Jeremiah Arrested and Imprisoned

Jeremiah 44

After Zedekiah succeeds Joakim as king, he secretly sends to ask Jeremiah to pray for the people, and Jeremiah tells him that the retreating Chaldean army, drawn off by Pharaoh's approaching forces, will certainly return and take the city. When Jeremiah tries to leave Jerusalem for the land of Benjamin, he is seized on suspicion of desertion, beaten, and shut in a dungeon, until Zedekiah has him brought before him privately, hears the same message, and at Jeremiah's plea has him moved to the court of the prison instead.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonNOW Sedekias son of Josias, whom Nabuchodonosar had made king over Juda, reigned in the place of Joakim,

BrentonAnd Sedekias the son of Josias reigned instead of Joakim, whom Nabuchodonosor appointed to reign over Juda.

GreekΚαὶ ἐβασίλευσε Σεδεκίας υἱὸς Ἰωσεία ἀντὶ Ἰωακείμ, ὃν ἐβασίλευσε Ναβουχοδονόσορ βασιλεύειν τοῦ Ἰούδα.

KJVAnd king Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah.

JPSAnd Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned as king, instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah.

Thomsonand neither he nor his servants nor the people of the land hearkened to the words which the Lord spoke by the ministry of Jeremias. And king Sedekias

BrentonAnd he and his servants and the people of the land hearkened not to the words of the Lord, which he spoke by Jeremias.

GreekΚαὶ οὐκ ἤκουσαν αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ παῖδες αὐτοῦ καὶ ὁ λαὸς τῆς γῆς τοῦς λόγους Κυρίου, οὓς ἐλάλησεν ἐν χειρὶ Ἱερεμίου.

KJVBut neither he, nor his servants, nor the people of the land, did hearken unto the words of the LORD, which he spake by the prophet Jeremiah.

JPSBut neither he, nor his servants, nor the people of the land, did hearken unto the words of the LORD, which He spoke by the prophet Jeremiah.

Thomsonsent Joachel son of Selemias and Sophonias son of Maasias, the priest, to Jeremias saying, Pray now to the Lord for us.

BrentonAnd king Sedekias sent Joachal son of Selemias and Sophonias the priest son of Maasæas to Jeremias, saying, Pray now for us to the Lord.

GreekΚαὶ ἀπέστειλεν ὁ βασιλεὺς Σεδεκίας τὸν Ἰωάχαλ υἱὸν Σελεμίου, καὶ τὸν Σοφονίαν υἱὸν Μαασαίου τὸν ἱερέα πρὸς Ἱερεμίαν λέγων, πρόσευξαι δὴ περὶ ἡμῶν πρὸς Κύριον.

KJVAnd Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Pray now unto the LORD our God for us.

JPSAnd Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, to the prophet Jeremiah, saying: ‘Pray now unto the LORD our God for us.’

ThomsonNow Jeremias went out and came in through the midst of the city and they had not committed him to prison;

BrentonNow Jeremias came and went through the midst of the city: for they had not put him into the house of the prison.

GreekΚαὶ Ἱερεμίας ἦλθε καὶ διῆλθε διὰ μέσου τῆς πόλεως, καὶ οὐκ ἔδωκαν αὐτὸν εἰς τὸν οἶκον τῆς φυλακῆς.

KJVNow Jeremiah came in and went out among the people: for they had not put him into prison.

JPSNow Jeremiah came in and went out among the people; for they had not put him into prison.

Thomsonand the army of Pharao had come out of Egypt, and the Chaldeans had heard the news of them when they came up against Jerusalem.

BrentonAnd the host of Pharao was come forth out of Egypt; and the Chaldeans heard the report of them, and they went up from Jerusalem.

GreekΚαὶ δύναμις Φαραὼ ἐξῆλθεν ἐξ Αἰγύπτου, καὶ ἤκουσαν οἱ Χαλδαῖοι τὴν ἀκοὴν αὐτῶν, καὶ ἀνέβησαν ἐπὶ Ἰερουσαλήμ.

KJVThen Pharaoh’s army was come forth out of Egypt: and when the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem heard tidings of them, they departed from Jerusalem.

JPSAnd Pharaoh’s army was come forth out of Egypt; and when the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem heard tidings of them, they broke up from Jerusalem.

ThomsonThen a word of the Lord came to Jeremias, saying,

BrentonAnd the word of the Lord came to Jeremias, saying,

GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο λόγος Κυρίου πρὸς Ἱερεμίαν, λέγων,

KJVThen came the word of the LORD unto the prophet Jeremiah, saying,

JPSThen came the word of the LORD unto the prophet Jeremiah, saying:

ThomsonThus saith the Lord: Thus shalt thou say to the king of Juda who hath sent to thee to inquire of Me: Behold the army of Pharao which is coming to your assistance shall turn back to the land of Egypt,

BrentonThus said the Lord; Thus shalt thou say to the king of Juda who sent to thee, to seek me; Behold, the army of Pharao which is come forth to help you: they shall return to the land of Egypt:

Greekοὕτως εἶπε Κύριος, οὕτως ἐρεῖς πρὸς βασιλέα Ἰούδα τὸν ἀποστείλαντα πρὸς σὲ, τοῦ ἐκζητῆσαί με, ἰδοὺ δύναμις· Φαραὼ ἡ ἐξελθοῦσα ὑμῖν εἰς βοήθειαν· ἀποστρέψουσιν εἰς γῆν Αἰγύπτου,

KJVThus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say to the king of Judah, that sent you unto me to enquire of me; Behold, Pharaoh’s army, which is come forth to help you, shall return to Egypt into their own land.

JPS’Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel: Thus shall ye say to the king of Judah, that sent you unto Me to inquire of Me: Behold, Pharaoh’s army, which is come forth to help you, shall return to Egypt into their own land.

Thomsonand the Chaldeans shall return and fight against this city and take it and burn it with fire.

Brentonand the Chaldeans themselves shall turn again, and fight against this city, and take it, and burn it with fire.

Greekκαὶ ἀναστρέψουσιν αὐτοὶ οἱ Χαλδαῖοι, καὶ πολεμήσουσιν ἐπὶ τὴν πόλιν ταύτην, καὶ συλλήψονται αὐτὴν, καὶ καύσουσιν αὐτὴν ἐν πυρί.

KJVAnd the Chaldeans shall come again, and fight against this city, and take it, and burn it with fire.

JPSAnd the Chaldeans shall return, and fight against this city; and they shall take it, and burn it with fire.

ThomsonFor thus said the Lord, Flatter not yourselves, saying, The Chaldeans are retreating; they will depart from us. For they shall not depart.

BrentonFor thus saith the Lord; Suppose not in your hearts, saying, The Chaldeans will certainly depart from us: for they shall not depart.

GreekὍτι οὕτως εἶπε Κύριος, μὴ ὑπολάβητε ταῖς ψυχαῖς ὑμῶν, λέγοντες, ἀποτρέχοντες ἀπελεύσονται ἀφʼ ἡμῶν οἱ Χαλδαῖοι· ὅτι οὐ μὴ ἀπέλθωσι.

KJVThus saith the LORD; Deceive not yourselves, saying, The Chaldeans shall surely depart from us: for they shall not depart.

JPSThus saith the LORD: Deceive not yourselves, saying: The Chaldeans shall surely depart from us; for they shall not depart.

ThomsonNay, though you should smite all the army of the Chaldeans who are warring against you and only some wounded men should be left, everyone in his place; these shall rise up and burn this city with fire.

BrentonAnd though ye should smite the whole host of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there should be left a few wounded men, these should rise up each in his place, and burn this city with fire.

GreekΚαὶ ἐὰν πατάξητε πᾶσαν δύναμιν τῶν Χαλδαίων τοὺς πολεμοῦντας ὑμᾶς, καὶ καταλειφθῶσί τινες ἐκκεκεντημένοι, ἕκαστος ἐν τῷ τόπῳ αὐτοῦ οὗτοι ἀναστήσονται, καὶ καύσουσι τὴν πόλιν ταύτην ἐν πυρί.

KJVFor though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yet should they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire.

JPSFor though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yet would they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire.’

ThomsonNow when the army of the Chaldeans left Jerusalem on account of the army of Pharao,

BrentonAnd it came to pass, when the host of the Chaldeans had gone up from Jerusalem for fear of the host of Pharao,

GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο ὅτε ἀνέβη ἡ δύναμις τῶν Χαλδαίων ἀπὸ Ἱερουσαλὴμ ἀπὸ προσώπου τῆς δυνάμεως Φαραὼ,

KJVAnd it came to pass, that when the army of the Chaldeans was broken up from Jerusalem for fear of Pharaoh’s army,

JPSAnd it came to pass, that when the army of the Chaldeans was broken up from Jerusalem for fear of Pharaoh’s army,

ThomsonJeremias was going out of Jerusalem among the people with a design to go to the land of Benjamin, to make thence some purchase;

Brentonthat Jeremias went forth from Jerusalem to go into the land of Benjamin, to buy thence a property in the midst of the people.

Greekἐξῆλθεν Ἱερεμίας ἀπὸ Ἱερουσαλὴμ τοῦ πορευθῆναι εἰς γῆν Βενιαμεὶν, τοῦ ἀγοράσαι ἐκεῖθεν ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ λαοῦ·

KJVThen Jeremiah went forth out of Jerusalem to go into the land of Benjamin, to separate himself thence in the midst of the people.

JPSthen Jeremiah went forth out of Jerusalem to go into the land of Benjamin, to receive his portion there, in the midst of the people.

Thomsonbut when he was at the gate of Benjamin, a man there at whose house he stopped namely Sarouia son of Selemias, son of Ananias, took hold of Jeremias, saying, Thou art fleeing to the Chaldeans.

BrentonAnd he was in the gate of Benjamin, and there was there a man with whom he lodged, Saruia the son of Selemias, the son of Ananias; and he caught Jeremias, saying, Thou art fleeing to the Chaldeans.

GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο αὐτὸς ἐν πύλῃ Βενιαμὶν, καὶ ἐκεῖ ἄνθρωπος παρʼ ᾧ κατέλυε, Σαρουΐα υἱὸς Σελεμίου, υἱοῦ Ἀνανίου, καὶ συνέλαβε τὸν Ἱερεμίαν, λέγων, πρὸς τοὺς Χαλδαίους σὺ φεύγεις.

KJVAnd when he was in the gate of Benjamin, a captain of the ward was there, whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and he took Jeremiah the prophet, saying, Thou fallest away to the Chaldeans.

JPSAnd when he was in the gate of Benjamin, a captain of the ward was there, whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and he laid hold on Jeremiah the prophet, saying: ‘Thou fallest away to the Chaldeans.’

ThomsonTo which he replied, It is false. I am not fleeing to the Chaldeans. But Sarouia hearkened not to him, but took hold of Jeremias and brought him to the chiefs.

BrentonAnd he said, It is false; I do not flee to the Chaldeans. But he hearkened not to him; and Saruia caught Jeremias, and brought him to the princes.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε, ψεῦδος, οὐκ εἰς τοὺς Χαλδαίους ἐγὼ φεύγω· καὶ οὐκ εἰσήκουσεν αὐτοῦ· καὶ συνέλαβε Σαρουΐα τὸν Ἱερεμίαν, καὶ εἰσήγαγεν αὐτὸν πρὸς τοὺς ἄρχοντας.

KJVThen said Jeremiah, It is false; I fall not away to the Chaldeans. But he hearkened not to him: so Irijah took Jeremiah, and brought him to the princes.

JPSThen said Jeremiah: ‘It is false; I fall not away to the Chaldeans’; but he hearkened not to him; so Irijah laid hold on Jeremiah, and brought him to the princes.

ThomsonAnd the chiefs were enraged at Jeremias and smote him and committed him to the house of Jonathan the scribe; for they had made that a prison.

BrentonAnd the princes were very angry with Jeremias, and smote him, and sent him into the house of Jonathan the scribe: for they had made this a prison.

GreekΚαὶ ἐπικράνθησαν οἱ ἄρχοντες ἐπὶ Ἱερεμίαν, καὶ ἐπάταξαν αὐτὸν, καὶ ἀπέστειλαν αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν Ἰωνάθαν τοῦ γραμματέως, ὅτι ταύτην ἐποίησαν εἰς οἰκίαν φυλακῆς.

KJVWherefore the princes were wroth with Jeremiah, and smote him, and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe: for they had made that the prison.

JPSAnd the princes were wroth with Jeremiah, and smote him, and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe; for they had made that the prison.

ThomsonAnd when Jeremias had gone into the lowest apartment, even into the Chereth, and had been there many days, Sedekias sent for him.

BrentonSo Jeremias came into the dungeon, and into the cells, and he remained there many days.

GreekΚαὶ ἦλθεν Ἱερεμίας εἰς οἰκίαν τοῦ λάκκου, καὶ εἰς τὴν χερὲθ, καὶ ἐκάθισεν ἐκεῖ ἡμέρας πολλάς.

KJVWhen Jeremiah was entered into the dungeon, and into the cabins, and Jeremiah had remained there many days;

JPSWhen Jeremiah was come into the dungeon-house, and into the cells, and Jeremiah had remained there many days;

ThomsonAnd the king asked him privately to tell him whether there was a message from the Lord. And Jeremias said, There is. Thou shalt be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon.

BrentonThen Sedekias sent, and called him; and the king asked him secretly, saying, Is there a word from the Lord? and he said, There is: thou shalt be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon.

GreekΚαὶ ἀπέστειλε Σεδεκίας, καὶ ἐκάλεσεν αὐτὸν, καὶ ἠρώτα αὐτὸν ὁ βασιλεὺς κρυφαίως εἰπεῖν, εἰ ἔστιν ὁ λόγος παρὰ Κυρίου; καὶ εἶπεν, ἔστιν· εἰς χεῖρας βασιλέως Βαβυλῶνος παραδοθήσῃ.

KJVThen Zedekiah the king sent, and took him out: and the king asked him secretly in his house, and said, Is there any word from the LORD? And Jeremiah said, There is: for, said he, thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.

JPSthen Zedekiah the king sent, and fetched him; and the king asked him secretly in his house, and said: ‘Is there any word from the LORD?’ And Jeremiah said: ‘There is.’ He said also: ‘Thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.’

ThomsonThen Jeremias said to the king, Wherein have I offended thee and thy servants and this people, that thou hast committed me to prison?

BrentonAnd Jeremias said to the king, Wherein have I wronged thee, or thy servants, or this people, that thou puttest me in prison?

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν Ἱερεμίας τῷ βασιλεῖ, τί ἠδίκησά σε, καὶ τοὺς παῖδάς σου, καὶ τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον, ὅτι σὺ δίδως με εἰς οἰκίαν φυλακῆς;

KJVMoreover Jeremiah said unto king Zedekiah, What have I offended against thee, or against thy servants, or against this people, that ye have put me in prison?

JPSMoreover Jeremiah said unto king Zedekiah: ‘Wherein have I sinned against thee, or against thy servants, or against this people, that ye have put me in prison?

ThomsonWhere now are your prophets who prophesied to you saying, The king of Babylon shall not come against this land?

BrentonAnd where are your prophets who prophesied to you saying, The king of Babylon shall not come against this land?

GreekΚαὶ ποῦ εἰσιν οἱ προφῆται ὑμῶν οἱ προφητεύσαντες ὑμῖν, λέγοντες, ὅτι οὐ μὴ ἔλθῃ βασιλεὺς Βαβυλῶνος ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ταύτην;

KJVWhere are now your prophets which prophesied unto you, saying, The king of Babylon shall not come against you, nor against this land?

JPSWhere now are your prophets that prophesied unto you, saying: The king of Babylon shall not come against you, nor against this land?

ThomsonNow therefore, my Lord the king, let me find favour in thy sight. Why art thou sending me back to the house of Jonathan the scribe? Must I not die there?

BrentonNow therefore, my lord the king, let my supplication come before thy face: and why dost thou send me back to the house of Jonathan the scribe? and let me not on any account die there.

GreekΚαὶ νῦν, Κύριε βασιλεῦ, πεσέτω τὸ ἔλεός μου κατὰ πρόσωπόν σου· καὶ τί ἀποστρέφεις με εἰς οἰκίαν Ἰωνάθαν τοῦ γραμματέως; καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀποθάνω ἐκεῖ.

KJVTherefore hear now, I pray thee, O my lord the king: let my supplication, I pray thee, be accepted before thee; that thou cause me not to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there.

JPSAnd now hear, I pray thee, O my lord the king: let my supplication, I pray thee, be presented before thee; that thou cause me not to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there.’

ThomsonThereupon the king gave orders and they committed him to the guardhouse and gave him a loaf of bread a day from the bake-house until all the bread in the city was spent. So Jeremias remained in the court of the prison.

BrentonThen the king commanded, and they cast him into the prison, and gave him a loaf a day out of the place where they bake, until the bread failed out of the city. So Jeremias continued in the court of the prison.

GreekΚαὶ συνέταξεν ὁ βασιλεὺς, καὶ ἐνεβάλοσαν αὐτὸν εἰς οἰκίαν τῆς φυλακῆς, καὶ ἐδίδοσαν αὐτῷ ἄρτον ἕνα τῆς ἡμέρας, ἔξωθεν οὗ πέσσουσιν, ἕως ἐξέλιπον οἱ ἄρτοι ἐκ τῆς πόλεως· καὶ ἐκάθισεν Ἱερεμίας ἐν τῇ αὐλῇ τῆς φυλακῆς.

KJVThen Zedekiah the king commanded that they should commit Jeremiah into the court of the prison, and that they should give him daily a piece of bread out of the bakers’ street, until all the bread in the city were spent. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.

JPSThen Zedekiah the king commanded, and they committed Jeremiah into the court of the guard, and they gave him daily a loaf of bread out of the bakers’street, until all the bread in the city was spent. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.