Then Jeremiah said unto Zedekiah, If I declare it unto thee, wilt thou not surely put me to death? and if I give thee counsel, wilt thou not hearken unto me?

JEREMIAH 38:15KJV
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Jeremiah 38:15 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 38:15 mean?

Jeremiah 38:15 shows the prophet Jeremiah telling King Zedekiah that he fears for his life if he speaks honestly, and that even if he gives advice, the king is unlikely to listen. Jeremiah is cautious and frank, expressing mistrust toward the king’s willingness to accept or act on his message.

In this scene, Jeremiah is a prisoner, summoned by King Zedekiah for counsel about the fate of Jerusalem. Jeremiah’s response reveals both the danger he faces—since previous warnings have led to threats against him—and his frustration that his words are often ignored. The verse highlights the tension between a prophet’s duty to speak truth and the risks involved when leaders refuse to heed difficult messages.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 38:15

  • "Surely" and "death" both use the Hebrew מוּת (mût), which means "to die." The repetition in the original language adds emphasis, showing Jeremiah’s real fear that telling the truth could cost him his life.
  • "Counsel" comes from יָעַץ (ya‘ats), meaning "to advise" or "to give counsel." Jeremiah is not just delivering a message; he is offering guidance, which the king has a history of ignoring.
  • "Hearken" is from שָׁמַע (shama‘), which means "to listen" or "to obey." Jeremiah doubts that Zedekiah will truly listen or act on what he says, not just hear the words.

Why Jeremiah 38:15 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Jeremiah’s warnings were not just unpopular—they put him in real danger, and he knew it. His honesty about this risk shows his courage and the seriousness of his message.
  • Jeremiah’s question about whether the king will listen highlights a pattern in the book: Zedekiah’s repeated reluctance to follow God’s guidance, even when he seeks it out.
  • The verse sets up the tension for the following conversation, showing why Jeremiah is hesitant and why the king’s response is so important for the fate of Jerusalem.

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 27:12 I spake also to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live.
  • Jeremiah 38:5 Then Zedekiah the king said, Behold, he is in your hand: for the king is not he that can do any thing against you.

“counsel” Hebrew H3289 · used in 74 verses

  • Exodus 18:19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:
  • 2 Chronicles 22:4 Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab: for they were his counsellors after the death of his father to his destruction.
  • Isaiah 1:26 And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.

“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 28:15 Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.
  • Jeremiah 38:7 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;