Jeremiah 40:15

Authorized King James Version

Then Johanan the son of Kareah spake to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know it: wherefore should he slay thee, that all the Jews which are gathered unto thee should be scattered, and the remnant in Judah perish?

Word-by-Word Analysis

וְיוֹחָנָ֣ן

H3110

Then Johanan

jochanan, the name of nine israelites

בֶּן

H1121

the son

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

קָרֵ֡חַ

H7143

of Kareah

kareach, an israelite

לֵאמֹ֗ר

H559

saying

to say (used with great latitude)

אֶל

H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

גְּדַלְיָהוּ֩

H1436

to Gedaliah

gedaljah, the name of five israelites

בַסֵּ֨תֶר

H5643

secretly

a cover (in a good or a bad, a literal or a figurative sense)

בַּמִּצְפָּ֜ה

H4709

in Mizpah

mitspah, the name of two places in palestine

לֵאמֹ֗ר

H559

saying

to say (used with great latitude)

#10

אֵ֤לְכָה

H1980

to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

#11

נָּא֙

H4994

'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction

#12

יַכֶּ֣כָּה

H5221

I pray thee and I will slay

to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)

#13

אֶת

H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

#14

יִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל

H3458

Ishmael

jishmael, the name of abraham's oldest son, and of five israelites

#15

בֶּן

H1121

the son

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

#16

נְתַנְיָ֔ה

H5418

of Nethaniah

nethanjah, the name of four israelites

#17

וְאִ֖ישׁ

H376

and no man

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)

#18

לֹ֣א

H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

#19

יֵדָ֑ע

H3045

shall know

to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o

#20

לָ֧מָּה

H4100

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and

#21

יַכֶּ֣כָּה

H5221

I pray thee and I will slay

to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)

#22

נֶּ֗פֶשׁ

H5315

properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment

#23

וְנָפֹ֙צוּ֙

H6327

unto thee should be scattered

to dash in pieces, literally or figuratively (especially to disperse)

#24

כָּל

H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

#25

יְהוּדָ֔ה

H3064

thee that all the Jews

a jehudite (i.e., judaite or jew), or descendant of jehudah (i.e., judah)

#26

הַנִּקְבָּצִ֣ים

H6908

which are gathered

to grasp, i.e., collect

#27

אֵלֶ֔יךָ

H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

#28

וְאָבְדָ֖ה

perish

properly, to wander away, i.e., lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)

#29

שְׁאֵרִ֥ית

H7611

and the remnant

a remainder or residual (surviving, final) portion

#30

יְהוּדָֽה׃

H3063

in Judah

jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

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

How does this passage contribute to our understanding of from physical deliverance in the Old Testament to spiritual redemption in the New, and what implications does this have for Christian discipleship?
What systematic theological implications arise from this verse's treatment of salvation, and how does it contribute to a biblical theology of soteriology and the doctrine of salvation?
What practical applications emerge from understanding salvation as presented in this verse, particularly in light of addressing questions of religious pluralism and the exclusivity of Christ?

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