Jeremiah 40:5
3 and now the LORD has fulfilled it; He has done just as He said. Because you people have sinned against the LORD and have not obeyed His voice, this thing has happened to you.
4 But now, behold, I am freeing you today from the chains that were on your wrists. If it pleases you to come with me to Babylon, then come, and I will take care of you. But if it seems wrong to you to come with me to Babylon, go no farther. Look, the whole land is before you. Wherever it seems good and right to you, go there.”
But before Jeremiah turned to go, Nebuzaradan added, “Return to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah, and stay with him among the people, or go anywhere else that seems right.” Then the captain of the guard gave him a ration and a gift and released him.
6 So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and stayed with him among the people who were left in the land.
7 When all the commanders and men of the armies in the field heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam over the land and that he had put him in charge of the men, women, and children who were the poorest of the land and had not been exiled to Babylon,
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- But before Jeremiah turned to go, Nebuzaradan added, “Return to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah, and stay with him among the people, or go anywhere else that seems right.” Then the captain of the guard gave him a ration and a gift and released him.
- KJV
- Now while he was not yet gone back, he said, Go back also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people: or go wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a reward, and let him go.
- WEB
- Now while he had not yet gone back, “Go back then,” he said, “to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people; or go wherever it seems right to you to go.” So the captain of the guard gave him food and a present, and let him go.
- ASV
- Now while he was not yet gone back, Go back then, [said he], to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people; or go wheresoever it seemeth right unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a present, and let him go.
- DARBY
- And while he had not yet given answer; [he said,] Yea, go back to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath appointed over the cities of Judah, and abide with him in the midst of the people; or go wheresoever it seemeth right in thy sight to go. And the captain of the body-guard gave him provisions and a present, and let him go.
- BLB
- And while he had not turned again: “And You may return to Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah, and you may dwell with him in the midst of the people or go to wherever [is] upright for you to go.” And the captain of the guards gave rations to him, and a present, and he sent him away.
- ÅB
- Og da han enda ikke vendte seg til noen kant, sa han: Så vend tilbake til Gedalja, sønn av Akikam, Safans sønn, som Babels konge har satt over Judas byer, og bli hos ham midt iblant folket, eller gå hvor som helst det er rett i dine øyne å gå! Og høvdingen over livvakten gav ham mat og gaver og lot ham fare.
- OTB
- Mens Jeremias ennå ikke hadde snudd seg for å gå, la Nebuzaradan til: “Gå tilbake til Gedalja, sønn av Ahikam, sønn av Sjafan, som kongen av Babylon har utnevnt over byene i Juda, og bli hos ham blant folket, eller gå dit det synes riktig for deg å gå.” Så ga kommandanten ham forsyninger og en gave og lot ham gå.
- B1930
- Og da han ennu ikke vendte sig til nogen kant, sa han: Så vend tilbake til Gedalja, sønn av Akikam, Safans sønn, som Babels konge har satt over Judas byer, og bli hos ham midt iblandt folket, eller gå hvor som helst det er rett i dine øine å gå! Og høvdingen over livvakten gav ham mat og gaver og lot ham fare.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Jeremiah 39:14
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.
Read in contextJeremiah 41:2
Then Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the ten men who were with him got up and struck down Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, with the sword, killing the one whom the king of Babylon had appointed to govern the land.
Read in context2 Kings 8:7–9
Then Elisha came to Damascus while Ben-hadad king of Aram was sick, and the king was told, “The man of God has come here.”
Read in contextJeremiah 15:11
The LORD said: “Surely I will deliver you for a good purpose; surely I will intercede with your enemy in your time of trouble, in your time of distress.
Read in context2 Kings 22:12
and commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the servant of the king:
Read in contextHebrews 13:6
So we say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
Read in contextNehemiah 2:4–8
“What is your request?” replied the king. So I prayed to the God of heaven
Read in contextJob 22:29
When men are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’ then He will save the lowly.
Read in context