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Jeremiah 40:1

in Jeremiah 40

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD after Nebuzaradan captain of the guard had released him at Ramah, having found him bound in chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being exiled to Babylon.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

The word which came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, after that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah, that were carried away captive unto Babylon.

KJV

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, after that Nebuzar–adan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all that were carried away captive of Jerusalem and Judah, which were carried away captive unto Babylon.

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This verse in Jeremiah 40

Commentary

5 notes on this verse

A commentator

Jerome

Against Jovinianus 1.33 · Written before 420.

Jeremiah, who was sanctified in the womb and was known in his mother's belly, enjoyed the high privilege because he was predestined to the blessing of virginity. And when all were captured and even the vessels of the temple were plundered by the king of Babylon, he alone was liberated by the enemy, did not know the insults of captivity and was supported by the conquerors; and Nebuchadnezzar, though he gave Nebuzaradan no charge concerning the Holy of Holies, did give him charge concerning Jeremiah.

This site's exposition

let him go from Ramah

on Jeremiah 40:1-3

The scene opens with Jeremiah already in chains among the captives bound for Babylon, caught up in the general deportation from Ramah despite Nebuchadnezzar's earlier order that he be treated well. Nebuzaradan's speech is the chapter's surprise, a Babylonian captain of the guard stating Judah's fall in the very terms Jeremiah himself had preached for forty years, the Lord hath brought it, and done according as he hath said, because ye have sinned against the Lord. Henry and Gill both note the irony that a pagan officer speaks truer theology than the false prophets Jeremiah opposed, confessing the Lord's hand in the judgment the nation's own priests denied.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord,.... The word of prophecy, as the Targum; but there being no prophecy in this and the following chapter, only a narration of facts, this is generally referred to what came ten days after, and which begins Jer 42:7; so Jarchi and Kimchi; all between being included in a parenthesis, or a relation of facts preparatory, to lead on to it; though Abarbinel takes it to be a general title to all histories and prophecies in this book, from henceforward to the end of it.

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)

Ramah - Ramah was a city in the tribe of Benjamin near Gibeon. Babylon - Jeremiah was by mistake and expressly contrary to the king's orders carried amongst the other prisoners; probably the captain of the guard at that place called over his prisoners, and among them found the prophet contrary to his expectation.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
As what follows is mainly a historical narrative, it seems that the title “The word ...” was appropriate not merely to a prediction of the future, but to an account of the past, if written by a prophet. The Jews regarded history as inspired if written by a seer, and thus their historical books are called “the early prophets.” Ramah - Probably all the prisoners of note were collected at Ramah indiscriminately, and examined there.

How the passage was read

What the Jewish commentators add

The word that came What is stated at the end of the section (42:7): “And it was at the end of ten days that the word of the Lord came etc.,” but he first wrote on account of what it was said to him.
Rashi: France, 1040–1105 · Rashi on Jeremiah 40:1:1, via Sefaria, The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
“The Lord your God spoke” Why are you troubled about them? Did you not prophesy to them and they did not hearken? As it is stated in Pesikta d’Rav Kahana (p. 113a).
Rashi: France, 1040–1105 · Rashi on Jeremiah 40:2:1, via Sefaria, The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg

This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.

Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 6 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.

The words behind it

27 Hebrew words

Every 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.

  • הַדָּבָ֞רthe word

    hadavarH1697 →1440 times

  • אֲשֶׁר־which

    ʾasher-H834 →5497 times

  • הָיָ֤הit came

    hayahH1961 →3559 times

  • אֶֽל־to

    ʾel-H413 →5510 times

  • יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙Jeremiah

    yirmeyahuH3414 →147 times

  • מֵאֵ֣תfrom with

    meetH854 →929 times

  • יְהוָ֔הYahweh

    yahwehH3068 →6520 times

  • אַחַ֣ר׀after

    ʾacharH310 →715 times

  • שַׁלַּ֣חset free

    shalachH7971 →845 times

  • אֹת֗וֹ<obj.> him

    ʾotoH853 →10935 times

  • נְבוּזַרְאֲדָ֛ןNebuzaradan

    nevuzaradanH5018 →16 times

  • רַב־[the] chief of

    rav-H7227 →454 times

  • טַבָּחִ֖ים[the] bodyguards

    tabachimH2876 →32 times

  • מִן־from

    min-H4480 →1188 times

  • הָֽרָמָ֑ה<the> Ramah

    haramahH7414 →

  • בְּקַחְתּ֣וֹwhen took he

    bekachtoH3947 →966 times

  • אֹת֗וֹ<obj.> him

    ʾotoH853 →10935 times

  • וְהֽוּא־and he

    vehu'-H1931 →1879 times

  • אָס֤וּר[was] bound

    ʾasurH631 →72 times

  • בָּֽאזִקִּים֙with <the> chains

    bazikimH246 →

  • בְּת֨וֹךְin among

    betokhH8432 →418 times

  • כָּל־all

    kol-H3605 →5413 times

  • גָּל֤וּת[the] exile[s] of

    galutH1546 →15 times

  • יְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙Jerusalem

    yerushalimH3389 →643 times

  • וִֽיהוּדָ֔הand Judah

    vihudahH3063 →819 times

  • הַמֻּגְלִ֖יםwho were being taken into exile

    hamuglimH1540 →186 times

  • בָּבֶֽלָה׃Babylon towards

    bavelahH894 →262 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

13 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Jeremiah 31:15This is what the LORD says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”12 worksJeremiah 39:9Then Nebuzaradan captain of the guard carried away to Babylon the remnant of the people who had remained in the city, along with the deserters who had defected to him.5 worksJoshua 18:25Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth,4 worksEphesians 6:20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should.4 worksActs 21:13Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”4 worksActs 12:6–7On the night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, with sentries standing guard at the entrance to the prison.4 works
The other 7 cross-references, with their words ▾
Psalms 68:6God settles the lonely in families; He leads the prisoners out to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.3 works1 Samuel 7:17Then he would return to Ramah because his home was there, and there he judged Israel and built an altar to the LORD.3 worksPsalms 107:16For He has broken down the gates of bronze and cut through the bars of iron.3 worksJeremiah 39:11–14Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had given orders about Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan captain of the guard, saying,3 worksActs 28:20So for this reason I have called to see you and speak with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”3 worksEzekiel 7:23Forge the chain, for the land is full of crimes of bloodshed, and the city is full of violence.2 worksJeremiah 39:14had Jeremiah brought from the courtyard of the guard, and they turned him over to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to take him home. So Jeremiah remained among his own people.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each 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

    Jeremiah 31:15

    This is what the LORD says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

    it leads to

    • Matthew 2:16–18

      When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was filled with rage. Sending orders, he put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years…

    • Psalms 77:2

      In the day of trouble I sought the Lord; through the night my outstretched hands did not grow weary; my soul refused to be comforted.

  • Through

    Acts 21:13

    Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

    it leads to

    • Acts 20:24

      But I consider my life of no value to me, if only I may finish my course and complete the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus—the ministry of testifying to the good…

    • Philippians 2:17

      But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

    • Philippians 1:20–21

      I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or…

  • Through

    Ephesians 6:20

    for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should.

    it leads to

    • 2 Corinthians 5:20

      Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.

    • Colossians 4:4

      Pray that I may declare it clearly, as I should.

    • 2 Timothy 2:9

      for which I suffer to the extent of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained!

About Jeremiah

The Prophet Jeremiah — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
The Prophet Jeremiah — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
Jeremiah: the study guide →Read Jeremiah 40 →

Who and where

5 names in this verse with a page on the site.

This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jerome, Against Jovinianus 1.33; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Jeremiah 40 →