Jeremiah 38:12
in Jeremiah 38Ebed-melech the Cushite cried out to Jeremiah, “Put these worn-out rags and clothes under your arms to pad the ropes.” Jeremiah did so,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah, Put now these rags and worn-out garments under thine armholes under the cords. And Jeremiah did so.
KJV
And Ebed–melech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah, Put now these old cast clouts and rotten rags under thine armholes under the cords. And Jeremiah did so.
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This verse in Jeremiah 38
Commentary
4 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
heard that Jeremiah had been put into the cistern
on Jeremiah 38:7-13
Ebed-melech, a Cushite, goes to the king and says, “these men have acted wickedly in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet.” Ebed-melech lowers “old rags and worn-out clothes” to pad the ropes. The foreigner who rescues the prophet receives his own promise of deliverance in 39:15-18.
This site's exposition
Put these worn-out rags and clothes under your arms
Ebed-melech cares for the prophet's body as well as his life. Ropes drawn under the arms of a man stuck fast in mud would cut him, so the rags go between. Matthew Henry takes the lesson that the distressed should be relieved with compassion and marks of respect.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
And Ebedmelech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah,....
Note, Those that are in distress should not only be relieved, but relieved with compassion and marks of respect, all which shall be placed to account and abound to a good account in the day of recompence.
The words behind it
19 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיֹּ֡אמֶר | vaiyomer | and he said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| עֶבֶד־ | ʾeved- | Ebed | H5663 → | 12 times |
| מֶ֨לֶךְ | melekh | Melech | H5663 → | 12 times |
| הַכּוּשִׁ֜י | hakushi | the Cushite | H3569 → | 26 times |
| אֶֽל־ | ʾel- | to | H413 → | 5510 times |
| יִרְמְיָ֗הוּ | yirmeyahu | Jeremiah | H3414 → | 147 times |
| שִׂ֣ים | sim | put | H7760 → | 584 times |
| נָ֠א | na' | please | H4994 → | 404 times |
| בְּלוֹאֵ֨י | beloei | [the] worn out things of | H1094 → | 3 times |
| הַסְּחָב֤וֹת | hasechavot | the clothes | H5499 → | |
| וְהַמְּלָחִים֙ | vehamelachim | and the rags | H4418 → | |
| תַּ֚חַת | tachat | under | H8478 → | 505 times |
| אַצִּל֣וֹת | ʾatzilot | [the] joints of | H679 → | |
| יָדֶ֔יךָ | yadeikha | hands your | H3027 → | 1618 times |
| מִתַּ֖חַת | mitachat | from under | H8478 → | 505 times |
| לַחֲבָלִ֑ים | lachavalim | to [the] ropes | H2256 → | 62 times |
| וַיַּ֥עַשׂ | vaiyaas | and he did | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ | yirmeyahu | Jeremiah | H3414 → | 147 times |
| כֵּֽן׃ | ken | thus | H3651 → | 771 times |
וַיֹּ֡אמֶרand he said
vaiyomerH559 →5305 times
עֶבֶד־Ebed
ʾeved-H5663 →12 times
מֶ֨לֶךְMelech
melekhH5663 →12 times
הַכּוּשִׁ֜יthe Cushite
hakushiH3569 →26 times
אֶֽל־to
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
יִרְמְיָ֗הוּJeremiah
yirmeyahuH3414 →147 times
שִׂ֣יםput
simH7760 →584 times
נָ֠אplease
na'H4994 →404 times
בְּלוֹאֵ֨י[the] worn out things of
beloeiH1094 →3 times
הַסְּחָב֤וֹתthe clothes
hasechavotH5499 →
וְהַמְּלָחִים֙and the rags
vehamelachimH4418 →
תַּ֚חַתunder
tachatH8478 →505 times
אַצִּל֣וֹת[the] joints of
ʾatzilotH679 →
יָדֶ֔יךָhands your
yadeikhaH3027 →1618 times
מִתַּ֖חַתfrom under
mitachatH8478 →505 times
לַחֲבָלִ֑יםto [the] ropes
lachavalimH2256 →62 times
וַיַּ֥עַשׂand he did
vaiyaasH6213 →2628 times
יִרְמְיָ֖הוּJeremiah
yirmeyahuH3414 →147 times
כֵּֽן׃thus
kenH3651 →771 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
Ephesians 4:32Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 3:8–9
Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Colossians 3:12–13
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
- Matthew 6:14–15
For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
- Mark 11:25
And when you stand to pray, if you hold anything against another, forgive it, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your trespasses as well.”
- 2 Corinthians 2:10
If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And if I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven it in the presence of Christ for your sake,
- 1 Peter 3:8–9
Through
Romans 12:15Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 12:26
If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
- 1 Corinthians 12:26
Through
Romans 12:10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.
it leads to
- Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.
- John 13:34–35
A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.
- Philippians 2:3
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Jeremiah
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.