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Jeremiah 38:12

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Ebed-melech the Cushite cried out to Jeremiah, “Put these worn-out rags and clothes under your arms to pad the ropes.” Jeremiah did so,

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Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 12

In this chapter, just as in the former, we have Jeremiah greatly debased under the frowns of the princes, and yet greatly honoured by the favour of the king. They used him as a criminal; he used him as a privy-counsellor. Here, I. Jeremiah for his faithfulness is put into the dungeon by the princes (Jer 38:1-6). II. At the intercession of Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, by special order from the king, he is taken up out of the dungeon and confined only to the court of the prison (Jer 38:7-13). III. He has a private conference with the king upon the present conjuncture of affairs (Jer 38:14-22). IV. Care is taken to keep that conference private (Jer 38:24-28).

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Original language

The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).

Strong's Concordancev. 12

עֶבֶד מֶלֶךְ (ʻEbed Melek, H5663) — Ebed-Melek, a eunuch of Zedekeah כּוּשִׁי (Kûwshîy, H3569) — a Cushite, or descendant of Cush אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) יִרְמְיָה (Yirmᵉyâh, H3414) — Jirmejah, the name of eight or nine Israelites שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… בְּלוֹא (bᵉlôwʼ, H1094) — (only in plural construction) rags סְחָבָה (çᵉchâbâh, H5499) — a rag מָלָח (mâlâch, H4418) — a rag or old garment אַצִּיל (ʼatstsîyl, H679) — a joint of the hand (i.e. knuckle); also (according to some) a party-wall (Ezekiel 41:8) יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), חֶבֶל (chebel, H2256) — a rope (as twisted), especially a measuring line; by implication, a district or… עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

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Cross-references

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