Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.

JEREMIAH 40:6KJV
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Jeremiah 40:6 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 40:6 mean?

Jeremiah 40:6 describes how the prophet Jeremiah went to Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, at Mizpah and lived with him among the people who remained in the land after much of Judah had been taken into exile. This verse shows Jeremiah choosing to stay with the remnant left behind rather than leaving the country or seeking safety elsewhere.

After Jerusalem’s destruction by Babylon, most people were exiled, but some were left in Judah under the leadership of Gedaliah. Jeremiah, recently released from captivity, decided to join Gedaliah at Mizpah—a town north of Jerusalem—where the remaining people tried to rebuild their lives. The verse highlights Jeremiah’s solidarity with the survivors and his continued presence among his people during a difficult time.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 40:6

  • "went" (בּוֹא, bô'): This word often means to come or go, but here it emphasizes Jeremiah’s deliberate movement toward Gedaliah, showing his active choice to join the remnant.
  • "dwelt" (יָשַׁב, yâshav): This word means to sit, remain, or dwell, suggesting Jeremiah settled down and made his home with the people, not just visiting temporarily.
  • "among" (בְּתוֹךְ, bᵉtôk): This word means in the midst of, highlighting that Jeremiah was not set apart but lived right in the middle of the people who remained.
  • "left" (שָׁאַר, shâ'ar): This word means to remain or be left over, underlining that these people were survivors—the few who had not been taken away.

Why Jeremiah 40:6 matters

  • Jeremiah’s decision to stay with the remnant shows his commitment to his people, even when most had been exiled and the situation was bleak.
  • The verse connects Jeremiah’s personal story to the larger narrative of Judah’s fall and the hope for those left behind, setting the stage for what happens next in the book.
  • By naming Gedaliah and Mizpah, the verse grounds the story in real people and places, helping readers understand the historical setting and the challenges faced by those who remained in the land.

Where else these words appear

“Mizpah” Hebrew H4708 · used in 14 verses

  • Joshua 11:8 And the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them unto great Zidon, and unto Misrephothmaim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none remaining.
  • 1 Samuel 7:5 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD.
  • 2 Chronicles 20:24 And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.

“Ahikam” Hebrew H296 · used in 20 verses

  • 2 Kings 22:12 And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king's, saying,
  • Jeremiah 40:5 Now while he was not yet gone back, he said, Go back also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people: or go wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a reward, and let him go.
  • Jeremiah 41:1 Now it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, and the princes of the king, even ten men with him, came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they did eat bread together in Mizpah.

“Gedaliah” Hebrew H1436 · used in 31 verses

  • 2 Kings 25:22 And as for the people that remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, even over them he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, ruler.
  • Jeremiah 40:7 Now when all the captains of the forces which were in the fields, even they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed unto him men, and women, and children, and of the poor of the land, of them that were not carried away captive to Babylon;
  • Jeremiah 41:2 Then arose Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men that were with him, and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan with the sword, and slew him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land.

“left” Hebrew H7604 · used in 123 verses

  • Genesis 7:23 And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.
  • Joshua 13:1 Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.
  • Ezra 9:15 O LORD God of Israel, thou art righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee because of this.