Jeremiah 39:12
in Jeremiah 39“Take him, look after him, and do not let any harm come to him; do for him whatever he says.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee.
KJV
Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee.
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This verse in Jeremiah 39
Commentary
6 notes on this verseBoth Nebuchadnezzar the king and Ebedmelech the Ethiopian increased the condemnation of the Jews. Although they were foreigners, they respected the prophet, but the Jews (who had been raised on the words of the prophets) did not want to pay attention to the divine words, …
This site's exposition
had given orders about Jeremiah
on Jeremiah 39:11-14
Nebuchadnezzar gives orders about Jeremiah: “Take him, look after him, and do not let any harm come to him; do for him whatever he says.” Babylon’s officers bring him from the courtyard of the guard and turn him over to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, whose father protected Jeremiah in 26:24.
This site's exposition
look after him
The king's order protects the man Judah's officials tried to kill. Adam Clarke and John Wesley both suppose the king had heard that Jeremiah foretold the city's capture and urged surrender. Theodoret of Cyrus sets this beside Ebed-melech's rescue, two foreigners honoring the prophet whom the Jews refused to hear.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Take him - It is probable, that Nebuchadnezzar had been informed, Jeremiah had constantly told the king, that the Chaldeans should take the city, and as steadily persuaded both the king and princes to surrender it to them.
Take him, and look well to him,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Take him - look well to him - Nebuchadnezzar had heard that this prophet had foretold his capture of the city, and had frequently used all his influence to induce Zedekiah to pay the tribute, and not rebel against him; and on this account would be inclined to show the prophet especial favor.
The words behind it
16 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| קָחֶ֗נּוּ | kachenu | take him | H3947 → | 966 times |
| וְעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙ | veeineikha | and eyes your | H5869 → | 887 times |
| שִׂ֣ים | sim | set | H7760 → | 584 times |
| עָלָ֔יו | ʾalav | on him | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| וְאַל־ | veal- | and may not | H408 → | 724 times |
| תַּ֥עַשׂ | taas | you do | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| ל֖וֹ | lo | to <the> him | ||
| מְא֣וּמָה | meumah | anything | H3972 → | |
| רָּ֑ע | ra' | harmful | H7451 → | 662 times |
| כִּ֗י | ki | that | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙ | kaasher | just as | H834 → | 5497 times |
| יְדַבֵּ֣ר | yedaber | he will say | H1696 → | 1141 times |
| אֵלֶ֔יךָ | ʾeleikha | to you | H413 → | 5510 times |
| כֵּ֖ן | ken | so | H3651 → | 771 times |
| עֲשֵׂ֥ה | ʾaseh | do | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| עִמּֽוֹ׃ | imo | with him | H5973 → | 1050 times |
קָחֶ֗נּוּtake him
kachenuH3947 →966 times
וְעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙and eyes your
veeineikhaH5869 →887 times
שִׂ֣יםset
simH7760 →584 times
עָלָ֔יוon him
ʾalavH5921 →5755 times
וְאַל־and may not
veal-H408 →724 times
תַּ֥עַשׂyou do
taasH6213 →2628 times
ל֖וֹto <the> him
lo
מְא֣וּמָהanything
meumahH3972 →
רָּ֑עharmful
ra'H7451 →662 times
כִּ֗יthat
kiH3588 →4482 times
כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙just as
kaasherH834 →5497 times
יְדַבֵּ֣רhe will say
yedaberH1696 →1141 times
אֵלֶ֔יךָto you
ʾeleikhaH413 →5510 times
כֵּ֖ןso
kenH3651 →771 times
עֲשֵׂ֥הdo
ʾasehH6213 →2628 times
עִמּֽוֹ׃with him
imoH5973 →1050 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Proverbs 21:1The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.
it leads to
- Proverbs 16:9
A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
- Ezra 6:22
For seven days they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread with joy, because the LORD had made them joyful and turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them to strengthen their hands…
- Proverbs 20:24
A man’s steps are from the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way?
- Acts 7:10
and rescued him from all his troubles. He granted Joseph favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household.
- Proverbs 16:9
Through
Proverbs 16:7When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.
it leads to
- Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
- 1 John 3:22
and we will receive from Him whatever we ask, because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight.
- 2 Chronicles 17:10
And the dread of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that surrounded Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat.
- Colossians 1:10
so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
- Romans 8:31
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Jeremiah
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Carl Friedrich Keil, The Prophecies of Jeremiah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theodoret of Cyrus, ON JEREMIAH 8:39.