Jeremiah 38:14
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Zedekiah insists Jeremiah "hide nothing," but the choice of a "third entry" of the Temple—likely a more private, less public passage—reveals his desire to receive God's word without the public's scrutiny or the pressure of his advisors. This shows his internal conflict: he wants to hear God’s truth, but only in a way that won't complicate his political situation too much.
King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah the prophet and received him at the third entrance of the temple of the LORD. The king said to Jeremiah, “I will ask you a question; hide nothing from me.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
King Zedekiah, facing the overwhelming might of Babylon, secretly sends for Jeremiah in a private chamber of the Temple, still wrestling with the prophet's dire warnings. He implores Jeremiah to be completely honest about God's message, desperate for any word of hope or direction, even after previously imprisoning the prophet.
Why did King Zedekiah choose a specific, private entrance within the Temple complex for his meeting with Jeremiah? It wasn't just about avoiding crowds; it was about seeking a private audience with God's messenger.
Seeking God's Counsel in Secret
Zedekiah sends for Jeremiah and meets him at the 'third entrance of the temple of the LORD.' This wasn't a casual encounter. Scholars suggest this entrance was likely a less public passage, perhaps connecting directly from the palace to a more secluded area of the Temple courts.
Zedekiah's urgent plea, 'I will ask you a question; hide nothing from me,' reveals more than just curiosity. What does this command expose about his state of mind and his relationship with truth?
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The Weight of Unspoken Truth
Zedekiah's words, "I will ask you a thing; hide nothing from me," carry immense weight. It's a demand for complete honesty, a desperate plea for clarity in a moment of profound uncertainty.
Understand the original words
nabi · Hebrew Noun
A person divinely called to speak God's word to humanity. Prophets serve as intermediaries, declaring divine judgment, calling for repentance, or revealing God's will, often in the face of intense opposition or rejection.
hekal · Hebrew Noun
The dwelling place of God's presence on earth, central to Israel's worship. It represents the holiness of God and the place where humanity encounters the divine, though it can also be a site of judgment when the people are unfaithful.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The proper name for the God of Israel, the covenant-keeping God. It is the personal, self-existent name revealed to Moses, emphasizing God's faithfulness and relationship with His people.
Zedekiah's desperate, clandestine meeting with Jeremiah highlights his internal conflict. He sought God's word but feared the consequences, revealing a man torn between divine truth and political expediency on the brink of catastrophe.
c. 597 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and many Judean leaders to Babylon. Zedekiah, Jehoiachin's uncle, is placed on the throne as a vassal king.
c. 589 BC
Siege of Jerusalem Begins
Nebuchadnezzar returns to quell a rebellion and lays siege to Jerusalem. The city faces extreme hardship, starvation, and imminent destruction.
c. 588 BC
Jeremiah Rescued from Cistern
Jeremiah is thrown into a muddy cistern by officials for prophesying Jerusalem's fall. He is rescued by Ebed-Melech, a Cushite eunuch in the palace.
c. 588 BC— this verse
Zedekiah Questions Jeremiah Privately
King Zedekiah, seeking divine counsel amid the siege, secretly summons Jeremiah to a private meeting within the temple complex. He implores the prophet to reveal God's word honestly.
c. 587 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
After a lengthy siege, Babylonian forces breach Jerusalem's walls. King Zedekiah attempts to flee but is captured, blinded, and taken to Babylon.
c. 587 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
The remaining population of Jerusalem, except for the very poorest, is deported to Babylon. This marks the end of the southern kingdom of Judah.
King Saul, like Zedekiah, sought guidance from a prophet but struggled with obedience, highlighting the recurring theme of leaders wrestling with God's word.
2 Chronicles 18:15King Ahab, before facing battle, asks Micaiah the prophet to speak only the truth, mirroring Zedekiah's plea to Jeremiah, yet Ahab ultimately rejected the divine counsel.
Proverbs 29:1This verse speaks of those who are repeatedly reproved but remain stubborn, which deeply reflects Zedekiah's dangerous position of seeking counsel while resisting its implications.
Ecclesiastes 7:2The wisdom of going to a house of mourning or a house of feasting applies here, as Zedekiah, in a time of crisis, seeks the solemn truth from God's prophet, a difficult but necessary step.
barnesJeremiah 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."
The third entry - There was probably a passage from the palace to the temple at this entry, and the meeting would take place in some private chamber close by.
calvinJeremiah 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."
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.
Et misit rex Zedechias et tulit (hoc est, accersivit) Jeremiam Pro…
Zedekiah insists Jeremiah "hide nothing," but the choice of a "third entry" of the Temple—likely a more private, less public passage—reveals his desire to receive God's word without the public's scrutiny or the pressure of his advisors. This shows his internal conflict: he wants to hear God’s truth, but only in a way that won't complicate his political situation too much.
King Zedekiah, facing the overwhelming might of Babylon, secretly sends for Jeremiah in a private chamber of the Temple, still wrestling with the prophet's dire warnings. He implores Jeremiah to be completely honest about God's message, desperate for any word of hope or direction, even after previously imprisoning the prophet.
King Zedekiah, facing the overwhelming might of Babylon, secretly sends for Jeremiah in a private chamber of the Temple, still wrestling with the prophet's dire warnings. He implores Jeremiah to be completely honest about God's message, desperate for any word of hope or direction, even after previously imprisoning the prophet.
"King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah the prophet and received him at the third entrance of the temple of the LORD. The king said to Jeremiah, “I will ask you a question; hide nothing from me.”" — Zedekiah insists Jeremiah "hide nothing," but the choice of a "third entry" of the Temple—likely a more private, less public passage—reveals his desire to receive God's word without the public's scru…
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Last reviewed October 2026
