What does Jeremiah 38:20 mean?
"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." - Jeremiah 38:20
The Bible verse Jeremiah 38:20, as written in the King James Version (KJV), reads:
"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."
This verse comes from the book of Jeremiah in the Old Testament, and it is part of a larger narrative about the prophet Jeremiah's interactions with King Zedekiah during the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. At this point in the story, Zedekiah was being counseled by his officials to have Jeremiah put to death for prophesying against the city and speaking out against the king's leadership.
In this verse, we see Jeremiah responding to Zedekiah's fear of the Babylonians and his desire for deliverance. Despite the king's desperation, Jeremiah tells him that the Babylonians will not deliver him and advises him to obey the voice of the Lord. Jeremiah assures Zedekiah that if he follows the Lord's commands, he will be well and his soul will live.
One of the key themes in this verse is obedience to God's will. Jeremiah urges Zedekiah to heed the voice of the Lord and follow His commands. Throughout the Bible, obedience to God is emphasized as essential for receiving His blessings and protection. In this context, Jeremiah is urging Zedekiah to trust in God's sovereignty rather than seeking deliverance through human means.
This verse also highlights the tension between trusting in earthly powers and relying on God's divine protection. Zedekiah, as a king, may have been tempted to seek deliverance through political alliances or military strategies. However, Jeremiah's words remind him that true security can only be found in obedience to God.
Furthermore, this verse underscores the importance of prophetic truth and the role of prophets in delivering God's messages. Jeremiah fearlessly speaks the truth to Zedekiah, even though it puts his own life in danger. His words serve as a reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the importance of heeding God's warnings.
Symbolically, this verse represents the timeless struggle between human desires for deliverance and the need for faithful obedience to God. Zedekiah's desperate plea for deliverance mirrors our own tendencies to seek solutions to our problems through our own means, rather than relying on God's guidance. Jeremiah's response serves as a reminder that true deliverance comes from following God's will, even when it seems counterintuitive or difficult.
In a broader context, this verse can also be seen as a call to all believers to trust in God's promises and to remain faithful, even in the face of adversity. Like Zedekiah, we may be tempted to seek deliverance through our own efforts or to rely on worldly solutions. However, Jeremiah's message reminds us that true security and peace can only be found in obedience to God's commands.
Overall, Jeremiah 38:20 is a powerful reminder of the importance of obedience to God and the futility of seeking deliverance through human means. It challenges us to trust in God's sovereignty and to remain faithful, even in the midst of trials and uncertainties. This verse offers timeless wisdom and guidance for all who seek to walk in God's ways.
Have questions about Jeremiah 38:20?
Dive deeper into this scripture with Bible Chat — an AI-powered tool for exploring God's Word through conversation. Ask questions, get context, and grow in your understanding of the Bible.
Get Our Apps
Jeremiah 38:20 Artwork
Jeremiah 38:20 - "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."
"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." - Jeremiah 38:20
Jeremiah 38:13 - "So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison."
Jeremiah 38:1–13
Jeremiah 38:24 - "¶ Then said Zedekiah unto Jeremiah, Let no man know of these words, and thou shalt not die."
Jeremiah 38:6 - "Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire."
Jeremiah 38:28 - "So Jeremiah abode in the court of the prison until the day that Jerusalem was taken: and he was there when Jerusalem was taken."
Jeremiah 32:38 - "And they shall be my people, and I will be their God:"
Jeremiah 38:12 - "And Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah, Put now these old cast clouts and rotten rags under thine armholes under the cords. And Jeremiah did so."
Jeremiah 38:19 - "And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me."
Jeremiah 38:14 - "¶ Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that is in the house of the LORD: and the king said unto Jeremiah, I will ask thee a thing; hide nothing from me."
Jeremiah 38:21 - "But if thou refuse to go forth, this is the word that the LORD hath shewed me:"
Jeremiah 51:38 - "They shall roar together like lions: they shall yell as lions' whelps."
Jeremiah 38:8 - "Ebed-melech went forth out of the king's house, and spake to the king, saying,"
Jeremiah 38:7 - "¶ Now when Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin;"
Luke 20:38 - "For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him."
Exodus 38:20 - "And all the pins of the tabernacle, and of the court round about, were of brass."
Jeremiah 38:6 (KJVA) 6 Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.
Luke 20:27-38. All people of color.
Jeremiah 38:10 - "Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirty men with thee, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die."
Jeremiah 38:1 - "Then Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashur the son of Malchiah, heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken unto all the people, saying,"
Jeremiah 49:38 - "And I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the LORD."
"And they shall be my people, and I will be their God:" - Jeremiah 32:38
Jeremiah 38:27 - "Then came all the princes unto Jeremiah, and asked him: and he told them according to all these words that the king had commanded. So they left off speaking with him; for the matter was not perceived."
Psalms 38:20 - "They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is."
Jeremiah 38:15 - "Then Jeremiah said unto Zedekiah, If I declare it unto thee, wilt thou not surely put me to death? and if I give thee counsel, wilt thou not hearken unto me?"
Job 38:20 - "That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?"
Jeremiah 50:38 - "A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols."
"So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison." - Jeremiah 38:13
Jeremiah 38:11 - "So Ebed-melech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took thence old cast clouts and old rotten rags, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah."