Then said Jeremiah unto them, Thus shall ye say to Zedekiah:

JEREMIAH 21:3KJV
Know the Bible

Jeremiah 21:3 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 21:3 mean?

Jeremiah 21:3 shows the prophet Jeremiah responding to messengers from King Zedekiah with a message he is to deliver back to the king. The verse sets up Jeremiah as the spokesperson for God, preparing the reader for the message that follows in the next verses.

In this moment, Jeremiah is speaking to officials sent by King Zedekiah, who is seeking guidance as Jerusalem faces a Babylonian threat. Jeremiah’s reply is not his own opinion but a directive to relay God’s words to Zedekiah. This verse marks a turning point where the prophet’s role as a messenger is highlighted, and the seriousness of the situation is underscored by the formal way the message is introduced.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 21:3

  • "said" (אָמַר, ’amar): This word is used twice in the verse, once for Jeremiah’s response and once for what the officials are to say to Zedekiah. It often means to declare or speak, emphasizing the act of passing on a message rather than casual conversation.
  • "Jeremiah" (יִרְמְיָהוּ, Yirmeyahu): The prophet’s name means "Yahweh will exalt" or "Yahweh will raise up," which fits his role as God’s chosen messenger in a crisis.
  • "Zedekiah" (צִדְקִיָּהוּ, Tsidqiyyahu): The king’s name means "Yahweh is my righteousness," which is ironic in this context, as the king is seeking God’s help but will soon hear a message of judgment.

Why Jeremiah 21:3 matters

  • Jeremiah 21:3 clarifies that Jeremiah is not acting on his own but is faithfully relaying God’s message, which adds weight and authority to what follows.
  • The verse highlights the seriousness of the situation by showing that even the king is seeking a word from God through the prophet, signaling a moment of crisis for Jerusalem.
  • By formally introducing the message to Zedekiah, the verse prepares the reader for the challenging and unexpected content of God’s response in the following verses.

Where else these words appear

“Zedekiah” Hebrew H6667 · used in 62 verses

  • 1 Kings 22:11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them.
  • Jeremiah 28:1 And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,
  • Jeremiah 38:14 Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that is in the house of the LORD: and the king said unto Jeremiah, I will ask thee a thing; hide nothing from me.

“Jeremiah” Hebrew H3414 · used in 133 verses

  • 2 Kings 23:31 Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
  • Jeremiah 29:1 Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue of the elders which were carried away captives, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon;
  • Jeremiah 38:9 My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon; and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is: for there is no more bread in the city.