Jeremiah 39:16

Ebed-melech

¹⁴ had Jeremiah brought from the courtyard of the guard, and they turned him over to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to take him home. So Jeremiah remained among his own people.

¹⁵ And while Jeremiah had been confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the LORD had come to him:

“Go and tell Ebed-melech the Cushite that this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘I am about to fulfill My words against this city for harm and not for good, and on that day they will be fulfilled before your eyes.

¹⁷ But I will deliver you on that day, declares the LORD, and you will not be delivered into the hands of the men whom you fear.

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.’”

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: “Go and tell Ebed-melech the Cushite that this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘I am about to fulfill My words against this city for harm and not for good, and on that day they will be fulfilled before your eyes.
KJV: Go and speak to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished in that day before thee.
WEB: “Go, and speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, ‘The LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I will bring my words on this city for evil, and not for good; and they will be accomplished before you in that day.
ASV: Go, and speak to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished before thee in that day.
DARBY: Go and speak to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good, and they shall come to pass before thy face in that day.
BLB: “Go and speak to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, thus says YHWH of Hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Behold I will bring My words against this city, for evil and not for good, and they will come to pass before you in that day.

ÅB: Gå og si til etioperen Ebed-Melek: Så sier Herren, hærskarenes Gud, Israels Gud: Se, jeg lar mine ord komme over denne by til det onde og ikke til det gode, og de skal bli oppfylt for dine øyne på den dag.
OTB: "Gå og si til Ebed-Melek, kusjitten: 'Dette sier Herren, Allhærs Gud, Israels Gud: Jeg er i ferd med å bringe mine ord over denne byen—ord om ulykke, ikke velstand. De skal bli oppfylt for dine øyne.
B1930: Gå og si til etioperen Ebed-Melek: Så sier Herren, hærskarenes Gud, Israels Gud: Se, jeg lar mine ord komme over denne by til det onde og ikke til det gode, og de skal bli opfylt for dine øine på den dag.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Daniel 9:12
You have carried out the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing upon us a great disaster. For under all of heaven, nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem.
Read in context
Zechariah 1:6
But did not My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, overtake your fathers? They repented and said, ‘Just as the LORD of Hosts purposed to do to us according to our ways and deeds, so He has done to us.’”
Read in context
Joshua 23:14–15
Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know with all your heart and soul that not one of the good promises the LORD your God made to you has failed. Everything was fulfilled for you; not one promise has failed.
Read in context
Jeremiah 26:20
Now there was another man prophesying in the name of the LORD, Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim. He prophesied against this city and against this land the same things that Jeremiah did.
Read in context
Jeremiah 44:28–29
Those who escape the sword will return from Egypt to Judah, few in number, and the whole remnant of Judah who went to dwell in the land of Egypt will know whose word will stand, Mine or theirs!
Read in context
Jeremiah 19:11–12
and you are to proclaim to them that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I will shatter this nation and this city, like one shatters a potter’s jar that can never again be repaired. They will bury the dead in Topheth until there is no more room to bury them.
Read in context
Jeremiah 34:22
Behold, I am going to give the command, declares the LORD, and I will bring them back to this city. They will fight against it, capture it, and burn it down. And I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant.”
Read in context
Jeremiah 21:7–10
‘After that,’ declares the LORD, ‘I will hand over Zedekiah king of Judah, his officers, and the people in this city who survive the plague and sword and famine, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to their enemies who seek their lives. He will put them to the sword; he will not spare them or show pity or compassion.’
Read in context