King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 38:16 Mean?

Jeremiah 38:16 in the King James Version says “So Zedekiah the king sware secretly unto Jeremiah, saying, As the LORD liveth, that made us this soul, I will not put th... — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 38 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

So Zedekiah the king sware secretly unto Jeremiah, saying, As the LORD liveth, that made us this soul, I will not put thee to death, neither will I give thee into the hand of these men that seek thy life.

Jeremiah 38:16 · KJV


Context

14

Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that is in the house of the LORD: and the king said unto Jeremiah, I will ask thee a thing; hide nothing from me. third: or, principal

15

Then Jeremiah said unto Zedekiah, If I declare it unto thee, wilt thou not surely put me to death? and if I give thee counsel, wilt thou not hearken unto me?

16

So Zedekiah the king sware secretly unto Jeremiah, saying, As the LORD liveth, that made us this soul, I will not put thee to death, neither will I give thee into the hand of these men that seek thy life.

17

Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon's princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house:

18

But 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.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
So Zedekiah the king sware secretly (נִשְׁבַּע בַּסֵּתֶר)—The king took an oath secretly, revealing his moral cowardice. He feared his own officials more than God, so he met Jeremiah in private rather than publicly honoring God's prophet. The verb shaba (שָׁבַע, "to swear") invokes the most solemn form of commitment in Hebrew culture.

As the LORD liveth, that made us this soul—Zedekiah swore by Yahweh as the Creator of nephesh (נֶפֶשׁ, "soul/life"). The irony is profound: he invoked the God whose word he continually rejected, and appealed to God's life-giving power while refusing the life-saving counsel God offered through Jeremiah. This oath acknowledges God's sovereignty while planning to disobey His explicit command—a contradiction epitomizing Zedekiah's spiritual schizophrenia.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Oath-taking by God's name was the most binding form of commitment in ancient Israel (Leviticus 19:12). That Zedekiah made this oath "secretly" shows he feared his anti-Jeremiah officials (particularly those who had just thrown the prophet into a cistern) more than he feared breaking covenant with Yahweh.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does it reveal about Zedekiah's character that he swears by God privately but won't obey Him publicly?
  2. How do we similarly compartmentalize faith—acknowledging God in some areas while excluding Him from others?
  3. Why might Zedekiah fear his officials more than the God by whose name he swears?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 27 words
וַיִּשָּׁבַ֞ע1 of 27

sware

H7650

to seven oneself, i.e., swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times)

הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ2 of 27

the king

H4428

a king

צִדְקִיָּ֛הוּ3 of 27

So Zedekiah

H6667

tsidkijah, the name of six israelites

אֶֽל4 of 27
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ5 of 27

unto Jeremiah

H3414

jirmejah, the name of eight or nine israelites

בַּסֵּ֣תֶר6 of 27

secretly

H5643

a cover (in a good or a bad, a literal or a figurative sense)

לֵאמֹ֑ר7 of 27

saying

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

חַי8 of 27

liveth

H2416

alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin

יְהוָ֞ה9 of 27

As the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֶת10 of 27
H853

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

אֲשֶׁר֩11 of 27
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

עָשָׂה12 of 27

that made

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

לָ֨נוּ13 of 27
H0
אֶת14 of 27
H853

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

נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃15 of 27

thy life

H5315

properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment

הַזֹּאת֙16 of 27
H2063

this (often used adverb)

אִם17 of 27
H518

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

אֲמִיתֶ֔ךָ18 of 27

I will not put thee to death

H4191

to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill

וְאִם19 of 27
H518

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

אֶתֶּנְךָ֗20 of 27

neither will I give

H5414

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

בְּיַד֙21 of 27

thee into the hand

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

הָאֲנָשִׁ֣ים22 of 27
H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

הָאֵ֔לֶּה23 of 27
H428

these or those

אֲשֶׁ֥ר24 of 27
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

מְבַקְשִׁ֖ים25 of 27

that seek

H1245

to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after

אֶת26 of 27
H853

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

נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃27 of 27

thy life

H5315

properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment


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 38:16 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 38:16 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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