Jeremiah 38:4
Then the officials said to the king, “Let this man be put to death, for he is weakening the hands of the soldiers who are left in this city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking such words to them. For this man is not seeking the welfare of this people, but their harm.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The princes frame Jeremiah's prophecy not as a divine message, but as a deliberate act to undermine their military and societal resolve, accusing him of seeking harm rather than welfare. This reveals how readily those in power twist God's truth to serve their own agenda and silence unwelcome voices.
Jeremiah, recently pulled from a horrifying dungeon, is once again speaking God's word, declaring that staying in Jerusalem means certain death by famine, sword, or plague, while surrendering to the Babylonians offers a chance at life. Hearing this, four of Jerusalem's princes immediately rush to King Zedekiah, demanding Jeremiah's execution for undermining the city's defenses and morale, accusing him of wishing harm rather than welfare upon his own people.
Jeremiah's words are causing people to lose hope and surrender. The leaders see this as a direct threat to their war effort and accuse him of treason.
The princes in Jeremiah 38:4 accuse the prophet of 'weakening the hands' of the soldiers and the people. This wasn't just about making people sad; it was about undermining their will to fight.
Disheartening the Defenders
Imagine a general telling his troops that defeat is certain. What would happen? Their resolve would crumble, their fighting spirit would vanish. That’s how these leaders saw Jeremiah’s message: he was telling Jerusalem it would be conquered, and their only hope was to surrender to the Babylonians. This message, they argued, made the remaining soldiers and citizens feel like their struggle was pointless. They weren't just demoralized; they were losing the will to defend their city.
Seeking Harm, Not Welfare
The leaders’ core accusation is that Jeremiah isn’t seeking the 'welfare' of the people but their 'harm.' From their perspective, Jeremiah's prophecy of doom and his advice to surrender was the ultimate harm. It meant giving up their city, their homes, and their freedom. They couldn't see that his message, though painful, was actually the only path to survival, as it avoided a bloody, hopeless last stand that would likely result in more death and destruction.
Jeremiah wasn't acting out of malice or personal gain. His message, though disastrous for Jerusalem's pride, came from a higher authority.
The princes viewed Jeremiah's words as treason, but the text, and later commentators, reveal a different perspective. Jeremiah was not a traitor undermining his nation; he was a prophet relaying God's unavoidable judgment.
A Message from Above
Jeremiah’s prophecies were not his own ideas or strategies for political gain. He was delivering a message entrusted to him by God. As one commentator notes, 'Had Jeremiah not had a divine commission, he might justly have been accused of treason.' But he have God's commission. The leaders’ accusation ignores the divine mandate behind Jeremiah's words.
Understand the original words
sar · Hebrew Noun
High-ranking individuals, princes, or leaders who hold authority within a government, council, or royal court; they are responsible for administration and policy.
shalom · Hebrew Noun
The general well-being, peace, prosperity, and wholeness of an individual or community; it encompasses both physical safety and spiritual harmony.
The dire circumstances of Jerusalem's final siege, with famine and constant threat of Babylonian conquest, created a climate of desperation. Officials accused Jeremiah of undermining morale and actively harming the people, revealing how a prophet's message of surrender, though intended for survival, could be seen as treason by those clinging to resistance.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, begins deporting Jewish leaders and skilled workers to Babylon, marking the start of Judah's subjugation.
597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports more people, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, further weakening Jerusalem.
588-586 BC
Siege and Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar's armies lay siege to Jerusalem. The city endures immense suffering from famine and disease before its final destruction.
c. 587-586 BC— this verse
Jeremiah Imprisoned and Accused
Amidst the siege, Jeremiah delivers a message of surrender, leading officials to accuse him of treason and have him thrown into a cistern.
This passage shows a similar accusation against Jeremiah where officials demand his death for prophesying the destruction of the Temple, framing his words as harmful to the people.
1 Samuel 17:10This verse highlights the concept of 'weakening the hands' of soldiers, as Goliath's taunts are described as discouraging the Israelite army, mirroring the accusation against Jeremiah by the princes.
Acts 4:18-20Peter and John are threatened with death for preaching in Jesus' name, and they respond by stating they must obey God rather than men, similar to Jeremiah's unwavering prophetic message despite opposition.
1 Corinthians 1:18The message of the cross, while foolishness to those perishing, is the power of God; this parallels Jeremiah's message, which seemed like weakness and harm to the princes but was God's truth for survival.
Romans 8:7Paul speaks of the 'mind of the flesh' being hostile to God and unable to please Him, which resonates with the princes' rejection of Jeremiah's God-inspired message because it clashed with their worldly perspective and desire for resistance.
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 38:4: "Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death: for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt."
The prophet now seemeth under sad circumstances, the princes seek his life, though for delivering no other doctrine than he had been preaching for twenty years; their pretence was, hi…
The princes frame Jeremiah's prophecy not as a divine message, but as a deliberate act to undermine their military and societal resolve, accusing him of seeking harm rather than welfare. This reveals how readily those in power twist God's truth to serve their own agenda and silence unwelcome voices.
Jeremiah, recently pulled from a horrifying dungeon, is once again speaking God's word, declaring that staying in Jerusalem means certain death by famine, sword, or plague, while surrendering to the Babylonians offers a chance at life. Hearing this, four of Jerusalem's princes immediately rush to King Zedekiah, demanding Jeremiah's execution for undermining the city's defenses and morale, accusing him of wishing harm rather than welfare upon his own people.
Jeremiah, recently pulled from a horrifying dungeon, is once again speaking God's word, declaring that staying in Jerusalem means certain death by famine, sword, or plague, while surrendering to the Babylonians offers a chance at life. Hearing this, four of Jerusalem's princes immediately rush to King Zedekiah, demanding Jeremiah's execution for undermining the city's defenses and morale, accusing him of wishing harm rather than welfare upon his own people.
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The True Welfare
What constitutes 'welfare'? The princes equated it with military resistance and the preservation of their city at all costs. Jeremiah, however, understood that true welfare, in God's eyes, sometimes meant submission to judgment to preserve life. His advice to surrender to the Babylonians, though it meant loss of property and freedom, was the only path to saving lives from a futile and bloody battle. He sought the people's ultimate good, even if it meant immediate suffering and loss.
The king, caught between his rebellious princes and a prophet delivering God's word, struggles to assert his authority.
Jeremiah 38:4-6 reveals a king caught in a difficult position, pressured by his own officials. His response highlights the complex dynamics of leadership and the consequences of yielding to popular or powerful opposition.
Pressure from the Princes
The princes forcefully demand Jeremiah's death, using their arguments about his damaging words. They don't just suggest it; they 'beseech' the king, indicating strong political pressure. The historical context shows these princes held significant influence and were determined to silence Jeremiah.
A Weak King's Response
King Zedekiah, as depicted in this chapter, seems to struggle with asserting his will against the princes. While he initially expresses some deference to Jeremiah's message ('He is in your hands'), he ultimately succumbs to the princes' demand for punishment. He permits them to take Jeremiah and cast him into a dungeon, a move that directly leads to Jeremiah’s near-death experience.
Echoes of Pilate
Commentators draw parallels between Zedekiah’s capitulation here and Pilate’s decision regarding Jesus. Both leaders were swayed by external pressures and the clamor of accusers, ultimately handing over a man they had some inclination to protect, rather than standing firm on what might be right or just.
c. 587-586 BC
Ebed-melech Intervenes for Jeremiah
An Ethiopian eunuch in the king's court hears of Jeremiah's plight and pleads with King Zedekiah to rescue the prophet from the cistern.
586 BC
Final Destruction of Jerusalem
After the city walls are breached, Jerusalem is sacked, the Temple is destroyed, and the remaining population is exiled to Babylon.
"Then the officials said to the king, “Let this man be put to death, for he is weakening the hands of the soldiers who are left in this city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking such words to them. For this man is not seeking the w…" — The princes frame Jeremiah's prophecy not as a divine message, but as a deliberate act to undermine their military and societal resolve, accusing him of seeking harm rather than welfare. This reveals…
