This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur the son of Malchiah and Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah, saying,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This isn't just another message; it's a sign that even the king, in a moment of crisis, acknowledges Jeremiah's unique connection to God, sending high-ranking officials to seek divine counsel. This act, however, is tinged with desperation, as these very officials will later try to silence Jeremiah, revealing a deep hypocrisy in their plea.
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur the son of Malchiah and Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah, saying,
English Standard Version (ESV)
King Zedekiah, facing the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, sends two officials to consult Jeremiah. This is a critical moment where the king, despite his wavering faith and political pressures, acknowledges Jeremiah's prophetic authority, seeking divine counsel in their desperate situation. The message that follows reveals God's stern response to their plea, highlighting the dire consequences of their rebellion and misplaced trust.
In times of immense pressure, even kings who might dismiss God's messengers seek their counsel. What does this moment reveal about Zedekiah and Jeremiah's status?
Here, King Zedekiah, facing the terrifying advance of Babylon, sends emissaries to Jeremiah. This isn't just a casual inquiry; it's a desperate plea from the highest level of government.
Acknowledging God's Voice
Sending Pashur and Zephaniah shows Zedekiah recognized Jeremiah as someone who truly heard from the LORD. It's a tacit admission that God's word, delivered through Jeremiah, held significant weight, even amidst political turmoil. This echoes how King Hezekiah sought Isaiah’s counsel in a similar crisis.
A Moment of Truth
While Zedekiah seeks divine intervention, the context reveals a complex spiritual state. He and his officials likely hoped for a favorable outcome, perhaps relying on past miraculous interventions. However, this desire for comfort, without a heart turned to God, reveals a superficial faith, a common struggle even today.
The name Pashur appears in connection with Jeremiah's ministry more than once. Why is it important to know this isn't the same Pashur from chapter 20?
It's crucial to distinguish between the Pashurs mentioned in Jeremiah's prophecy.
Pashur the Persecutor
In Jeremiah 20, Pashur, son of Immer, is identified as a priest who struck Jeremiah and put him in the stocks. This Pashur was actively hostile to the prophet and his message, earning a new name, 'Magor-missabib' (Terror-all-around).
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Pashur the Royal Messenger
The Pashur in Jeremiah 21 is the son of Malchiah. He, along with Zephaniah, is sent by King Zedekiah to inquire of Jeremiah. While they serve the king, they likely represent a faction hoping for a military solution, and later they turn against Jeremiah. This distinction helps us understand the shifting political and religious landscape and the different individuals engaging with Jeremiah's difficult prophecies.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
The proper name of the covenant God of Israel, revealed to Moses, emphasizing His self-existence, eternity, and faithfulness to His covenant promises.
kohen · Hebrew Noun
A priest was a mediator appointed by God to represent the people before Him, performing sacrifices and administering the law; in the Old Testament, it refers specifically to the descendants of Aaron who served in the tabernacle or temple.
This desperate plea to Jeremiah by King Zedekiah occurred at the very beginning of Jerusalem's final, catastrophic siege. Zedekiah's messengers sought divine intervention, hoping God would miraculously lift the siege, but the prophet's message revealed God's judgment was inevitable due to their rebellion and unfaithfulness.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, conquers Jerusalem and deports some of the royal family and skilled workers to Babylon. This marks the beginning of Judah's decline and Babylonian dominance.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and many more Judeans to Babylon. Zedekiah, Jehoiachin's uncle, is installed as king, a vassal of Babylon.
c. 589 BC
Zedekiah's Revolt Begins
King Zedekiah, against Jeremiah's advice, rebels against Babylonian rule and seeks an alliance with Egypt. This action seals Jerusalem's fate.
c. 588 BC— this verse
Babylonian Siege of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar returns with his army to lay siege to Jerusalem, cutting off supplies and escape routes for its inhabitants. The siege will last for about two years.
c. 588 BC
Zedekiah Sends Envoys to Jeremiah
Facing the devastating reality of the siege, King Zedekiah sends two high-ranking officials, Pashur and Zephaniah, to ask Jeremiah to inquire of the LORD for them, seeking a favorable outcome.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
After a prolonged siege, Jerusalem falls to the Babylonians. The city and the Temple are destroyed, and the remaining population is exiled to Babylon.
This passage shows a similar situation where a king (Hezekiah) seeks counsel from a prophet (Isaiah) during a time of national crisis and siege, highlighting the king's recognition of the prophet's divine connection.
Jeremiah 37:3-10This passage describes another instance where King Zedekiah sends messengers to Jeremiah, but in this case, it's during the actual siege, providing a contrasting context to this earlier inquiry before the siege truly tightened.
Ezekiel 20:1-4This passage features elders coming to the prophet Ezekiel with a similar request to inquire of the Lord, demonstrating a recurring pattern of seeking divine guidance in times of national distress, even if their hearts were not fully turned to God.
Isaiah 30:1-2This passage critiques the very approach Zedekiah and his officials are taking – seeking help from foreign alliances (Egypt) rather than truly relying on God – showing a broader theme of misplaced trust that Jeremiah's message will address.
barnesJeremiah 21:1: "The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, when king Zedekiah sent unto him Pashur the son of Melchiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, saying,"
By sending this embassy Zedekiah acknowledged that Jeremiah held the same position in the kingdom which Isaiah had held under Hezekiah 2 Kings 19:2 . Pashur and Zephaniah belonged to the party who were for resisting Nebuchadnezzar by force of arms.
clarkeJeremiah 21:1: "The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, when king Zedekiah sent unto him Pashur the son of Melchiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, saying,"
The word which came unto Jeremiah - The chapters in the remaining parts of this prophecy seem strangely interchanged. This subject has been mentioned in the introduction, and some tables given; and to these the critical reader is requested to refer. The discourse here was delivered about the ninth year or the reign o…
This isn't just another message; it's a sign that even the king, in a moment of crisis, acknowledges Jeremiah's unique connection to God, sending high-ranking officials to seek divine counsel. This act, however, is tinged with desperation, as these very officials will later try to silence Jeremiah, revealing a deep hypocrisy in their plea.
King Zedekiah, facing the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, sends two officials to consult Jeremiah. This is a critical moment where the king, despite his wavering faith and political pressures, acknowledges Jeremiah's prophetic authority, seeking divine counsel in their desperate situation. The message that follows reveals God's stern response to their plea, highlighting the dire consequences of their rebellion and misplaced trust.
King Zedekiah, facing the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, sends two officials to consult Jeremiah. This is a critical moment where the king, despite his wavering faith and political pressures, acknowledges Jeremiah's prophetic authority, seeking divine counsel in their desperate situation. The message that follows reveals God's stern response to their plea, highlighting the dire consequences of their rebellion and misplaced trust.
"This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur the son of Malchiah and Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah, saying," — This isn't just another message; it's a sign that even the king, in a moment of crisis, acknowledges Jeremiah's unique connection to God, sending high-ranking officials to seek divine counsel. This a…
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Last reviewed October 2026