Jeremiah 38:11-12
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The detail that these weren't just any rags, but "old rags and worn-out clothes," highlights Ebed-melech's resourcefulness and care. He didn't just grab any old material; he specifically sought out soft, tattered items from the king's wardrobe, understanding they were needed to pad the ropes and prevent the frayed prophet from being further injured as he was pulled from the pit.
So Ebed-melech took the men with him and went to the house of the king, to a wardrobe in the storehouse, and took from there old rags and worn-out clothes, which he let down to Jeremiah in the cistern by ropes. Then Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah, “Put the rags and clothes between your armpits and the ropes.” Jeremiah did so.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah has just been thrown into a cistern filled with mud by the princes, who sought his death for his prophecies of doom. An Ethiopian eunuch named Ebed-melech, hearing of Jeremiah's plight and seeing the injustice, boldly intervenes. He goes to the king for permission to rescue Jeremiah and then gathers men to pull the prophet out, taking old clothes from the king's storehouse to cushion the ropes.
Jeremiah is in deep trouble, condemned by powerful leaders. Who steps in to help, and what does it take to act when everyone else is against you?
The scene here is tense. Jeremiah, a prophet speaking God's truth, has been thrown into a cistern and left to die by the princes. But Ebed-melech, an Ethiopian eunuch serving in King Zedekiah's court, hears about it. Instead of staying silent and safe, he takes action.
A Bold Move
Ebed-melech doesn't just think about helping; he acts. He gathers men and goes to the king's house. This wasn't a casual stroll. He's deliberately intervening in a situation where powerful people have already made a harsh judgment. It takes serious courage to go against the established authorities, especially when they've shown they can be brutal.
God's Instrument
Ebed-melech is a reminder that God can use anyone, even those in high places who might not have been the most obvious choice. His faithfulness and compassion shine through, demonstrating that genuine kindness can flourish even in oppressive circumstances.
Jeremiah is in a terrible pit, both literally and figuratively. What specific, thoughtful actions show the depth of Ebed-melech's concern?
It's easy to see the big picture: a man needs to be rescued from a pit. But Ebed-melech's care goes much deeper, shown in the very specific items he gathers.
Practical Care
Ask a follow-up
He doesn't just send down any old rope. He goes to the king's 'wardrobe' or 'storehouse'—a place with materials. He takes 'old rags and worn-out clothes.' The scholars suggest these weren't just random scraps; they were specifically chosen.
Preventing Further Harm
These rags were likely intended to be tied around the ropes. Why? So that when Jeremiah was hauled up from the deep, muddy cistern, the rough ropes wouldn't cut into his emaciated body. His arms would have been weak, his skin raw. This detail shows incredible thoughtfulness and a desire to alleviate suffering in the most practical way possible.
God's Provision
It’s a beautiful picture of God’s people caring for one another, using what’s available to show compassion and prevent further harm. Even the 'worn-out' things have value when used for a purpose of mercy.
Understand the original words
Ebed-melek · Hebrew Proper Noun
A royal official or servant, often implying a position of trust or service within a king's household. In the Bible, such figures can act as agents of mercy or authority, bridging the gap between the monarch and others.
bor · Hebrew Noun
A pit or underground reservoir used for holding water. In biblical imagery, it frequently symbolizes a place of entrapment, affliction, isolation, or the depths of Sheol, often associated with judgment or extreme hardship.
This scene unfolds during the final, desperate days of Jerusalem, under siege by the Babylonians. Ebed-melech's courageous act of compassion, using discarded palace rags to save Jeremiah, highlights how God can use the humble and the overlooked to protect His messengers even in the direst political and military circumstances.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, besieges Jerusalem and deports thousands of Judeans, including members of the royal family and skilled workers. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Babylonian forces again conquer Jerusalem. King Jehoiachin and many more Judeans are exiled to Babylon, intensifying the sense of national crisis and prophetic warning.
c. 588-586 BC
Siege and Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar lays siege to Jerusalem for a prolonged period. The city faces extreme hardship and starvation before its final destruction and a third major deportation.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Jeremiah Imprisoned in Cistern
Jeremiah is thrown into a muddy cistern by the Judean princes who oppose his prophecies of doom. He is left to languish in the muck, a severe punishment for his message.
c. 586 BC
Ebed-melech Rescues Jeremiah
Ebed-melech, an Ethiopian eunuch in King Zedekiah's court, hears of Jeremiah's plight and bravely intervenes. He secures permission to rescue the prophet from the cistern, using old rags to cushion the ropes.
David, though pursued by Saul, refers to his enemies as 'the dead dog,' highlighting the extreme lowliness and danger Jeremiah was in, yet still seen as valuable by God and by those who cared for him.
2 Corinthians 4:7Paul's description of believers as 'earthen vessels' holding a 'heavenly treasure' echoes the use of worn-out, humble materials like old rags to rescue Jeremiah, showing God's power working through the ordinary and even the discarded.
Philippians 4:11-12Paul's learned ability to be content in 'any and every circumstance,' whether in fullness or in hunger, reflects Jeremiah's endurance in extreme hardship, demonstrating spiritual resilience amidst physical suffering.
Acts 16:25The jailer's concern for Paul and Silas after the earthquake, leading him to tend to their immediate needs, parallels Ebed-melech's compassionate and practical action in providing relief and ensuring Jeremiah's safe rescue from the cistern.
barnesJeremiah 38:11: "So Ebedmelech 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."
Old cast clouts ... - Rags of torn garments and rags of worn-out garments.
pooleJeremiah 38:11: "So Ebedmelech 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."
No text from Poole on this verse.
The detail that these weren't just any rags, but "old rags and worn-out clothes," highlights Ebed-melech's resourcefulness and care. He didn't just grab any old material; he specifically sought out soft, tattered items from the king's wardrobe, understanding they were needed to pad the ropes and prevent the frayed prophet from being further injured as he was pulled from the pit.
Jeremiah has just been thrown into a cistern filled with mud by the princes, who sought his death for his prophecies of doom. An Ethiopian eunuch named Ebed-melech, hearing of Jeremiah's plight and seeing the injustice, boldly intervenes. He goes to the king for permission to rescue Jeremiah and then gathers men to pull the prophet out, taking old clothes from the king's storehouse to cushion the ropes.
Jeremiah has just been thrown into a cistern filled with mud by the princes, who sought his death for his prophecies of doom. An Ethiopian eunuch named Ebed-melech, hearing of Jeremiah's plight and seeing the injustice, boldly intervenes. He goes to the king for permission to rescue Jeremiah and then gathers men to pull the prophet out, taking old clothes from the king's storehouse to cushion the ropes.
"So Ebed-melech took the men with him and went to the house of the king, to a wardrobe in the storehouse, and took from there old rags and worn-out clothes, which he let down to Jeremiah in the cistern by ropes. Then Ebed-melech the Ethiopi…" — The detail that these weren't just any rags, but "old rags and worn-out clothes," highlights Ebed-melech's resourcefulness and care. He didn't just grab any old material; he specifically sought out s…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
