King James Version
“Then Johanan the son of Kareah spake to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know it: wherefore should he slay thee, that all the Jews which are gathered unto thee should be scattered, and the remnant in Judah perish?”
Jeremiah 40:15 · KJV
Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah,
And said unto him, Dost thou certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay thee? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not. to slay: Heb. to strike thee in soul?
Then Johanan the son of Kareah spake to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know it: wherefore should he slay thee, that all the Jews which are gathered unto thee should be scattered, and the remnant in Judah perish?
But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing: for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.
KJV Study — Public Domain
“the son”
H1121a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction
“I pray thee and I will slay”
H5221to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
“Ishmael”
H3458jishmael, the name of abraham's oldest son, and of five israelites
“the son”
H1121a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
“and no man”
H376a 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)
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
“shall know”
H3045to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
“I pray thee and I will slay”
H5221to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
“unto thee should be scattered”
H6327to dash in pieces, literally or figuratively (especially to disperse)
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
“thee that all the Jews”
H3064a jehudite (i.e., judaite or jew), or descendant of jehudah (i.e., judah)
“perish”
H6properly, to wander away, i.e., lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)
“in Judah”
H3063jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
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.
Jeremiah 40:15 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Verses related to Jeremiah 40:15 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge