“My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they did to Jeremiah the prophet by casting him into the cistern, and he will die there of hunger, for there is no bread left in the city.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's striking here is Ebed-melech's careful wording: "he is like to die for hunger." While the ESV translates this as "like to die," the original Hebrew actually says something closer to "he is dead." This isn't just a minor difference; it highlights how dire Jeremiah's situation is, making Ebed-melech's appeal more urgent and his courage more profound given the city's dire scarcity.
“My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they did to Jeremiah the prophet by casting him into the cistern, and he will die there of hunger, for there is no bread left in the city.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The princes of Jerusalem, furious with Jeremiah’s continued prophecies of doom amid the city’s siege, have thrown him into a cistern, a deep pit likely filled with mud. Ebed-melech, an Ethiopian eunuch in the king's court, hears of this cruel act and, despite the danger, boldly approaches King Zedekiah. He pleads for Jeremiah’s life, emphasizing that the prophet will surely die of starvation in the cistern given the city's dwindling food supplies.
Imagine being a nobody, and seeing something deeply wrong. Do you stay silent, or do you speak up, even if it puts you in danger?
Ebed-Melech, an Ethiopian eunuch in the king's household, wasn't high in the political ranks. Yet, he heard about Jeremiah being thrown into a cistern.
A Dangerous Situation
Jeremiah was left to die, starving in a pit. The city was under siege, and food was scarce. Even if the king had ordered some food for Jeremiah, it's unlikely he'd receive it in such a dire place.
A Public Accusation
Ebed-Melech didn't just whisper his concern. He went directly to King Zedekiah, who was holding court publicly. He didn't shy away from accusing the princes who had imprisoned Jeremiah: 'These men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet.' This was incredibly brave, challenging powerful officials in front of everyone.
Who do you think God would use to rescue a prophet in desperate need? Probably someone important, right? Think again.
In a moment of extreme crisis for Jeremiah, and deep spiritual failing for the Jewish leaders, God raised up an unlikely rescuer: Ebed-Melech, a foreigner, an Ethiopian eunuch.
The Outsider's Compassion
Calvin points out the stark contrast: the Jewish princes, the 'holy seed of Abraham,' were silent or complicit, while this 'alien' showed profound humanity and courage. Ebed-Melech acted not out of national loyalty, but out of a deep sense of right and wrong, and compassion for a suffering servant of God.
Ask a follow-up
A Divine Strategy
This wasn't an accident. God orchestrated Ebed-Melech's intervention. It highlights that God isn't limited to using those who fit our expectations. He can use anyone, regardless of background or status, to accomplish His purposes and show His mercy.
When someone is truly in peril, every second counts. What does the prophet's situation reveal about the stakes?
Ebed-Melech’s words paint a grim picture, emphasizing the immediate and fatal danger Jeremiah was in.
A Vivid Description
'He is like to die there of hunger' isn't just a casual observation. The commentaries suggest this phrasing vividly describes what would certainly happen if no help came. The Hebrew can even imply 'he is dying.' The combination of being thrown into a deep pit, likely filled with mud and filth, and the total lack of food in the besieged city, meant Jeremiah was facing a slow, agonizing death.
The Reality of Siege Warfare
The mention of 'no bread left in the city' underscores the severity of Jerusalem's situation. With the Babylonian army surrounding them, starvation was a real and present threat to everyone. For a prisoner in a dungeon, any hope of receiving food, even the meager rations he might have received before, was extinguished.
Understand the original words
rāʿâ · Hebrew Noun
Morally reprehensible actions or character that are contrary to the will, nature, and commands of God; it represents a departure from righteousness and often leads to divine judgment.
nābîʾ · Hebrew Noun
One who is divinely chosen and commissioned by God to speak His message, call people to repentance, and often predict future events, acting as an intermediary between God and His people.
rāʿāb · Hebrew Noun
The state of lacking food, which in the Bible is often a consequence of divine judgment, war, or siege, leading to physical suffering and testing one's reliance upon God for provision.
Ebed-melech's courageous plea showcases how even in the darkest hours, during a brutal siege and widespread despair, individuals can act with profound humanity and faithfulness, challenging oppressive systems when others remain silent.
c. 597 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar deports thousands of Jews, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon. This event signals the weakening of Judah and increasing Babylonian dominance.
c. 588 BC
Siege of Jerusalem Begins
Nebuchadnezzar lays siege to Jerusalem as King Zedekiah's rebellion proves futile. The city faces severe shortages and extreme hardship during the prolonged siege.
c. 587 BC
Jeremiah Imprisoned
Jeremiah is thrown into a cistern by officials who accuse him of weakening the city's defense by prophesying its imminent fall. This is part of a larger pattern of opposition he faces.
c. 587 BC— this verse
Ebed-melech Intervenes
The Ethiopian eunuch Ebed-melech hears of Jeremiah's plight and bravely appeals to King Zedekiah, highlighting the prophet's impending death by starvation in the cistern.
c. 587 BC
Jeremiah Rescued from Cistern
Acting on Ebed-melech's plea, King Zedekiah orders Jeremiah's rescue. The prophet is drawn up from the cistern, though he remains under house arrest.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
After a brutal siege, Babylonian forces breach Jerusalem's walls. The city is plundered, the Temple is destroyed, and most of the remaining population is deported.
This passage parallels the courage of Ebed-melech, an outsider, showing compassion and action when those within the religious and political establishment (the priest and Levite) failed to help a suffering person. It highlights how God often raises unlikely people to show kindness and justice.
Esther 4:14Esther, like Ebed-melech, was in a position of proximity to power and faced a choice to remain silent or speak up for her people. Ebed-melech's brave intervention for Jeremiah mirrors Mordecai's belief that Esther might have been raised up 'for such a time as this'.
Daniel 3:16-18Similar to how Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego declared they would not bow to the king's idol even if it meant death, Ebed-melech risked his position and potentially his life by speaking truth to power against injustice, demonstrating profound courage in the face of danger.
1 Kings 17:10-16This passage shows a desperate famine where bread was scarce, echoing the situation in Jeremiah 38:9. It also features a prophet in need, relying on an unexpected source (the widow of Zarephath) for sustenance, demonstrating God's provision even in dire scarcity.
pooleJeremiah 38:9: "My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon; and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is: for there is no more bread in the city."
The courage of this good eunuch was very remarkable; he did not stay till the king came in, but went to the king, as he was sitting in the gate of Benjamin , administering justice, or receiving and answering petitions, where doubtless he was not alon…
clarkeJeremiah 38:9: "My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon; and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is: for there is no more bread in the city."
My lord the king, these men have done evil - He must have been much in the king's confidence, and a humane and noble spirited man, thus to have raised his voice against the powerful cabal already mentioned. There is no more bread in the city - They h…
What's striking here is Ebed-melech's careful wording: "he is like to die for hunger." While the ESV translates this as "like to die," the original Hebrew actually says something closer to "he is dead." This isn't just a minor difference; it highlights how dire Jeremiah's situation is, making Ebed-melech's appeal more urgent and his courage more profound given the city's dire scarcity.
The princes of Jerusalem, furious with Jeremiah’s continued prophecies of doom amid the city’s siege, have thrown him into a cistern, a deep pit likely filled with mud. Ebed-melech, an Ethiopian eunuch in the king's court, hears of this cruel act and, despite the danger, boldly approaches King Zedekiah. He pleads for Jeremiah’s life, emphasizing that the prophet will surely die of starvation in the cistern given the city's dwindling food supplies.
The princes of Jerusalem, furious with Jeremiah’s continued prophecies of doom amid the city’s siege, have thrown him into a cistern, a deep pit likely filled with mud. Ebed-melech, an Ethiopian eunuch in the king's court, hears of this cruel act and, despite the danger, boldly approaches King Zedekiah. He pleads for Jeremiah’s life, emphasizing that the prophet will surely die of starvation in the cistern given the city's dwindling food supplies.
"“My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they did to Jeremiah the prophet by casting him into the cistern, and he will die there of hunger, for there is no bread left in the city.”" — What's striking here is Ebed-melech's careful wording: "he is like to die for hunger." While the ESV translates this as "like to die," the original Hebrew actually says something closer to "he is dea…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026