Godolias Made Governor

Jeremiah 47

Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard releases Jeremiah from his chains at Rama and lets him choose to remain in the land under Godolias, the governor appointed over Judah at Massepha. Scattered military leaders and their men gather to Godolias, who swears to protect them, but he refuses to believe Joanan's warning that Ismael has been sent to kill him.

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

ThomsonTHE word which came from the Lord to Jeremias after Nabouzardan the chief cook, he who was of Rama, had dismissed him: When the chief cook found him in chains in the midst of the captives of Juda who were to be carried to Babylon,

BrentonThe word that came from the Lord to Jeremias, after that Nabuzardan the captain of the guard had let him go out of Rama, when he had taken him in manacles in the midst of the captivity of Juda, even those who were carried to Babylon.

GreekὉ λόγος ὁ γενόμενος παρὰ Κυρίου πρὸς Ἱερεμίαν, μετὰ τὸ ἀποστεῖλαι αὐτὸν Ναβουζαρδὰν τὸν ἀρχιμάγειρον τὸν ἐκ Ῥαμὰ, ἐν τῷ λαβεῖν αὐτὸν ἐν χειροπέδαις, ἐν μέσῳ ἀποικίας Ἰούδα τῶν ἠγμένων εἰς Βαβυλῶνα.

KJVThe word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all that were carried away captive of Jerusalem and Judah, which were carried away captive unto Babylon.

JPSThe word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah, that were carried away captive unto Babylon.

Thomsonhe took him and said to him, The Lord thy God hath denounced all these evils against this place,

BrentonAnd the chief captain of the guard took him, and said to him, The Lord thy God has pronounced all these evils upon this place:

GreekΚαὶ ἔλαβεν αὐτὸν ὁ ἀρχιμάγειρος, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ, Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου ἐλάλησε τὰ κακὰ ταῦτα ἐπὶ τὸν τόπον τοῦτον·

KJVAnd the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The LORD thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place.

JPSAnd the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him: ‘The LORD thy God pronounced this evil upon this place;

Thomsonand the Lord hath done them, because you sinned against Him and did not hearken to His voice.

Brentonand the Lord has done it; because ye sinned against him, and hearkened not to his voice.

GreekΚαὶ ἐποίησε Κύριος, ὅτι ἡμάρτετε αὐτῷ, καὶ οὐκ ἠκούσατε τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ.

KJVNow the LORD hath brought it, and done according as he hath said: because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you.

JPSand the LORD hath brought it, and done according as He spoke; because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not hearkened to His voice, therefore this thing is come upon you.

ThomsonBehold I have loosed thee from the chains which were on thy bands. If it seemeth good to thee to go with me to Babylon, I will have an eye over thee. But if not, Go thy way.

BrentonBehold, I have loosed thee from the manacles that were upon thine hands. If it seem good to thee to go with me to Babylon, then will I set mine eyes upon thee.

GreekἸδοὺ ἔλυσά σε ἀπὸ τῶν χειροπέδων τῶν ἐπὶ τὰς χεῖράς σου· εἰ καλὸν ἐναντίον σου ἐλθεῖν μετʼ ἐμοῦ εἰς Βαβυλῶνα, καὶ θήσω τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς μου ἐπὶ σέ.

KJVAnd now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which were upon thine hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come; and I will look well unto thee: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go.

JPSAnd now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which are upon thy hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come, and I will look well unto thee; but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear; behold, all the land is before thee; whither it seemeth good and right unto thee to go, thither go.—

ThomsonReturn to Godolias son of Achiam son of Saphan whom the king of Babylon hath set over the land of Juda and dwell with him among the people in the land of Juda. Go whithersoever it seemeth best in thine eyes to go. So the chief cook gave him gifts and dismissed him;

BrentonBut if not, depart; return to Godolias the son of Achicam, the son of Saphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed governor in the land of Juda, and dwell with him in the midst of the people in the land of Juda: to whatsoever places it seems good in thine eyes to go, do thou even go. And the captain of the guard made him presents, and let him go.

GreekΕἰ δὲ μὴ, ἀπότρεχε, ἀνάστρεψον πρὸς τὸν Γοδολίαν υἱὸν Ἀχεικὰμ, υἱοῦ Σαφὰν, ὃν κατέστησε βασιλεὺς Βαβυλῶνος ἐν γῇ Ἰούδα, καὶ οἴκησον μετʼ αὐτοῦ ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ λαοῦ ἐν γῇ Ἰούδα, εἰς ἅπαντα τὰ ἀγαθὰ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου τοῦ πορευθῆναι ἐκεῖ, καὶ πορεύου· καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ὁ ἀρχιμάγειρος δῶρα, καὶ ἀπέστειλεν αὐτόν.

KJVNow 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.

JPSYet he would not go back.—Go back then 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 an allowance and a present, and let him go.

Thomsonand he went to Godolias to Massepha and dwelt among his people who were left in the land.

BrentonAnd he came to Godolias to Massepha, and dwelt in the midst of his people that was left in the land.

GreekΚαὶ ἦλθε πρὸς Γοδολίαν εἰς Μασσηφὰ, καὶ ἐκάθισεν ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ, τοῦ καταλειφθέντος ἐν τῇ γῇ.

KJVThen went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.

JPSThen went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah, and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.

ThomsonNow when all the generals of the army in the country, both they and their men heard that the king of Babylon had set Godolias over the land, and had committed to him the men and their wives whom he had not removed to Babylon,

BrentonAnd all the leaders of the host that was in the country, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Godolias governor in the land, and they committed to him the men and their wives, whom Nabuchodonosor had not removed to Babylon.

GreekΚαὶ ἤκουσαν πάντες οἱ ἡγεμόνες τῆς δυνάμεως τῆς ἐν ἀγρῷ, αὐτοὶ καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες αὐτῶν, ὅτι κατέστησε βασιλεὺς Βαβυλῶνος τὸν Γοδολίαν ἐν τῇ γῇ, καὶ παρακατέθεντο αὐτῷ ἄνδρας καὶ γυναῖκας αὐτῶν, οὓς οὐ κατῴκισεν εἰς Βαβυλῶνα.

KJVNow when all the captains of the forces which were in the fields, even they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed unto him men, and women, and children, and of the poor of the land, of them that were not carried away captive to Babylon;

JPSNow when all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, even they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed unto him men, and women, and children, and of the poorest of the land, of them that were not carried away captive to Babylon;

Thomsonthere came to Godolias, at Massepha, Ismael son of Nathanias and Joanan son of Karae and Saraias son of Thanaemeth and the sons of Jophe the Netophathite and Ezonias son of Mochathi, they and their men;

BrentonAnd there came to Godolias to Massepha Ismael the son of Nathanias, and Joanan son of Caree, and Saræas the son of Thanaemeth, and the sons of Jophe the Netophathite, and Ezonias son of the Mochathite, they and their men.

GreekΚαὶ ἦλθε πρὸς Γοδολίαν εἰς Μασσηφὰ Ἰσραὴλ υἱὸς Ναθανίου, καὶ Ἰωάναν υἱὸς Κάρηε, καὶ Σαραίας υἱὸς Θαναεμὲθ, καὶ υἱοὶ Ἰωφὲ τοῦ Νετωφαθὶ, καὶ Ἐζονίας υἱὸς τοῦ Μωχαθὶ, αὐτοὶ, καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες αὐτῶν.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonand Godolias swore to them and their men, saying, Be not afraid of the Chaldeans: dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will be better for you.

BrentonAnd Godolias swore to them and to their men, saying, Be not afraid before the children of the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be better for you.

GreekΚαὶ ὤμοσεν αὐτοῖς Γοδολίας, καὶ τοῖς ἀνδράσιν αὐτῶν, λέγων, μὴ φοβηθῆτε ἀπὸ προσώπου τῶν παίδων τῶν Χαλδαίων· κατοικήσατε ἐν τῇ γῇ, καὶ ἐργάσασθε τῷ βασιλεῖ Βαβυλῶνος, καὶ βέλτιον ἔσται ὑμῖν.

KJVAnd Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan sware unto them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.

JPSAnd Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan swore unto them and to their men, saying: ‘Fear not to serve the Chaldeans; dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.

ThomsonAs for me, behold I reside before you at Massepha, to meet the Chaldeans who may come against you. But as for you, collect wine and summer fruits and oil and lay them up in your vessels and dwell in the cities over which you have taken possession.

BrentonAnd, behold, I dwell in your presence at Massepha, to stand before the Chaldeans who shall come against you: and do ye gather grapes, and fruits, and oil, and put them into your vessels, and dwell in the cities which ye have obtained possession of.

GreekΚαὶ ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ κάθημαι ἐναντίον ὑμῶν εἰς Μασσηφὰ, στῆναι κατὰ πρόσωπον τῶν Χαλδαίων, οἳ ἂν ἔλθωσιν ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς· καὶ ὑμεῖς συνάγετε οἶνον καὶ ὀπώραν καὶ ἔλαιον, καὶ βάλετε εἰς τὰ ἀγγεῖα ὑμῶν, καὶ οἰκήσατε ἐν ταῖς πόλεσιν αἷς κατεκρατήσατε.

KJVAs for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah, to serve the Chaldeans, which will come unto us: but ye, gather ye wine, and summer fruits, and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken.

JPSAs for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah, to stand before the Chaldeans that may come unto us; but ye, gather ye wine and summer fruits and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken.’

ThomsonAll the Jews also who were in Moab and among the Ammonites and those in Idumea and in all that country, when they heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant for Juda and had set Godolias son of Achiam over them,

BrentonAnd all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the children of Ammon, and those that were in Idumea, and those that were in all the rest of the country, heard that the king of Babylon had granted a remnant to Juda, and that he had appointed over them Godolias the son of Achicam.

GreekΚαὶ πάντες οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι οἱ ἐν Μωὰβ, καὶ ἐν υἱοῖς Ἀμμὼν, καὶ οἱ ἐν τῇ Ἰδουμαίᾳ, καὶ οἱ ἐν πάσῃ τῇ γῇ, ἤκουσαν ὅτι ἔδωκε βασιλεὺς Βαβυλῶνος κατάλειμμα τῷ Ἰούδᾳ, καὶ ὅτι κατέστησεν ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς τὸν Γοδολίαν υἱὸν Ἀχεικάμ.

KJVLikewise when all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the Ammonites, and in Edom, and that were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan;

JPSLikewise when all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the children of Ammon, and in Edom, and that were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan;

Thomsoncame to Godolias into the land of Juda to Massepha, and collected wine and summer fruits in great abundance, and oil.

BrentonAnd they came to Godolias into the land of Juda, to Massepha, and gathered grapes, and very much summer fruit, and oil.

GreekΚαὶ ἦλθον πρὸς Γοδολίαν εἰς γῆν Ἰούδα εἰς Μασσηφὰ, καὶ συνήγαγον οἶνον, καὶ ὀπώραν πολλὴν σφόδρα, καὶ ἔλαιον.

KJVEven all the Jews returned out of all places whither they were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, unto Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits very much.

JPSthen all the Jews returned out of all places whither they were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, unto Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits in great abundance.

ThomsonAnd Joanan son of Karae and all the generals of the army who were in the country came to Godolias to Massepha

BrentonAnd Joanan the son of Caree, and all the leaders of the host, who were in the fields, came to Godolias to Massepha,

GreekΚαὶ Ἰωάναν υἱὸς Κάρηε, καὶ πάντες οἱ ἡγεμόνες τῆς δυνάμεως, οἱ ἐν τοῖς ἀγροῖς, ἦλθον πρὸς τὸν Γοδολίαν εἰς Μασσηφὰ,

KJVMoreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah,

JPSMoreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah,

Thomsonand said to him, Dost thou know that Beleissa king of the Ammonites hath sent Ismael to thee to take thy life.

Brentonand said to him, Dost thou indeed know that king Beleissa son of Ammon has sent Ismael to thee to slay thee? But Godolias believed them not.

Greekκαὶ εἶπον αὐτῷ, εἰ γνώσει γινώσκεις, ὅτι Βελεισσὰ βασιλεὺς υἱὸς Ἀμμὼν ἀπέστειλε πρὸς σὲ τὸν Ἰσμαὴλ πατάξαι σου ψυχήν; καὶ οὐκ ἐπίστευσεν αὐτοῖς Γοδολίας.

KJVAnd said unto him, Dost thou certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay thee? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.

JPSand said unto him: ‘Dost thou know that Baalis the king of the children of Ammon hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take thy life?’ But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.

ThomsonBut Godolias did not believe them. And when Joanan said privately to Godolias at Massepha, Let me, I pray thee, go and smite Ismael and let none know it; lest he kill thee; and all Juda who are gathered to thee, be dispersed and the remnant of Juda perish;

BrentonAnd Joanan said to Godolias secretly in Massepha, I will go now and smite Ismael, and let no man know it; lest he slay thee, and all the Jews that are gathered to thee be dispersed, and the remnant of Juda perish.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν Ἰωάναν τῷ Γοδολίᾳ κρυφαίως ἐν Μασσηφᾷ, πορεύσομαι δὴ καὶ πατάξω τὸν Ἰσμαὴλ, καὶ μηδεὶς γνώτω, μὴ πατάξῃ σου ψυχὴν, καὶ διασπαρῇ πᾶς Ἰούδα οἱ συνηγμένοι πρὸς σὲ, καὶ ἀπολοῦνται οἱ κατάλοιποι Ἰούδα.

KJVThen Johanan the son of Kareah spake to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know it: wherefore should he slay thee, that all the Jews which are gathered unto thee should be scattered, and the remnant in Judah perish?

JPSThen Johanan the son of Kareah spoke to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying: ‘Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know it; wherefore should he take thy life, that all the Jews that are gathered unto thee should be scattered, and the remnant of Judah perish?’

ThomsonGodolias said to Joanan, Thou must not do this: for what thou sayest of Ismael is false.

BrentonBut Godolias said to Joanan, Do not the thing, for thou speakest lies concerning Ismael.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Γοδολίας πρὸς Ἰωάναν, Μῆ ποιήσῃς τὸ πρᾶγμα, ὅτι ψευδῆ σὺ λέγεις ὑπὲρ Ἰσμαήλ.

KJVBut Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing: for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.

JPSBut Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah: ‘Thou shalt not do this thing; for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.’