Then came all the princes unto Jeremiah, and asked him: and he told them according to all these words that the king had commanded. So they left off speaking with him; for the matter was not perceived.

JEREMIAH 38:27KJV
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Jeremiah 38:27 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 38:27 mean?

Jeremiah 38:27 describes how the officials (called "princes" in the KJV) questioned Jeremiah about his conversation with King Zedekiah, and Jeremiah answered them just as the king had instructed. The officials stopped questioning him because they did not realize the full truth of the matter.

In this scene, Jeremiah is under suspicion after a private conversation with the king during a tense time in Jerusalem. The "princes" come to interrogate him, but Jeremiah only shares what the king allowed, not the whole conversation. The verse highlights Jeremiah’s careful obedience to the king’s command and the fact that the officials were satisfied with his answer, not perceiving any hidden details.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 38:27

  • "Princes" (שָׂרִים, sarim): This word refers to the leading officials or rulers in Jerusalem, showing the high level of scrutiny Jeremiah was under.
  • "Matter" (דָּבָר, davar): This word can mean "word," "thing," or "matter." Here, it suggests that the true content or purpose of Jeremiah’s conversation with the king was not understood by the officials.
  • "Perceived" (שָׁמַע, shama‘): While often translated as "hear," in this context it means "understood" or "realized." The verse emphasizes that the officials did not grasp the full significance of what had happened.

Why Jeremiah 38:27 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Jeremiah was not being deceptive but was following the king’s instructions, which protected him from further trouble with the officials.
  • The verse shows the tense political situation in Jerusalem, where even a prophet’s words were closely monitored by the ruling class.
  • Jeremiah 38:27 connects to the broader story of Jeremiah’s faithfulness and the challenges he faced in delivering God’s messages under pressure from both the king and the officials.

Where else these words appear

“speaking” Hebrew H2790 · used in 66 verses

  • Genesis 24:21 And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.
  • Esther 4:14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
  • Proverbs 6:14 Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.

“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;