📖 Jeremiah — Chapter 37 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Jeremiah 37:1 And king RZedekiah the son of Josiah reigned instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah.
Jeremiah 37:2 But Rneither he, nor his servants, nor the people of the land, did hearken unto the words of the LORD, which he spake Tby the prophet Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 37:3 And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah and RZephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Pray now unto the LORD our God for us.
Jeremiah 37:4 Now Jeremiah came in and went out among the people: Rfor they had not put him into prison.
Jeremiah 37:5 Then Pharaoh’s army was come forth out of Egypt: and when the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem heard tidings of them, Rthey departed from Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 37:6 Then came the word of the LORD unto the prophet Jeremiah saying,
Jeremiah 37:7 Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say to the king of Judah, that sent you unto me to enquire of me; Behold, Pharaoh’s army, which is come forth to help you, shall return to Egypt into their own land.
Jeremiah 37:8 And the Chaldeans shall come again, and fight against this city, and take it, and burn it with fire.
Jeremiah 37:9 Thus saith the LORD; RDeceive not Tyourselves, saying, The Chaldeans shall surely depart from us: for they shall not depart.
Jeremiah 37:10 For Rthough ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but Twounded men among them, yet should they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire.
Jeremiah 37:11 And it came to pass, that when the army of the Chaldeans was Tbroken up from Jerusalem for fear of Pharaoh’s army,
Jeremiah 37:12 Then Jeremiah Rwent forth out of Jerusalem to go into the land of Benjamin, to Tseparate himself thence in the midst of the people.
Jeremiah 37:13 And when he was Rin the gate of Benjamin, a captain of the ward was there, whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and he took Jeremiah the prophet, saying, Thou fallest away to the Chaldeans.
Jeremiah 37:14 Then Rsaid Jeremiah, It is Tfalse; I fall not away to the Chaldeans. But he hearkened not to him: so Irijah took Jeremiah, and brought him to the princes.
Jeremiah 37:15 Wherefore Rthe princes were wroth with Jeremiah, and smote him, and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe: for they had made that the prison.
Jeremiah 37:16 When Jeremiah was entered Rinto the dungeon, and into the Tcabins, and Jeremiah had remained there many days;
Jeremiah 37:17 Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took him out: and the king Rasked him secretly in his house, and said, Is there any word from the LORD? And Jeremiah said, There is: for, said he, thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.
Jeremiah 37:18 Moreover Jeremiah said unto king Zedekiah, What have I offended against thee, or against thy servants, or against this people, that ye have put me in prison?
Jeremiah 37:19 RWhere are now your prophets which prophesied unto you, saying, The king of Babylon shall not come against you, nor against this land?
Jeremiah 37:20 Therefore hear now, I pray thee, O my lord the king: Tlet my supplication, I pray thee, Rbe accepted before thee; that thou cause me not to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there.
Jeremiah 37:21 Then Zedekiah the king commanded that they should commit Jeremiah Rinto the court of the prison, and that they should give him daily a piece of bread out of the bakers’ street, until all the bread in the city were spent. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Jeremiah 37:1–7 — A request for prayer without listening
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Zedekiah and his people do not heed the Lord’s words, yet ask Jeremiah to pray. Egypt’s approach briefly interrupts Babylon’s siege, but the Lord announces that Egyptian help will withdraw.
Key Truth: Let a request for prayer accompany a willingness to hear.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “And king Zedekiah the ____ of Josiah reigned instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, …” (Jeremiah 37:1)
Find it in Jeremiah 37:1 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “Then came the word of the LORD unto the prophet ____ saying,” (Jeremiah 37:6)
Find it in Jeremiah 37:6 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “____ saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye …” (Jeremiah 37:7)
Find it in Jeremiah 37:7 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Jeremiah 37:8–14 — False confidence and a false accusation
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Babylon will return and burn the city despite hopes of relief. When Jeremiah goes toward Benjamin, a guard accuses him of defecting to the Chaldeans and refuses his denial.
Key Truth: Do not replace evidence with fear-driven accusation.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “And the ____ shall come again, and fight against this city, and take …” (Jeremiah 37:8)
Find it in Jeremiah 37:8 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “… army of the Chaldeans was broken up from Jerusalem for ____ of Pharaoh’s army,” (Jeremiah 37:11)
Find it in Jeremiah 37:11 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “Then said Jeremiah, It is ____ ; I fall not away to the Chaldeans. But he …” (Jeremiah 37:14)
Find it in Jeremiah 37:14 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Jeremiah 37:15–21 — The imprisoned prophet speaks to the king
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Jeremiah is beaten and imprisoned, then brought privately to Zedekiah. He repeats the warning, challenges his unjust imprisonment, and receives confinement in the court with a daily bread ration.
Key Truth: Remain truthful while asking for humane treatment.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “____ the princes were wroth with Jeremiah, and smote him, and …” (Jeremiah 37:15)
Find it in Jeremiah 37:15 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “____ Jeremiah said unto king Zedekiah, What have I offended against …” (Jeremiah 37:18)
Find it in Jeremiah 37:18 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “… and that they should give him daily a piece of ____ out of the bakers’ street, until all the bread in …” (Jeremiah 37:21)
Find it in Jeremiah 37:21 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Jeremiah 21:10 — The earlier message also announces the city’s burning.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
Where must asking for help be joined with a willingness to follow truthful counsel?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. What contradiction frames the request for prayer?
2. Why does Egypt’s arrival not guarantee rescue?
3. What does the wounded-men warning convey about Babylon’s return?
4. How does the arrest account distinguish accusation from truth?
5. What practical provision accompanies Jeremiah’s changed confinement?
Notes
Write what you want to remember, questions to explore, or Scriptures to look up later. Your saved notes are private to your account.
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