“Thus says the LORD: He who stays in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence, but he who goes out to the Chaldeans shall live. He shall have his life as a prize of war, and live.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "life as a prize of war" is key here. It's not just about survival, but about snatching life itself from the jaws of certain death, like a hard-won trophy. This stark image highlights the desperate, dire straits Jerusalem was in, where simply escaping with your life was the greatest possible victory.
“Thus says the LORD: He who stays in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence, but he who goes out to the Chaldeans shall live. He shall have his life as a prize of war, and live.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah, previously imprisoned, is speaking these words to the people, reiterating a message he delivered years earlier: staying in the besieged city means death, but surrender to the Babylonians offers a chance at survival, albeit with loss. This declaration, coming from the prophet while in custody, is perceived as treason by certain princes, who then accuse him to the king, demanding his execution for undermining the city's defense.
Jerusalem is on the brink of collapse. God's message through Jeremiah offers not comfort, but a terrifyingly clear choice with life-altering consequences.
Jeremiah 38:2 lays out a brutal ultimatum. On one hand, staying in the city means certain death by the most horrific means: the sword of the enemy, the emptiness of famine, and the terror of plague.
But there's another path. God offers survival by surrendering to the enemy. It’s not a comfortable escape; it's described as having one's 'life as a prize of war.' This means escaping with nothing but your life, leaving all possessions and status behind, snatched from the jaws of destruction.
Jeremiah isn't just delivering news; he's delivering a message that the city's leaders find treasonous and worthy of death. Why would they react so strongly?
The princes accuse Jeremiah of weakening the defenders and seeking the people's hurt, not their welfare (Jeremiah 38:4). They see his prophecy as undermining their war effort and inciting desertion. To them, advising surrender to the enemy is the ultimate betrayal.
However, Jeremiah’s counsel is rooted in divine revelation. He isn't advising based on military strategy or political expediency, but on God's judgment. The princes, blinded by their own agenda and pride, refuse to believe God's word through Jeremiah. They cling to the hope of resistance, even when God has declared the city doomed.
Ask a follow-up
What does it truly mean to have your 'life as a prize of war'? It's a sobering thought that strips away all earthly security.
The phrase 'life as a prize of war' is a powerful image. It suggests that in this desperate situation, life itself is the only thing to be salvaged. All other things—property, comfort, status, homeland—are lost.
This perspective challenges our modern understanding of success and security. We often equate a good life with material possessions and stability. But here, God declares that in the face of judgment, the greatest victory is simply to live, even if it means losing everything else. It’s a radical redefinition of what's valuable when ultimate reality confronts us.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
The proper name of the God of Israel, the self-existent, covenant-keeping One who revealed Himself to Moses. He is the sovereign Creator and Redeemer of His people.
chereb · Hebrew Noun
A sharp, metal weapon used in warfare; biblically, it often symbolizes divine judgment, war, or the destructive power of human conflict.
ra‘ab · Hebrew Noun
A severe shortage of food; in the Old Testament, it is frequently depicted as a covenant curse for disobedience or a tool of divine judgment upon a nation.
deber · Hebrew Noun
A deadly, widespread disease or plague; in biblical usage, it is often seen as a sign of God’s judgment upon a sinful or rebellious people.
This verse speaks directly to the desperate final days of Jerusalem's siege. Jeremiah's stark message offers the only glimmer of hope: surrender to the Babylonians means life, albeit a life stripped bare, as a 'prize of war'. This was a terrifyingly counter-intuitive message to those fighting for their homeland, leading to accusations of treason against the prophet.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, begins his campaigns against Judah, deporting some of the nobility and skilled workers, including Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of Judah's subjugation.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports more of Judah's elite, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon. Zedekiah is installed as a puppet king.
c. 588-587 BC
Siege of Jerusalem Begins
Nebuchadnezzar lays siege to Jerusalem after Zedekiah rebels against Babylonian rule. The city is surrounded, leading to severe famine and suffering within.
Jeremiah 38:1-2— this verse
Jeremiah's Warning and Condemnation
While Jerusalem is under siege, Jeremiah, acting under God's command, declares that those who surrender to the Chaldeans will live, while those who remain will die by various calamities. This message is delivered from the court of the prison where Jeremiah is held.
Jeremiah 38:4-6
Jeremiah Cast into the Dungeon
Jeremiah's message is seen as treasonous by the princes, who persuade King Zedekiah to hand the prophet over to them. They cast Jeremiah into a cistern dungeon, intending for him to die there.
Jeremiah 38:7-13
Ebed-Melech Rescues Jeremiah
An Ethiopian eunuch named Ebed-Melech hears of Jeremiah's plight and appeals to King Zedekiah. The king orders Ebed-Melech to rescue Jeremiah, which he does, saving the prophet from the dungeon.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
After a prolonged siege and widespread suffering, Babylonian forces breach Jerusalem's walls. The city is plundered, the Temple is destroyed, and the remaining population is exiled to Babylon, fulfilling Jeremiah's prophecies.
This passage is a direct parallel, showing that Jeremiah had delivered this same stark message of choice and consequence earlier, emphasizing God's consistent word amidst shifting circumstances.
Deuteronomy 28:64-65This passage from Deuteronomy describes the scattering and exile that would befall Israel if they disobeyed, echoing the dire consequences Jeremiah proclaimed and the dispersion the people faced.
Ezekiel 12:12-13Similar to Jeremiah's prophecy, Ezekiel illustrates the fate of a king who rebels against Babylon, emphasizing that he will be taken captive and led into exile, reflecting the inevitable outcome described in Jeremiah 38:2.
Luke 14:26-27Jesus speaks of the cost of discipleship, stating that one must 'hate' their family and carry their cross to be his disciple, which, like Jeremiah's message, highlights that true life and commitment often require radical sacrifice and a reordering of priorities.
John 11:50Caiaphas's prophecy, though unintentional, speaks to the necessity of one man dying for the people so the nation might live. This echoes the difficult choice presented by Jeremiah, where clinging to the city (the 'nation' in a sense) leads to death, while letting go (symbolized by going out to the Chaldeans) offers a chance at life, albeit a life stripped bare.
calvinJeremiah 38:1-4: "Then Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashur the son of Malchiah, heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken unto all the people, saying,"
Then Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashur the son of Malchiah, heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken unto all the people, saying,
Et audivit Saphatias fillus Matthew tam, et Guadalias filius Passhur, e…
pooleJeremiah 38:2: "Thus saith the LORD, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live."
As to what is Jeremiah 38:3 , it is no more than had for some time been the constant tenor of this prophet’s prophecies. The crime seemeth to lie in this, that in such a time of extreme danger he should repeat this prophecy, and also advise the people to leave…
The phrase "life as a prize of war" is key here. It's not just about survival, but about snatching life itself from the jaws of certain death, like a hard-won trophy. This stark image highlights the desperate, dire straits Jerusalem was in, where simply escaping with your life was the greatest possible victory.
Jeremiah, previously imprisoned, is speaking these words to the people, reiterating a message he delivered years earlier: staying in the besieged city means death, but surrender to the Babylonians offers a chance at survival, albeit with loss. This declaration, coming from the prophet while in custody, is perceived as treason by certain princes, who then accuse him to the king, demanding his execution for undermining the city's defense.
Jeremiah, previously imprisoned, is speaking these words to the people, reiterating a message he delivered years earlier: staying in the besieged city means death, but surrender to the Babylonians offers a chance at survival, albeit with loss. This declaration, coming from the prophet while in custody, is perceived as treason by certain princes, who then accuse him to the king, demanding his execution for undermining the city's defense.
"“Thus says the LORD: He who stays in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence, but he who goes out to the Chaldeans shall live. He shall have his life as a prize of war, and live." — The phrase "life as a prize of war" is key here. It's not just about survival, but about snatching life itself from the jaws of certain death, like a hard-won trophy. This stark image highlights the…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026