Jeremiah 38:7

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Now Ebed-Melech, a Cushite, an official in the royal palace, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern. While the king was sitting at the Benjamin Gate,

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיִּשְׁמַ֡ע עֶֽבֶד־מֶ֨לֶךְ הַכּוּשִׁ֜י אִ֣ישׁ סָרִ֗יס וְהוּא֙ בְּבֵ֣ית הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כִּֽי־נָתְנ֥וּ אֶֽת־יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ אֶל־הַבּ֑וֹר וְהַמֶּ֥לֶךְ יוֹשֵׁ֖ב בְּשַׁ֥עַר בִּנְיָמִֽן׃

Transliteration

And wə-yišmaʿ ʿEḇeḏ-meleḵ the-Kûšî, ʾîš sārîs, and-he in-bêt the-meleḵ, kî-nātnû ʾet-Yirməyāhû into-the-bôr; and-the-meleḵ yôšēḇ in-šaʿar Binyāmin

Grammar Details

• *wə-yišmaʿ*: waw-consecutive + qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he heard
• *ʿEḇeḏ-meleḵ*: proper noun, masculine singular - Ebed-melech (meaning 'servant of the king')
• *Kûšî*: gentilic adjective, masculine singular - Cushite/Ethiopian
• *ʾîš*: noun, masculine singular construct - man of
• *sārîs*: noun, masculine singular - eunuch/official
• *bêt*: noun, masculine singular construct - house of
• *meleḵ*: noun, masculine singular - king
• *kî*: conjunction - that
• *nātnû*: qal perfect, 3rd common plural - they had put
• *ʾet*: direct object marker
• *Yirməyāhû*: proper noun, masculine singular - Jeremiah
• *bôr*: noun, masculine singular - pit/cistern
• *yôšēḇ*: qal participle, masculine singular - sitting
• *šaʿar*: noun, masculine singular construct - gate of
• *Binyāmin*: proper noun - Benjamin

Word Meanings

• *ʿEḇeḏ-meleḵ*: name meaning 'servant of the king'
• *Kûšî*: Cushite/Ethiopian
• *sārîs*: eunuch/court official/officer
• *nātnû*: they had put/placed
• *bôr*: pit/cistern/dungeon
• *yôšēḇ*: sitting/remaining/dwelling

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Now when Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king's house, heard that they had put emiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin;

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs who was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon, the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin;

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin;

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Now when Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, a eunuch, who was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon (the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin,)

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin;

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  So Ieremy stack fast in the myre. Now when Abdemelech the Morian beynge a chamberlayne in the kynges courte, vnderstode, that they had cast Ieremy in to the dongeon:

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Now when Ebed-melech ye blacke More one of ye Eunuches, which was in the kings house, heard that they had put Ieremiah in the dungeon (then the King sate in the gate of Beniamin)

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Nowe when Abedmelech the Morian beyng a chaumberlayne in the kynges court, vnderstoode that they had cast Ieremie into the dungeon,

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin;

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, a eunuch, who was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon (the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin),

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And Ebed-Melech the Cushite, a eunuch who `is' in the king's house, heareth that they have put Jeremiah into the pit; and the king is sitting at the gate of Benjamin,

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Now when Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, a eunuch, who was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon (the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin,)

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Now when Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, a eunuch, who was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon (the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin,)

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Now it came to the ears of Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, an unsexed servant in the king's house, that they had put Jeremiah into the water-hole; the king at that time being seated in the doorway of Benjamin:

• World English Bible (2000)

  Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, a eunuch, who was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon (the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin),

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  An Ethiopian Official Rescues Jeremiah from the Cistern An Ethiopian, Ebed Melech, a court official in the royal palace, heard that Jeremiah had been put in the cistern. While the king was holding court at the Benjamin Gate,

Referenced Verses

• Jer 29:2 : 2 This was sent after King Jeconiah, the queen mother, the officials, the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the metalworkers were deported from Jerusalem.
• Jer 37:13 : 13 But when he reached the Benjamin Gate, a captain of the guard named Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah, was there. He arrested Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "You are deserting to the Chaldeans!"
• Deut 21:19 : 19 his father and mother are to take hold of him and bring him to the elders at the gate of his city.
• Amos 5:10 : 10 They hate the one who reproves in the gate and despise the one who speaks with honesty.
• Matt 8:11-12 : 11 I tell you, many will come from the east and the west and will recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
• Matt 20:16 : 16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last. For many are called, but few are chosen.
• Luke 10:30-36 : 30 Jesus replied, 'A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half-dead.' 31 By chance, a priest was going down that road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise, a Levite came to the same place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he was moved with compassion. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' 36 Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?
• Luke 13:29-30 : 29 People will come from the east, west, north, and south, and they will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 30 Indeed, some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.
• Acts 8:27-39 : 27 So he got up and went. There he met an Ethiopian man, a eunuch and an important official in charge of all the treasury of the queen of the Ethiopians, known as Candace, who had gone to Jerusalem to worship. 28 He was on his way home, sitting in his chariot and reading the book of the prophet Isaiah. 29 The Spirit said to Philip, 'Go up to that chariot and stay near it.' 30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. He asked, 'Do you understand what you are reading?' 31 The man replied, 'How can I understand unless someone guides me?' And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 The passage of Scripture he was reading was this: 'Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth.' 33 In his humiliation justice was taken away from him. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth. 34 The eunuch said to Philip, 'I ask you, who is the prophet talking about? Himself or someone else?' 35 Then Philip began to speak, and starting from this Scripture, he preached to him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, 'Look, here is water! What is stopping me from being baptized?' 37 Philip said, 'If you believe with all your heart, you may.' The eunuch answered, 'I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.' 38 He ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.
• 2 Kgs 24:15 : 15 He took Jehoiachin captive to Babylon, along with the king's mother, the king's wives, his officials, and the elite of the land; he led them as exiles from Jerusalem to Babylon.
• Job 29:7-9 : 7 When I went out to the city gate, and took my seat in the public square, 8 the young men saw me and stepped aside, and the aged stood and rose to their feet. 9 Leaders refrained from speaking and laid their hands on their mouths. 10 The voices of nobles quieted, and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths. 11 For when the ear heard me, it called me blessed, and when the eye saw me, it gave testimony about me. 12 Because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the orphan who had no helper. 13 The blessing of the one about to perish came upon me, and I made the widow's heart sing for joy. 14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban. 15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame. 16 I was a father to the needy, and I searched out the case of one I did not know. 17 I broke the jaws of the wicked and snatched the prey from his teeth.
• Ps 68:31 : 31 Rebuke the beast of the reeds, the herd of mighty bulls among the calves of the peoples. Scatter those who delight in war; scatter them with pieces of silver.
• Jer 13:23 : 23 Can an Ethiopian change his skin or a leopard its spots? Likewise, you are unable to do good—you who are accustomed to doing evil.
• Jer 39:16-18 : 16 'Go and say to Ebed-Melech the Cushite, This is what the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: I am about to bring my words against this city for disaster and not for good, and they will happen before your eyes on that day. 17 But I will deliver you on that day, declares the Lord, and you will not be handed over to the men you fear. 18 Indeed, I will save you, and you will not fall by the sword, but you will have your life as your prize of war, because you trusted in me, declares the Lord.
• Jer 34:19 : 19 The officials of Judah, the officials of Jerusalem, the court officials, the priests, and all the people of the land who walked between the pieces of the calf—