Jeremiah 38:4
New International Version
Then the officials said to the king, “This man should be put to death. He is discouraging the soldiers who are left in this city, as well as all the people, by the things he is saying to them. This man is not seeking the good of these people but their ruin.”

New Living Translation
So these officials went to the king and said, “Sir, this man must die! That kind of talk will undermine the morale of the few fighting men we have left, as well as that of all the people. This man is a traitor!”

English Standard Version
Then the officials said to the king, “Let this man be put to death, for he is weakening the hands of the soldiers who are left in this city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking such words to them. For this man is not seeking the welfare of this people, but their harm.”

Berean Standard Bible
Then the officials said to the king, “This man ought to die, for he is discouraging the warriors who remain in this city, as well as all the people, by speaking such words to them; this man is not seeking the well-being of these people, but their ruin.”

King James Bible
Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death: for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt.

New King James Version
Therefore the princes said to the king, “Please, let this man be put to death, for thus he weakens the hands of the men of war who remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking such words to them. For this man does not seek the welfare of this people, but their harm.”

New American Standard Bible
Then the officials said to the king, “Please have this man put to death, since he is discouraging the men of war who are left in this city and all the people, by speaking words like these to them; for this man is not seeking the well-being of this people, but rather their harm.”

NASB 1995
Then the officials said to the king, “Now let this man be put to death, inasmuch as he is discouraging the men of war who are left in this city and all the people, by speaking such words to them; for this man is not seeking the well-being of this people but rather their harm.”

NASB 1977
Then the officials said to the king, “Now let this man be put to death, inasmuch as he is discouraging the men of war who are left in this city and all the people, by speaking such words to them; for this man is not seeking the well-being of this people, but rather their harm.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the officials said to the king, “Now let this man be put to death, inasmuch as he is making the hands of the men of war who remain in this city as well as the hands of all the people limp, by speaking such words to them; for this man is not seeking peace for this people but rather calamity.”

Amplified Bible
Therefore the princes (court officials) said to the king, “Please [we implore you] let this man [Jeremiah] be put to death; for [speaking] in this way he discourages and weakens [the will of] the soldiers who remain in this city and he discourages and weakens [the will of] all the people by speaking such words to them; for this man is not seeking the well-being of these people, but rather their harm.”

Christian Standard Bible
The officials then said to the king, “This man ought to die, because he is weakening the morale of the warriors who remain in this city and of all the people by speaking to them in this way. This man is not pursuing the welfare of this people, but their harm.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The officials then said to the king, “This man ought to die, because he is weakening the morale of the warriors who remain in this city and of all the people by speaking to them in this way. This man is not seeking the well-being of this people, but disaster.”

American Standard Version
Then the princes said unto the king, Let this man, we pray thee, be put to death; forasmuch as he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And the Princes said to the King: “Let this man be killed, because he is weakening the hands of the men the Servants of war who are left in this city and the hands of all the people to whom he spoke this message, because this man does not desire peace for this people, but only evil”

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they said to the king. Let that man, wee pray thee, be slain, for he weakens the hands of the fighting men that are left in the city, and the hands of all the people, speaking to them according to these words: for this man does not prophesy peace to this people, but evil.

Contemporary English Version
So the four of them went to the king and said, "You should put Jeremiah to death, because he is making the soldiers and everyone else lose hope. He isn't trying to help our people; he's trying to harm them."

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the princes said to the king: We beseech thee that this man may be put to death: for on purpose he weakeneth the hands of the men of war, that remain in this city, and the hands of the people, speaking to them according to these words: for this man seeketh not peace to this people, but evil.

English Revised Version
Then the princes said unto the king, Let this man, we pray thee, be put to death; forasmuch as he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then the officials said to the king, "Have this man put to death. He discourages the soldiers who are left in this city and all the people by telling them such things. This man is not trying to help these people; he's trying to hurt them."

Good News Translation
Then the officials went to the king and said, "This man must be put to death. By talking like this he is making the soldiers in the city lose their courage, and he is doing the same thing to everyone else left in the city. He is not trying to help the people; he only wants to hurt them."

International Standard Version
Then the officials told the king, "Let this man be put to death because he's undermining the efforts of the soldiers who remain in this city and that of all the people by speaking words like these to them. Indeed, this man is not seeking the well-being of this people, but rather their harm."

JPS Tanakh 1917
Then the princes said unto the king: 'Let this man, we pray thee, be put to death; forasmuch as he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them; for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt.'

Literal Standard Version
And the heads say to the king, “Now let this man be put to death, because that he is making feeble the hands of the men of war who are left in this city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking to them according to these words, for this man is not seeking for the peace of this people, but for its calamity.”

Majority Standard Bible
Then the officials said to the king, “This man ought to die, for he is discouraging the warriors who remain in this city, as well as all the people, by speaking such words to them; this man is not seeking the well-being of these people, but their ruin.”

New American Bible
Then the princes said to the king, “This man ought to be put to death. He is weakening the resolve of the soldiers left in this city and of all the people, by saying such things to them; he is not seeking the welfare of our people, but their ruin.”

NET Bible
So these officials said to the king, "This man must be put to death. For he is demoralizing the soldiers who are left in the city as well as all the other people there by these things he is saying. This man is not seeking to help these people but is trying to harm them."

New Revised Standard Version
Then the officials said to the king, “This man ought to be put to death, because he is discouraging the soldiers who are left in this city, and all the people, by speaking such words to them. For this man is not seeking the welfare of this people, but their harm.”

New Heart English Bible
Then the officials said to the king, "Please let this man be put to death; because he weakens the hands of the men of war who remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words to them: for this man doesn't seek the welfare of this people, but the hurt."

Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore the princes said to the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death: for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words to them: for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt.

World English Bible
Then the princes said to the king, “Please let this man be put to death, because he weakens the hands of the men of war who remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words to them; for this man doesn’t seek the welfare of this people, but harm.”

Young's Literal Translation
And the heads say unto the king, 'Let, we pray thee, this man be put to death, because that he is making feeble the hands of the men of war, who are left in this city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking unto them according to these words, for this man is not seeking for the peace of this people, but for its evil.'

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jeremiah Cast Into the Cistern
3This 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.” 4Then the officials said to the king, “This man ought to die, for he is discouraging the warriors who remain in this city, as well as all the people, by speaking such words to them; this man is not seeking the well-being of these people, but their ruin.” 5“Here he is,” replied King Zedekiah. “He is in your hands, since the king can do nothing to stop you.”…

Cross References
Acts 16:20
They brought them to the magistrates and said, "These men are Jews and are throwing our city into turmoil

Exodus 5:4
But the king of Egypt said to them, "Moses and Aaron, why do you draw the people away from their work? Get back to your labor!"

1 Kings 18:17
When Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, "Is that you, O troubler of Israel?"

1 Kings 18:18
"I have not troubled Israel," Elijah replied, "but you and your father's house have, for you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and have followed the Baals.

1 Kings 21:20
When Elijah arrived, Ahab said to him, "So you have found me out, my enemy." He replied, "I have found you out because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD.

Nehemiah 6:9
For they were all trying to frighten us, saying, "Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will never be finished." But now, my God, strengthen my hands.

Jeremiah 11:21
Therefore this is what the LORD says concerning the people of Anathoth who are seeking your life and saying, "You must not prophesy in the name of the LORD, or you will die by our hand."


Treasury of Scripture

Therefore the princes said to the king, We beseech you, let this man be put to death: for thus he weakens the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words to them: for this man seeks not the welfare of this people, but the hurt.

the princes.

Jeremiah 26:11,21-23
Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears…

Jeremiah 36:12-16
Then he went down into the king's house, into the scribe's chamber: and, lo, all the princes sat there, even Elishama the scribe, and Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, and Elnathan the son of Achbor, and Gemariah the son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the princes…

2 Chronicles 24:21
And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD.

thus.

Exodus 5:4
And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens.

1 Kings 18:17,18
And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? …

1 Kings 21:20
And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD.

welfare.

Jeremiah 29:7
And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.

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Jeremiah 38
1. Jeremiah, by a false suggestion, is put into the dungeon of Malchiah.
7. Ebed-Melech, by suit, gets him some enlargement.
14. Upon secret conference, he counsels the king by yielding to save his life.
24. By the king's instructions he conceals the conference from the princes.














(4) Let this man be put to death.--The hatred of the princes of Judah becomes more bitter than ever, and they seek to overcome the king's lingering reverence for the prophet. In the reign of Jehoiakim they had said that he was worthy of death (Jeremiah 26:11). Within the last few weeks he had been thrown into a loathsome dungeon, from which the king had but just delivered him. Now they press for a yet severer sentence. The weak king, conscious of his want of power to resist, yields a reluctant consent. The whole history reminds us of Pilate's conduct in circumstances more or less analogous.

Verse 4. - For thus; literally, for therefore; i.e. because he is left in impunity (camp. the use of the phrase in Jeremiah 29:28). He weakeneth the hands of the men of war; i.e. he dispirits them. It is important to get this "outside view" of the preaching of Jeremiah. There is evidently some excuse for the opponents of Jeremiah. It was a matter of life and death to resist the Chaldeans, and Jeremiah was, according to the politicians, playing into the hands of the enemy (see further in general Introduction). The addition of the words, that remain, shows that the bitter end of the resistance was fast approaching.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then the officials
הַשָּׂרִ֜ים (haś·śā·rîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

said
וַיֹּאמְר֨וּ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the king,
הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

“This
הַזֶּה֒ (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

man
הָאִ֣ישׁ (hā·’îš)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

ought to die,
י֣וּמַת (yū·maṯ)
Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

for
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

he
הֽוּא־ (hū-)
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

is discouraging
מְרַפֵּ֡א (mə·rap·pê)
Direct object marker
Strong's 7503: Sink, relax

the warriors
אַנְשֵׁ֨י (’an·šê)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

who remain
הַֽנִּשְׁאָרִ֣ים ׀ (han·niš·’ā·rîm)
Preposition, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7604: To swell up, be, redundant

in this
הַזֹּ֗את (haz·zōṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker
Strong's 2063: Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that,

city,
בָּעִ֣יר (bā·‘îr)
Article | Pronoun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

as well as all
כָל־ (ḵāl)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the people,
הָעָ֔ם (hā·‘ām)
Preposition | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

by speaking
לְדַבֵּ֣ר (lə·ḏab·bêr)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

such
הָאֵ֑לֶּה (hā·’êl·leh)
Conjunction
Strong's 428: These, those

words
כַּדְּבָרִ֖ים (kad·də·ḇā·rîm)
Article | Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

to them;
אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם (’ă·lê·hem)
Preposition, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

this
הַזֶּ֗ה (haz·zeh)
Adverb | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

man
הָאִ֣ישׁ (hā·’îš)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

is not
אֵינֶ֨נּוּ (’ê·nen·nū)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

seeking
דֹרֵ֧שׁ (ḏō·rêš)
Preposition | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1875: To tread, frequent, to follow, to seek, ask, to worship

the well-being
לְשָׁל֛וֹם (lə·šā·lō·wm)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7965: Safe, well, happy, friendly, welfare, health, prosperity, peace

of these
הַזֶּ֖ה (haz·zeh)
Conjunction
Strong's 2088: This, that

people,
לָעָ֥ם (lā·‘ām)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

but
כִּ֣י ׀ (kî)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

their ruin.�
לְרָעָֽה׃ (lə·rā·‘āh)
Preposition-l | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 38:4 Then the princes said to the king (Jer.)
Jeremiah 38:3
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