Jeremiah 38:6
Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּקְח֣וּ
Then took
H3947
וַיִּקְח֣וּ
Then took
Strong's:
H3947
Word #:
1 of 26
to take (in the widest variety of applications)
אֶֽת
H853
אֶֽת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
2 of 26
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ
Jeremiah
H3414
יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ
Jeremiah
Strong's:
H3414
Word #:
3 of 26
jirmejah, the name of eight or nine israelites
וַיַּשְׁלִ֨כוּ
and cast
H7993
וַיַּשְׁלִ֨כוּ
and cast
Strong's:
H7993
Word #:
4 of 26
to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively)
אֹת֜וֹ
H853
אֹת֜וֹ
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
5 of 26
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וּבַבּ֤וֹר
And in the dungeon
H953
וּבַבּ֤וֹר
And in the dungeon
Strong's:
H953
Word #:
7 of 26
a pit hole (especially one used as a cistern or a prison)
בֶן
the son
H1121
בֶן
the son
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
9 of 26
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
אֲשֶׁר֙
H834
אֲשֶׁר֙
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
11 of 26
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
בַּחֲצַ֣ר
that was in the court
H2691
בַּחֲצַ֣ר
that was in the court
Strong's:
H2691
Word #:
12 of 26
a yard (as inclosed by a fence); also a hamlet (as similarly surrounded with walls)
הַמַּטָּרָ֔ה
of the prison
H4307
הַמַּטָּרָ֔ה
of the prison
Strong's:
H4307
Word #:
13 of 26
a jail (as a guard-house); also an aim (as being closely watched)
וַיְשַׁלְּח֥וּ
and they let down
H7971
וַיְשַׁלְּח֥וּ
and they let down
Strong's:
H7971
Word #:
14 of 26
to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
אֶֽת
H853
אֶֽת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
15 of 26
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ
Jeremiah
H3414
יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ
Jeremiah
Strong's:
H3414
Word #:
16 of 26
jirmejah, the name of eight or nine israelites
וּבַבּ֤וֹר
And in the dungeon
H953
וּבַבּ֤וֹר
And in the dungeon
Strong's:
H953
Word #:
18 of 26
a pit hole (especially one used as a cistern or a prison)
מַ֙יִם֙
there was no water
H4325
מַ֙יִם֙
there was no water
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
20 of 26
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
כִּ֣י
H3588
כִּ֣י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
21 of 26
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
אִם
H518
אִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
22 of 26
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
Cross References
Jeremiah 37:21Then Zedekiah the king commanded that they should commit Jeremiah into the court of the prison, and that they should give him daily a piece of bread out of the bakers' street, until all the bread in the city were spent. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.Psalms 69:2I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.Jeremiah 37:16When Jeremiah was entered into the dungeon, and into the cabins, and Jeremiah had remained there many days;Zechariah 9:11As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.Acts 16:24Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.Psalms 40:2He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.Psalms 109:5And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.Jeremiah 38:22And, 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.Genesis 37:24And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.
Historical Context
Cisterns were deep pits for water storage. When empty, they became prisons or execution chambers. Jeremiah's rescue from the miry clay echoes Psalm 40:2.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you persevere when opposition to God's truth becomes life-threatening?
- What does Jeremiah's deliverance from the cistern teach about God's faithfulness to His servants?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The princes cast Jeremiah into a muddy cistern where 'he sank in the mire.' This attempted murder through exposure and slow death shows the depths of opposition to God's word. Yet God preserves His prophet through Ebed-melech's intervention (38:7-13). Faithful witnesses often face death threats, but God's purposes prevail. The cistern foreshadows Christ's burial and resurrection.