Jeremiah 38:22

Authorized King James Version

And, behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah's house shall be brought forth to the king of Babylon's princes, and those women shall say, Thy friends have set thee on, and have prevailed against thee: thy feet are sunk in the mire, and they are turned away back.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וְהִנֵּ֣ה
lo!
#2
כָל
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#3
הַנָּשִׁ֗ים
And behold all the women
a woman
#4
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#5
נִשְׁאֲרוּ֙
that are left
properly, to swell up, i.e., be (causatively, make) redundant
#6
בְּבֵ֣ית
house
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
#7
מֶ֣לֶךְ
in the king
a king
#8
יְהוּדָ֔ה
of Judah's
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
#9
מוּצָא֕וֹת
shall be brought forth
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
#10
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#11
שָׂרֵ֖י
princes
a head person (of any rank or class)
#12
מֶ֣לֶךְ
in the king
a king
#13
בָּבֶ֑ל
of Babylon's
babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire
#14
וְהֵ֣נָּה
themselves (often used emphatic for the copula, also in indirect relation)
#15
אֹמְרֹ֗ת
and those women shall say
to say (used with great latitude)
#16
הִסִּית֜וּךָ
have set thee on
properly, to prick, i.e., (figuratively) stimulate; by implication, to seduce
#17
וְיָכְל֤וּ
and have prevailed
to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might)
#18
לְךָ֙
H0
#19
אַנְשֵׁ֣י
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
#20
שְׁלֹמֶ֔ךָ
safe, i.e., (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e., health, prosperity, peace
#21
הָטְבְּע֥וּ
are sunk
to sink
#22
בַבֹּ֛ץ
in the mire
mud (as whitish clay)
#23
רַגְלֶ֖ךָ
against thee thy feet
a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda
#24
נָסֹ֥גוּ
and they are turned away
properly, to flinch, i.e., (by implication) to go back, literally (to retreat) or figuratively (to apostatize)
#25
אָחֽוֹר׃
back
the hinder part; hence (adverb) behind, backward; also (as facing north) the west

Analysis

This verse develops the salvation theme central to Jeremiah. The concept of divine revelation reflects the development of salvation within biblical theology. The literary structure and word choice here contribute to biblical literature contributing to the canon's theological witness, advancing the author's theological argument. The original language emphasizes careful word choice that would have carried specific theological weight for the original audience, providing deeper understanding of the author's theological intention.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

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