King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 38:22 Mean?

Jeremiah 38:22 in the King James Version says “And, behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah's house shall be brought forth to the king of Babylon's pr...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 38 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And, behold, 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 friends have set thee on, and have prevailed against thee: thy feet are sunk in the mire, and they are turned away back. Thy friends: Heb. Men of thy peace”

Jeremiah 38:22 · KJV

Peace

Context

20

But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the LORD, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live.

21

But if thou refuse to go forth, this is the word that the LORD hath shewed me:

22

And, behold, 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 friends have set thee on, and have prevailed against thee: thy feet are sunk in the mire, and they are turned away back. Thy friends: Heb. Men of thy peace

23

So 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. thou shalt cause: Heb. thou shalt burn, etc

24

Then said Zedekiah unto Jeremiah, Let no man know of these words, and thou shalt not die.

Read Jeremiah 38 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
All the women that are left in the king of Judah's house—These royal women (likely concubines and court ladies) would survive the conquest only to become spoils of war, led to Babylonian princes. Their prophesied taunt song demonstrates the complete reversal of Zedekiah's fortunes: even his own household would mock his foolish choices.

Thy friends have set thee on, and have prevailed against thee—The Hebrew sut (סוּת, "to incite/instigate") and yakol (יָכֹל, "to prevail/overcome") indict Zedekiah's advisors (particularly the anti-surrender princes). Thy feet are sunk in the mire (batsa, בָּצָא)—Bitter irony! The same word describes the muddy cistern where these officials had left Jeremiah to die (38:6). Now Zedekiah himself would be hopelessly stuck, betrayed by the very counselors he trusted over God's prophet. They promised deliverance but delivered disaster.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Ancient Near Eastern victory songs commonly included taunts celebrating the defeated king's bad decisions. That Zedekiah's own women would sing such a song magnified the shame. The imagery of feet stuck in mud may reference military disaster—troops bogged down in impossible terrain, a metaphor for Zedekiah's politically impossible position created by bad advice.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the "mire" imagery connect Zedekiah's treatment of Jeremiah to his own eventual fate?
  2. What warning does this verse give about choosing advisors who tell us what we want to hear rather than God's truth?
  3. How might heeding Jeremiah have spared Zedekiah this prophesied humiliation?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 25 words
וְהִנֵּ֣ה1 of 25
H2009

lo!

כָל2 of 25
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הַנָּשִׁ֗ים3 of 25

“And behold all the women”

H802

a woman

אֲשֶׁ֤ר4 of 25
H834

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

נִשְׁאֲרוּ֙5 of 25

“that are left”

H7604

properly, to swell up, i.e., be (causatively, make) redundant

בְּבֵ֣ית6 of 25

“house”

H1004

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

מֶ֣לֶךְ7 of 25

“in the king”

H4428

a king

יְהוּדָ֔ה8 of 25

“of Judah's”

H3063

jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

מוּצָא֕וֹת9 of 25

“shall be brought forth”

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

אֶל10 of 25
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

שָׂרֵ֖י11 of 25

“princes”

H8269

a head person (of any rank or class)

מֶ֣לֶךְ12 of 25

“in the king”

H4428

a king

בָּבֶ֑ל13 of 25

“of Babylon's”

H894

babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire

וְהֵ֣נָּה14 of 25
H2007

themselves (often used emphatic for the copula, also in indirect relation)

אֹמְרֹ֗ת15 of 25

“and those women shall say”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

הִסִּית֜וּךָ16 of 25

“have set thee on”

H5496

properly, to prick, i.e., (figuratively) stimulate; by implication, to seduce

וְיָכְל֤וּ17 of 25

“and have prevailed”

H3201

to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might)

לְךָ֙18 of 25
H0
אַנְשֵׁ֣י19 of 25
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)

שְׁלֹמֶ֔ךָ20 of 25
H7965

safe, i.e., (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e., health, prosperity, peace

הָטְבְּע֥וּ21 of 25

“are sunk”

H2883

to sink

בַבֹּ֛ץ22 of 25

“in the mire”

H1206

mud (as whitish clay)

רַגְלֶ֖ךָ23 of 25

“against thee thy feet”

H7272

a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda

נָסֹ֥גוּ24 of 25

“and they are turned away”

H5472

properly, to flinch, i.e., (by implication) to go back, literally (to retreat) or figuratively (to apostatize)

אָחֽוֹר׃25 of 25

“back”

H268

the hinder part; hence (adverb) behind, backward; also (as facing north) the west

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 38:22 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 38:22 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Lamentations 1:2Jeremiah 43:6Lamentations 5:11Jeremiah 20:10Psalms 69:14Psalms 69:2

Places in This Verse

Babylon 1Settlement · Modern: Babylon · 32.54°N, 44.42°E296 verses across 15 books
View all places in Jeremiah 38 →

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