Discovery BoxJeremiah 38:4
Context38:4 So these officials said to the king, “This man must be put to death. For he is demoralizing 1 the soldiers who are left in the city as well as all the other people there by these things he is saying. 2 This 3 man is not seeking to help these people but is trying to harm them.” 4
Jeremiah 51:46
Context51:46 Do not lose your courage or become afraid
because of the reports that are heard in the land.
For a report will come in one year.
Another report will follow it in the next.
There will be violence in the land
with ruler fighting against ruler.”
Jeremiah 51:58
Context51:58 This is what the Lord who rules over all 5 says,
“Babylon’s thick wall 6 will be completely demolished. 7
Her high gates will be set on fire.
The peoples strive for what does not satisfy. 8
The nations grow weary trying to get what will be destroyed.” 9
[38:4] 1 tn Heb “weakening the hands of.” For this idiom see BDB 951 s.v. רָפָה Pi. and compare the usage in Isa 13:7; Ezek 21:7 (21:12 HT).
[38:4] 2 tn Heb “by saying these things.”
[38:4] 3 tn The Hebrew particle כִּי (ki) has not been rendered here because it is introducing a parallel causal clause to the preceding one. To render “For” might be misunderstood as a grounds for the preceding statement. To render “And” or “Moreover” sounds a little odd here. If it must be represented, “Moreover” is perhaps the best rendering.
[38:4] 4 tn Or “is not looking out for these people’s best interests but is really trying to do them harm”; Heb “is not seeking the welfare [or “well-being”; Hebrew shalom] of this people but [their] harm [more literally, evil].”
[51:58] 5 sn See the note at Jer 2:19.
[51:58] 6 tn The text has the plural “walls,” but many Hebrew
[51:58] 7 tn The infinitive absolute emphasizes the following finite verb. Another option is to translate, “will certainly be demolished.”
[51:58] 8 tn Heb “for what is empty.”
[51:58] 9 tn Heb “and the nations for fire, and they grow weary.”
