Jeremiah 38:25
But if the princes hear that I have talked with thee, and they come unto thee, and say unto thee, Declare unto us now what thou hast said unto the king, hide it not from us, and we will not put thee to death; also what the king said unto thee:
Original Language Analysis
וְכִֽי
H3588
וְכִֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 26
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
יִשְׁמְע֣וּ
hear
H8085
יִשְׁמְע֣וּ
hear
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
2 of 26
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
4 of 26
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
דִּבֶּ֥ר
said
H1696
דִּבֶּ֥ר
said
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
5 of 26
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
אִתָּךְ֒
H854
אִתָּךְ֒
Strong's:
H854
Word #:
6 of 26
properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc
וּבָ֣אוּ
with thee and they come
H935
וּבָ֣אוּ
with thee and they come
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
7 of 26
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
הַגִּֽידָה
unto thee Declare
H5046
הַגִּֽידָה
unto thee Declare
Strong's:
H5046
Word #:
11 of 26
properly, to front, i.e., stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to
נָּ֨א
H4994
נָּ֨א
Strong's:
H4994
Word #:
12 of 26
'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction
מַה
H4100
מַה
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
14 of 26
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
דִּבֶּ֥ר
said
H1696
דִּבֶּ֥ר
said
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
15 of 26
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
אַל
H408
אַל
Strong's:
H408
Word #:
18 of 26
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
תְּכַחֵ֥ד
hide
H3582
תְּכַחֵ֥ד
hide
Strong's:
H3582
Word #:
19 of 26
to secrete, by act or word; hence (intensively) to destroy
מִמֶּ֖נּוּ
H4480
מִמֶּ֖נּוּ
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
20 of 26
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
וְלֹ֣א
H3808
וְלֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
21 of 26
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
נְמִיתֶ֑ךָ
it not from us and we will not put thee to death
H4191
נְמִיתֶ֑ךָ
it not from us and we will not put thee to death
Strong's:
H4191
Word #:
22 of 26
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
וּמַה
H4100
וּמַה
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
23 of 26
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
Historical Context
Court intrigue in ancient monarchies often centered on access to the king. Officials who learned of secret royal consultations would demand to know what counsel was given, fearing they were being excluded from decision-making or that the king might act on advice contrary to their faction's interests. Zedekiah's fear of his own officials reveals his weak grip on power.
Questions for Reflection
- What does Zedekiah's elaborate cover-up plan reveal about where he had already decided not to obey God?
- How does political maneuvering replace spiritual obedience in both ancient and modern religious leadership?
- Why craft careful lies to protect a meeting with God's prophet unless you've already rejected the message?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
But if the princes hear that I have talked with thee—Zedekiah's fear of discovery dominates his thinking. These princes (particularly those who had thrown Jeremiah in the cistern, 38:4-6) opposed any surrender message. Zedekiah's elaborate contingency planning (vv. 25-26) shows he spent more energy managing political optics than considering whether to obey God.
Declare unto us now what thou hast said unto the king—The verb nagad (נָגַד, "to declare/tell") echoes verse 15 where Jeremiah feared declaring God's message to Zedekiah. Now the concern is declaring the meeting's content to the princes. We will not put thee to death—This promise from the princes mirrors Zedekiah's oath (v. 16), but both are hollow: these officials had already tried to kill Jeremiah once (38:4-6), and Zedekiah lacked the courage to protect him if they tried again.