Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version But now, my lord the king, please listen. Let me bring my petition before you: Do not send me back to the house of Jonathan the secretary, or I will die there.” New Living Translation Listen, my lord the king, I beg you. Don’t send me back to the dungeon in the house of Jonathan the secretary, for I will die there.” English Standard Version Now hear, please, O my lord the king: let my humble plea come before you and do not send me back to the house of Jonathan the secretary, lest I die there.” Berean Standard Bible But now please listen, O my lord the king. May my petition come before you. Do not send me back to the house of Jonathan the scribe, or I will die there.” Berean Literal Bible and now listen, please, O my lord the king: Let my petition, please, be accepted before you, and do not make me return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, that I should not die there. King James Bible Therefore hear now, I pray thee, O my lord the king: let my supplication, I pray thee, be accepted before thee; that thou cause me not to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there. New King James Version Therefore please hear now, O my lord the king. Please, let my petition be accepted before you, and do not make me return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there.” New American Standard Bible But now, please listen, my lord the king; please let my plea come before you and do not make me return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, so that I will not die there.” NASB 1995 “But now, please listen, O my lord the king; please let my petition come before you and do not make me return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, that I may not die there.” NASB 1977 “But now, please listen, O my lord the king; please let my petition come before you, and do not make me return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, that I may not die there.” Legacy Standard Bible But now, please listen, O my lord the king; please let my supplication come before you, and do not make me return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, that I may not die there.” Amplified Bible Therefore now, please listen, O my lord the king; please let my petition come before you and be acceptable and do not make me return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, that I may not die there.” Berean Annotated Bible But now please listen, O my lord the king. May my petition come before you. Do not send me back to the house of Jonathan (YHWH has given) the scribe, or I will die there.” Christian Standard Bible So now please listen, my lord the king. May my petition come before you. Don’t send me back to the house of Jonathan the scribe, or I will die there.” Holman Christian Standard Bible So now please listen, my lord the king. May my petition come before you. Don’t send me back to the house of Jonathan the scribe, or I will die there.” American Standard Version And now hear, I pray thee, O my lord the king: let my supplication, I pray thee, be presented before thee, that thou cause me not to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there. Contemporary English Version Please, don't send me back to that prison at Jonathan's house. If you do, I will die there." English Revised Version And now hear, I pray thee, O my lord the king: let my supplication, I pray thee, be accepted before thee; that thou cause me not to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there. GOD'S WORD® Translation But now, Your Majesty, please listen, and accept my plea for mercy. Don't return me to the scribe Jonathan's house, or I will die there." Good News Translation And now, Your Majesty, I beg you to listen to me and do what I ask. Please do not send me back to the prison in Jonathan's house. If you do, I will surely die there." International Standard Version Now, please listen, your majesty, and pay attention to what I'm asking you. Don't make me go back to the house of Jonathan the scribe, so I don't die there." NET Bible But now please listen, your royal Majesty, and grant my plea for mercy. Do not send me back to the house of Jonathan, the royal secretary. If you do, I will die there." New Heart English Bible Now please hear, my lord the king: please let my petition be presented before you, that you not cause me to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there." Webster's Bible Translation Therefore hear now, I pray thee, O my lord the king: let my supplication, I pray thee, be accepted before thee; that thou cause me not to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleBut now please listen, O my lord the king. May my petition come before you. Do not send me back to the house of Jonathan the scribe, or I will die there.” World English Bible Now please hear, my lord the king: please let my supplication be presented before you, that you not cause me to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd now, please listen, O my lord the king; please let my supplication fall before you, and do not cause me to return [to] the house of Jonathan the scribe, that I do not die there.” Berean Literal Bible and now listen, please, O my lord the king: Let my petition, please, be accepted before you, and do not make me return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, that I should not die there. Young's Literal Translation And now, hearken, I pray thee, my lord, O king, let my supplication fall, I pray thee, before thee, and cause me not to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, that I die not there.' Smith's Literal Translation And now, hear now my lord the king: my mercy shall fall now before thy face, and thou shalt not cause me to turn back to the house of Jonathan the scribe, and I shall not die there. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleNow therefore hear, I beseech thee, my lord the king: let my petition be accepted in thy sight: and send me not back into the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there. Catholic Public Domain Version Now therefore, listen, I beg you, my lord the king. Let my petition prevail in your sight. And do not send me back into the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there.” New American Bible Please hear me, my lord king! Grant my petition: do not send me back into the house of Jonathan the scribe, or I shall die there.” New Revised Standard Version Now please hear me, my lord king: be good enough to listen to my plea, and do not send me back to the house of the secretary Jonathan to die there.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleTherefore now listen to me, O my lord the king; let my supplication be acceptable before you, that you may not cause me to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Now hear me my Lord King, and my request shall be laid before you, and do not return me to the house of Jonathan the Scribe, that I will not die there" OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And now hear, I pray thee, O my lord the king: let my supplication, I pray thee, be presented before thee; that thou cause me not to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there.' Brenton Septuagint Translation Now therefore, my lord the king, let my supplication come before thy face: and why dost thou send me back to the house of Jonathan the scribe? and let me not on any account die there. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Jeremiah Imprisoned…19Where are your prophets who prophesied to you, claiming, ‘The king of Babylon will not come against you or this land’? 20But now please listen, O my lord the king. May my petition come before you. Do not send me back to the house of Jonathan the scribe, or I will die there.” 21So King Zedekiah gave orders for Jeremiah to be placed in the courtyard of the guard and given a loaf of bread daily from the street of the bakers, until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard.… Cross References But now please listen, O my lord the king. 2 Kings 6:26 As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, “Help me, my lord the king!” 2 Samuel 14:12 Then the woman said, “Please, may your servant speak a word to my lord the king?” “Speak,” he replied. 1 Kings 20:31 Then the servants of Ben-hadad said to him, “Look now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful. Let us go out to the king of Israel with sackcloth around our waists and ropes around our heads. Perhaps he will spare your life.” May my petition come before you. Esther 7:3 Queen Esther replied, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, grant me my life as my petition, and the lives of my people as my request. Esther 5:8 If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, may the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.” Esther 8:5 “If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if I have found favor in his sight, and the matter seems proper to the king, and I am pleasing in his sight, may an order be written to revoke the letters that the scheming Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces. Do not send me back to the house of Jonathan the scribe, 1 Kings 22:27 and tell them that this is what the king says: ‘Put this man in prison and feed him only bread and water until I return safely.’” Genesis 39:20 So Joseph’s master took him and had him thrown into the prison where the king’s prisoners were confined. While Joseph was there in the prison, Psalm 142:7 Free my soul from prison, that I may praise Your name. The righteous will gather around me because of Your goodness to me. or I will die there.” 2 Kings 7:4 If we say, ‘Let us go into the city,’ we will die there from the famine in the city; but if we sit here, we will also die. So come now, let us go over to the camp of the Arameans. If they let us live, we will live; if they kill us, we will die.” Esther 4:16 “Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day, and I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish!” Psalm 88:3-5 For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. / I am counted among those descending to the Pit. I am like a man without strength. / I am forsaken among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom You remember no more, who are cut off from Your care. Jeremiah 38:26-28 then tell them, ‘I was presenting to the king my petition that he not return me to the house of Jonathan to die there.’” / When all the officials came to Jeremiah and questioned him, he relayed to them the exact words the king had commanded him to say. So they said no more to him, for no one had overheard the conversation. / And Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard until the day Jerusalem was captured. Jeremiah 38:7-13 Now Ebed-melech the Cushite, a court official in the royal palace, heard that Jeremiah had been put into the cistern. While the king was sitting at the Gate of Benjamin, / Ebed-melech went out from the king’s palace and said to the king, / “My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet. They have dropped him into the cistern, where he will starve to death, for there is no more bread in the city.” … Jeremiah 38:14-16 Then King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah the prophet and received him at the third entrance to the house of the LORD. “I am going to ask you something,” said the king to Jeremiah. “Do not hide anything from me.” / “If I tell you,” Jeremiah replied, “you will surely put me to death. And even if I give you advice, you will not listen to me.” / But King Zedekiah swore secretly to Jeremiah, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has given us this life, I will not kill you, nor will I deliver you into the hands of these men who are seeking your life.” Jeremiah 38:1-6 Now Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jucal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malchijah heard that Jeremiah had been telling all the people: / “This is what the LORD says: Whoever stays in this city will die by sword and famine and plague, but whoever surrenders to the Chaldeans will live; he will retain his life like a spoil of war, and he will live. / This is what the LORD says: This city will surely be delivered into the hands of the army of the king of Babylon, and he will capture it.” … Treasury of Scripture Therefore hear now, I pray you, O my lord the king: let my supplication, I pray you, be accepted before you; that you cause me not to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there. be accepted before. Jeremiah 36:7 It may be they will present their supplication before the LORD, and will return every one from his evil way: for great is the anger and the fury that the LORD hath pronounced against this people. lest. Jeremiah 26:15 But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the LORD hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears. Jeremiah 38:6-9 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… Acts 23:16-22 And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul… Jump to Previous Accepted Cause Die Ear Fear Hear Hearken Help House Humble Jonathan Petition Plea Please Pleased Prayer Presented Scribe Secretary SupplicationJump to Next Accepted Cause Die Ear Fear Hear Hearken Help House Humble Jonathan Petition Plea Please Pleased Prayer Presented Scribe Secretary SupplicationJeremiah 37 1. The Egyptians having raised the siege of the Chaldeans, 3. king Zedekiah sends to Jeremiah to pray for the people. 6. Jeremiah prophesies the Chaldeans' certain return and victory. 11. He is taken for a fugitive, beaten, and put in prison. 16. He assures Zedekiah of the captivity. 18. Entreating for his liberty, he obtains some favor. But now please listen, O my lord the king. Jeremiah addresses King Zedekiah with respect, acknowledging his authority. This reflects the cultural norms of addressing royalty with honor, even when delivering unwelcome messages. Jeremiah's plea is earnest, indicating the seriousness of his situation. The prophet's respectful approach aligns with biblical teachings on respecting authority (Romans 13:1-7). May my petition come before you. Do not send me back to the house of Jonathan the scribe, or I will die there.” Persons / Places / Events 1. JeremiahA prophet called by God to deliver His messages to the people of Judah. Known for his perseverance and faithfulness amidst persecution. 2. King Zedekiah The last king of Judah before the Babylonian conquest. He often sought Jeremiah's counsel but struggled with obedience to God's word. 3. Jonathan the Scribe A figure whose house was used as a prison. His house symbolizes a place of suffering and unjust imprisonment for Jeremiah. 4. The House of Jonathan A location in Jerusalem used as a prison. It represents the physical and spiritual oppression faced by Jeremiah. 5. The Babylonian Siege The historical context of this passage, where Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, leading to its eventual fall. Teaching Points The Courage to Speak TruthJeremiah's plea to King Zedekiah demonstrates the courage required to speak truth to power, even when it leads to personal risk. The Importance of Intercession Jeremiah's petition is an example of intercessory prayer, reminding believers to bring their needs and the needs of others before God. Trust in God's Deliverance Despite his dire circumstances, Jeremiah's account encourages believers to trust in God's deliverance and faithfulness. The Cost of Disobedience King Zedekiah's reluctance to fully heed God's word through Jeremiah serves as a warning about the consequences of disobedience. Perseverance in Trials Jeremiah's endurance through persecution is a model for believers to remain steadfast in their faith during trials. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Jeremiah 37:20?2. How does Jeremiah 37:20 demonstrate the importance of seeking God's intervention in trials? 3. What can we learn from Jeremiah's plea about trusting God's provision and protection? 4. How does Jeremiah 37:20 connect with other instances of prayer in the Bible? 5. In what ways can we apply Jeremiah's persistence in prayer to our daily lives? 6. How does Jeremiah's request for protection inspire us to rely on God's faithfulness? 7. What historical context surrounds Jeremiah 37:20 and its plea for deliverance? 8. How does Jeremiah 37:20 reflect the prophet's relationship with King Zedekiah? 9. What does Jeremiah 37:20 reveal about God's protection and justice? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Jeremiah 37? 11. If Hezekiah's faith in Isaiah 37 supposedly led to Jerusalem's deliverance, how does this align with other biblical passages where faith did not prevent disasters for Israel? 12. In Jeremiah 37:2, how can we reconcile the claim that King Zedekiah and his officials refused to listen to God's word with other passages suggesting they occasionally sought Jeremiah's counsel? 13. Why would King Zedekiah, who ignored God, privately seek Jeremiah's prophecy in Jeremiah 37:17, and does this align with his other actions? 14. Who was Huldah the Prophetess in the Bible? What Does Jeremiah 37:20 Mean But now please listen• “But now” marks a turning point. Jeremiah has already endured beating and confinement (Jeremiah 37:15), yet he refuses to remain silent. • The prophet appeals for the king’s attention, echoing God’s repeated cry to Judah: “Listen to My voice” (Jeremiah 7:23). • His persistence reminds us of other faithful servants who kept speaking even when opposed—think of Moses before Pharaoh (Exodus 9:1) and Paul before Agrippa (Acts 26:1). God’s messengers never stop calling leaders to hear truth. O my lord the king • Jeremiah addresses Zedekiah with respect, acknowledging the God-ordained authority of the throne (compare Romans 13:1–2; 1 Peter 2:17). • Courtesy does not dilute truth; it frames it. David called Saul “my lord the king” even while confronting his sin (1 Samuel 24:8). • By honoring the office, Jeremiah models how believers can appeal to rulers while remaining faithful to God. May my petition come before you • The word “petition” pictures an earnest plea, much like Esther’s request before Xerxes (Esther 8:3–5) or Nehemiah’s before Artaxerxes (Nehemiah 2:4–5). • Scripture urges prayer and petitions “for kings and all in authority” (1 Timothy 2:1–2). Jeremiah practices what later writers teach—bringing needs before those who can act. • He is not bargaining; he is seeking justice within God’s established order. Do not send me back to the house of Jonathan the scribe • Earlier, officials “had beaten Jeremiah and imprisoned him in the house of Jonathan the scribe, which they had made into a prison” (Jeremiah 37:15). • That house, likely a dank underground cell, symbolized Judah’s rejection of God’s voice. • Jeremiah pleads for removal from a place of physical misery and spiritual hardness, echoing similar appeals for humane treatment in Acts 22:25 and 2 Timothy 4:17. Or I will die there • The threat is real: later he is lowered into a muddy cistern where he nearly perishes (Jeremiah 38:9–10). • His words reveal both his humanity and his confidence that life and death rest with the Lord (Psalm 31:15). • God will indeed preserve him until his mission is complete (Jeremiah 1:18–19), illustrating the Lord’s faithfulness to every promise. summary Jeremiah 37:20 shows the prophet respectfully yet boldly appealing to King Zedekiah for justice and preservation. Each phrase highlights a balance of urgency, honor for authority, and unwavering trust in God. The verse encourages believers to speak truth with courtesy, to make righteous petitions, and to rely on the Lord’s protection even when obedience leads to suffering. (20) That thou cause me not to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe . . .--The petition shows the cruelty with which the prophet had been treated. Half-starved, and thrust into a foul and f?tid dungeon, he felt that to return to it would be death.Hebrew But nowוְעַתָּ֕ה (wə·‘at·tāh) Conjunctive waw | Adverb Strong's 6258: At this time please נָ֖א (nā) Interjection Strong's 4994: I pray', 'now', 'then' listen, שְֽׁמַֽע־ (šə·ma‘-) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently O my lord אֲדֹנִ֣י (’ă·ḏō·nî) Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 113: Sovereign, controller the king. הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4428: A king May my petition תְחִנָּתִי֙ (ṯə·ḥin·nā·ṯî) Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 8467: Favor, supplication for favor come תִּפָּל־ (tip·pāl-) Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person feminine singular Strong's 5307: To fall, lie before you. לְפָנֶ֔יךָ (lə·p̄ā·ne·ḵā) Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 6440: The face Do not וְאַל־ (wə·’al-) Conjunctive waw | Adverb Strong's 408: Not send me back תְּשִׁבֵ֗נִי (tə·ši·ḇê·nî) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singular Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again to the house בֵּ֚ית (bêṯ) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1004: A house of Jonathan יְהוֹנָתָ֣ן (yə·hō·w·nā·ṯān) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3083: Jonathan -- 'the LORD has given', the name of a number of Israelites the scribe, הַסֹּפֵ֔ר (has·sō·p̄êr) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5608: To count, recount, relate or וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no I will die אָמ֖וּת (’ā·mūṯ) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 4191: To die, to kill there.” שָֽׁם׃ (šām) Adverb Strong's 8033: There, then, thither Links Jeremiah 37:20 NIVJeremiah 37:20 NLT Jeremiah 37:20 ESV Jeremiah 37:20 NASB Jeremiah 37:20 KJV Jeremiah 37:20 BibleApps.com Jeremiah 37:20 Biblia Paralela Jeremiah 37:20 Chinese Bible Jeremiah 37:20 French Bible Jeremiah 37:20 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Jeremiah 37:20 Now please hear my lord the king: (Jer.) |
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