that you do not fall by the sword. Because you have trusted in Me, you will escape with your life like a spoil of war, declares the LORD.’”

Jeremiah 52:10-11
There at Riblah the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and he also killed all the officials of Judah. / Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon, where he kept him in custody until his dying day.

2 Kings 25:6-7
The Chaldeans seized the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah, where they pronounced judgment on him. / And they slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. Then they put out his eyes, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon.

Lamentations 3:53-55
They dropped me alive into a pit and cast stones upon me. / The waters flowed over my head, and I thought I was going to die. / I called on Your name, O LORD, out of the depths of the Pit.

Psalm 69:14-15
Rescue me from the mire and do not let me sink; deliver me from my foes and out of the deep waters. / Do not let the floods engulf me or the depths swallow me up; let not the Pit close its mouth over me.

Psalm 40:1-2
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined to me and heard my cry. / He lifted me up from the pit of despair, out of the miry clay; He set my feet upon a rock, and made my footsteps firm.

Genesis 37:24
and they took him and threw him into the pit. Now the pit was empty, with no water in it.

Daniel 6:16-23
So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” / A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that nothing concerning Daniel could be changed. / Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No entertainment was brought before him, and sleep fled from him. ...

Acts 7:9-10
Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him / and rescued him from all his troubles. He granted Joseph favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household.

Acts 16:23-26
And after striking them with many blows, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to guard them securely. / On receiving this order, he placed them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. / About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. ...

Matthew 27:24
When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “You bear the responsibility.”

Matthew 27:57-60
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who himself was a disciple of Jesus. / He went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. / So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, ...

Mark 15:43-46
Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent Council member who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God, boldly went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus. / Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus was already dead, so he summoned the centurion to ask if this was so. / When Pilate had confirmed it with the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. ...

Luke 23:50-53
Now there was a Council member named Joseph, a good and righteous man, / who had not consented to their decision or action. He was from the Judean town of Arimathea and was waiting for the kingdom of God. / He went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus. ...

Treasury of Scripture

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; and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is: for there is no more bread in the city.

these.

Jeremiah 38:1-6
Then Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashur the son of Malchiah, heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken unto all the people, saying, …

Esther 7:4-6
For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage…

Job 31:34
Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence,and went not out of the door?

is like to die.

Jeremiah 37:21
Then Zedekiah the king commanded that they should commit Jeremiah into the court of the prison, and that they should give him daily a piece of bread out of the bakers' street, until all the bread in the city were spent. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.

Jeremiah 52:6
And in the fourth month, in the ninthday of the month, the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.

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Jeremiah 38

1.Jeremiah, by a false suggestion, is put into the dungeon of Malchiah.
7.Ebed-Melech, by suit, gets him some enlargement.
14.Upon secret conference, he counsels the king by yielding to save his life.
24.By the king's instructions he conceals the conference from the princes.

Study Bible

Book ◦ Chapter

My lord the king,
This phrase indicates a respectful address to King Zedekiah, the last king of Judah. It reflects the hierarchical structure of ancient Near Eastern societies, where kings held absolute authority. The use of "my lord" signifies submission and respect, which was crucial in a court setting.

these men have acted wickedly
The accusation of wickedness highlights the moral and ethical standards expected in the community. In the context of Jeremiah, this refers to the officials who opposed his prophecies and sought to silence him. The term "wickedly" suggests actions contrary to God's will, aligning with the biblical theme of justice and righteousness.

in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet.
Jeremiah, a major prophet, was often persecuted for delivering God's messages. His role as a prophet was to call the people and leaders back to covenant faithfulness. The phrase underscores the mistreatment he faced, which is a recurring theme in his ministry, as seen in other passages likeJeremiah 20:2 and 37:15.

They have dropped him into the cistern,
Cisterns were large pits used to collect rainwater, often lined with plaster to prevent leakage. Archaeological findings confirm their common use in ancient Judah. Dropping Jeremiah into a cistern was a form of imprisonment and intended to silence him without directly shedding blood, reflecting the political and social tensions of the time.

where he will starve to death,
This phrase indicates the severity of Jeremiah's situation. Starvation was a real threat during sieges, as food supplies were cut off. The intention to let him die slowly reflects the cruelty of his opponents. It also highlights the desperation in Jerusalem during the Babylonian siege, as resources dwindled.

for there is no more bread in the city.
The lack of bread signifies the dire conditions in Jerusalem during the Babylonian siege. This historical context is crucial, as it fulfills Jeremiah's prophecies about the consequences of Judah's disobedience (Jeremiah 14:18). The scarcity of bread symbolizes the broader theme of judgment and the physical and spiritual famine resulting from turning away from God.

Persons / Places / Events

1.Jeremiah
A major prophet in the Old Testament, known for his prophecies of judgment and hope. In this context, he is imprisoned in a cistern.

2.Ebed-Melech
An Ethiopian eunuch serving in the king's palace, who advocates for Jeremiah's release, demonstrating courage and righteousness.

3.King Zedekiah
The last king of Judah, who is indecisive and weak in his leadership, allowing Jeremiah to be mistreated.

4.The Cistern
A pit or well used for storing water, which in this case becomes a place of imprisonment for Jeremiah.

5.The City of Jerusalem
Under siege by the Babylonians, leading to a severe famine and desperation among its inhabitants.

Teaching Points

Courage in Advocacy
Ebed-Melech's actions remind us of the importance of standing up for righteousness, even when it is unpopular or risky.

God's Faithfulness
Despite dire circumstances, God remains faithful to His servants, as seen in Jeremiah's eventual rescue.

The Cost of Disobedience
King Zedekiah's failure to heed God's word through Jeremiah leads to personal and national disaster.

The Power of Intercession
Ebed-Melech's plea to the king demonstrates the impact one person can have when they intercede on behalf of others.

Trust in God's Plan
Jeremiah's life exemplifies trusting God's plan, even when it leads through suffering and uncertainty.

Bible Study Questions and Answers

1.What is the meaning of Jeremiah 38:9?

2.How does Jeremiah 38:9 demonstrate God's protection through unexpected allies?

3.What can we learn about courage from Ebed-melech's actions in Jeremiah 38:9?

4.How does Jeremiah 38:9 connect to God's justice in Psalm 82:3-4?

5.In what ways can we advocate for the oppressed like Ebed-melech did?

6.How does Jeremiah 38:9 inspire us to trust God's provision in adversity?

7.Why did Ebed-melech intervene to save Jeremiah in Jeremiah 38:9?

8.What does Jeremiah 38:9 reveal about God's protection of His prophets?

9.How does Jeremiah 38:9 illustrate the theme of justice in the Bible?

10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Jeremiah 38?

11.In Jeremiah 38:15-16, how reliable is the account of a secret meeting between Jeremiah and King Zedekiah when both sides had clear motives to document or distort events?

12.Can the pit allegedly attributed to King Asa (Jeremiah 41:9) be historically verified, or does this contradict known archaeological data?

13.How does Jeremiah 30:9's prophecy of King David's restoration align with the fact that David was long dead and no successor reclaimed the throne?

14.In Jeremiah 38:17-23, why does the prophecy of doom seem to contradict other biblical passages where repentance and prayer avert catastrophe?

What Does Jeremiah 38:9 Mean

My lord the king

• Ebed-Melech begins with respectful address, honoring the authority God placed over Judah (Romans 13:1;1 Peter 2:17).

• Courteous speech opens the door for truth, as seen when Paul respectfully addresses Festus inActs 26:25.

•Proverbs 16:14 reminds, “A king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will appease it”.

these men have acted wickedly

• Sin must be named, regardless of position (2 Samuel 12:7;Isaiah 5:20).

• “Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous—both are detestable to the LORD” (Proverbs 17:15).

• Like John the Baptist rebuking Herod (Mark 6:18), Ebed-Melech confronts unrighteous officials.

in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet

• The officials have a record of abuse: beating, imprisonment, and threats (Jeremiah 20:2; 37:15).

• Jesus later laments, “O Jerusalem… you who kill the prophets” (Matthew 23:37; cf.Acts 7:52).

•Hebrews 11:36-38 places Jeremiah among those “of whom the world was not worthy”.

They have dropped him into the cistern

• Cisterns were muddy pits used for water storage (Genesis 37:24).

• David prayed, “Rescue me from the mire… deliver me from my foes” (Psalm 69:14-15), echoing Jeremiah’s plight.

• God promises liberation from such pits: “I will release your prisoners from the waterless pit” (Zechariah 9:11).

where he will starve to death

• The plan is slow execution; famine already grips Jerusalem (Jeremiah 32:24).

• “Those slain by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger” (Lamentations 4:9).

• The cruelty mirrors covenant warnings (Deuteronomy 28:53).

for there is no more bread in the city

• Earlier, Jeremiah survived on “a loaf of bread” (Jeremiah 37:21); now supplies are gone.

• “On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine in the city was so severe that the people of the land had no food” (Jeremiah 52:6; cf.2 Kings 25:3).

• Leaving Jeremiah to die would add innocent blood to Judah’s guilt (Jeremiah 26:15).

summary

Jeremiah 38:9 paints a vivid scene of righteous intercession. Ebed-Melech honors the king while boldly exposing the officials’ sin, recounting Jeremiah’s mistreatment, highlighting the lethal cistern, and underscoring the city-wide famine that guarantees the prophet’s death. The verse showcases courage tempered by respect, affirms God’s care for His faithful messenger, and calls believers to defend truth and justice even when authority has gone astray.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(9)These men have done evil. . . .--It is noticeable that some MSS. of the LXX., following apparently a different text, represent the Eunuch as assuming that the king himself had given the order, "Thou hast done evil in all that thou hast done."

He is like to die for hunger.--Literally,and he dies . . . painting vividly what would be the certain issue if no help were sent. It lies in the nature of the case that those who had thrown the prophet into the pit were not likely to continue the supply of his daily rations (Jeremiah 37:21), and the scarcity that prevailed in the besieged city made it all but impossible that his friends, even if they could gain access to him, should help him out of their own resources. Ebed-melech had obviously no power to help him without the king's sanction.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 9. -For there isno more bread in the city. It would almost seem as if the little remaining bread had been brought together by command of the magistrates, and that it was given out in rations by them (comp.Jeremiah 37:21).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

“My lord
אֲדֹנִ֣י(’ă·ḏō·nî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 113:Sovereign, controller

the king,
הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ(ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428:A king

these
הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙(hā·’êl·leh)
Article | Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428:These, those

men
הָאֲנָשִׁ֤ים(hā·’ă·nā·šîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 376:A man as an individual, a male person

have acted wickedly
הֵרֵ֜עוּ(hê·rê·‘ū)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7489:To spoil, to make, good for, nothing, bad

in all that
כָּל־(kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605:The whole, all, any, every

they have done
עָשׂוּ֙(‘ā·śū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 6213:To do, make

to Jeremiah
לְיִרְמְיָ֣הוּ(lə·yir·mə·yā·hū)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3414:Jeremiah -- 'Yah loosens', the name of a number of Israelites

the prophet.
הַנָּבִ֔יא(han·nā·ḇî)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5030:A spokesman, speaker, prophet

They have dropped
הִשְׁלִ֖יכוּ(hiš·lî·ḵū)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7993:To throw out, down, away

him
אֲשֶׁ֤ר(’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834:Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

into
אֶל־(’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413:Near, with, among, to

the cistern,
הַבּ֑וֹר(hab·bō·wr)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 953:A pit, cistern, well

where
תַּחְתָּיו֙(taḥ·tāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8478:The bottom, below, in lieu of

he will starve to death,
וַיָּ֤מָת(way·yā·māṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191:To die, to kill

for
כִּ֣י(kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588:A relative conjunction

there is no
אֵ֥ין(’ên)
Adverb
Strong's 369:A non-entity, a negative particle

more
ע֖וֹד(‘ō·wḏ)
Adverb
Strong's 5750:Iteration, continuance, again, repeatedly, still, more

bread
הַלֶּ֛חֶם(hal·le·ḥem)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3899:Food, bread, grain

in the city.”
בָּעִֽיר׃(bā·‘îr)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892:Excitement

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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 38:9 My lord the king these men have (Jer.)