King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 37:18 Mean?

Jeremiah 37:18 in the King James Version says “Moreover Jeremiah said unto king Zedekiah, What have I offended against thee, or against thy servants, or against this p...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 37 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Moreover Jeremiah said unto king Zedekiah, What have I offended against thee, or against thy servants, or against this people, that ye have put me in prison ?”

Jeremiah 37:18 · KJV

Context

16

When Jeremiah was entered into the dungeon , and into the cabins, and Jeremiah had remained there many days; cabins: or, cells

17

Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took him out: and the king asked him secretly in his house, and said, Is there any word from the LORD? And Jeremiah said, There is: for, said he, thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.

18

Moreover Jeremiah said unto king Zedekiah, What have I offended against thee, or against thy servants, or against this people, that ye have put me in prison ?

19

Where are now your prophets which prophesied unto you, saying, The king of Babylon shall not come against you, nor against this land?

20

Therefore hear now, I pray thee, O my lord the king: let my supplication, I pray thee, be accepted before thee; that thou cause me not to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there. let: Heb. let my supplication fall

Read Jeremiah 37 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
What have I offended against thee, or against thy servants, or against this people, that ye have put me in prison? (מֶה־חָטָאתִי לְךָ וְלַעֲבָדֶיךָ וְלָעָם הַזֶּה). Jeremiah's rhetorical question employs chata (חָטָא), meaning to sin, miss the mark, or commit an offense—the standard Hebrew term for transgression. His triple address—to the king, his servants, and the people—emphasizes that his imprisonment had no legal or moral justification.

Jeremiah had faithfully proclaimed God's word for decades, calling Judah to repentance and warning of Babylonian conquest if they persisted in rebellion. Rather than rewarding his faithfulness, Zedekiah imprisoned him for 'sedition'—the timeless pattern of killing messengers who bring unwelcome truth. The irony is profound: the nation's true betrayer was Zedekiah, who violated his oath to Nebuchadnezzar (Ezekiel 17:13-19), while Jeremiah's counsel to submit to Babylon aligned with God's sovereign plan. This scene foreshadows Jesus before Pilate (John 18:33-38), where the sinless One faces accusation while the guilty pronounce judgment. The prophet's suffering for faithful proclamation anticipates the suffering Servant of Isaiah 53.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This occurred during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem (588-586 BC), specifically during a brief reprieve when Egyptian forces approached, causing the Chaldeans to temporarily withdraw (37:5). Zedekiah had imprisoned Jeremiah in 'the house of Jonathan the scribe' (37:15), which had been converted into a prison. The imprisonment followed Jeremiah's attempt to leave Jerusalem to claim his family inheritance in Anathoth—he was arrested at the gate on false charges of defecting to the Babylonians (37:11-14). The conditions were brutal ('entered into the dungeon, and into the cabins,' 37:16), and Jeremiah feared he would die there. Zedekiah's weak character is evident—he sought Jeremiah's counsel privately but lacked courage to publicly vindicate him or heed his warnings.

Reflection Questions

  1. Why do people often punish truth-tellers rather than heed their warnings?
  2. How does Jeremiah's unjust suffering for faithful proclamation point forward to Christ's passion?
  3. What does Jeremiah's appeal teach about responding to injustice—is protest against unjust treatment compatible with submission to God's sovereign purposes?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 17 words
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר1 of 17

“said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ2 of 17

“Moreover Jeremiah”

H3414

jirmejah, the name of eight or nine israelites

אֶל3 of 17
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ4 of 17

“unto king”

H4428

a king

צִדְקִיָּ֑הוּ5 of 17

“Zedekiah”

H6667

tsidkijah, the name of six israelites

מֶה֩6 of 17
H4100

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and

חָטָ֨אתִֽי7 of 17

“What have I offended”

H2398

properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn

לְךָ֤8 of 17
H0
וְלַעֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙9 of 17

“against thee or against thy servants”

H5650

a servant

וְלָעָ֣ם10 of 17

“or against this people”

H5971

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

הַזֶּ֔ה11 of 17
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

כִּֽי12 of 17
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

נְתַתֶּ֥ם13 of 17

“that ye have put”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

אוֹתִ֖י14 of 17
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

אֶל15 of 17
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

בֵּ֥ית16 of 17

“me in prison”

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

הַכֶּֽלֶא׃17 of 17
H3608

a prison

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Jeremiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Jeremiah 37:18 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Jeremiah 37:18 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

John 10:32Acts 25:8Daniel 6:22Acts 25:11Acts 25:25Acts 23:1

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