And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah went forth from Mizpah to meet them, weeping all along as he went: and it came to pass, as he met them, he said unto them, Come to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam.

JEREMIAH 41:6KJV
Know the Bible

Jeremiah 41:6 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 41:6 mean?

Jeremiah 41:6 describes Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, leaving Mizpah to meet a group of men, appearing to weep as he approaches them, and then inviting them to come see Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam. The verse shows Ishmael acting in a way that seems sincere, but the context suggests he is hiding his true intentions.

In this scene, Ishmael is not speaking to Jeremiah but to a group of pilgrims coming to Mizpah after Jerusalem’s fall. Ishmael’s display of weeping is meant to deceive these men, making them believe he shares their grief. The invitation to see Gedaliah is a trap, as the wider story reveals Ishmael’s plan to attack Gedaliah and those with him.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 41:6

  • "Weeping" (בָּכָה, bakhah): This word means to cry or mourn. Ishmael’s public display of weeping is a deliberate act to gain the trust of the travelers, masking his violent intentions.
  • "Meet" (קָרָא, qara’): This word often means to encounter or come face-to-face. The verse emphasizes that Ishmael goes out of his way to intercept the group, not just happen upon them.
  • "Come" (בּוֹא, bo’): This is a direct invitation, making Ishmael’s approach seem welcoming and safe, which is key to his deception in the story.

Why Jeremiah 41:6 matters

  • The verse highlights Ishmael’s deceptive character, showing how appearances can be misleading, especially in times of political chaos.
  • Understanding Ishmael’s actions here helps explain the violence and betrayal that follows in the chapter, giving insight into the dangers faced by the survivors after Jerusalem’s destruction.
  • The verse connects to the larger narrative of Jeremiah, where trust and leadership are fragile, and God’s people face threats not just from outside enemies but from within their own community.

Where else these words appear

“met” Hebrew H6298 · used in 14 verses

  • Genesis 32:17 And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee?
  • 1 Samuel 25:20 And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert of the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them.
  • Proverbs 17:12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

“Nethaniah” Hebrew H5418 · used in 20 verses

  • 2 Kings 25:23 And when all the captains of the armies, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, there came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Careah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men.
  • Jeremiah 40:8 Then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men.
  • Jeremiah 41:9 Now the pit wherein Ishmael had cast all the dead bodies of the men, whom he had slain because of Gedaliah, was it which Asa the king had made for fear of Baasha king of Israel: and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled it with them that were slain.

“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 40:16 But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing: for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.

“Mizpah” Hebrew H4709 · used in 31 verses

  • Genesis 31:49 And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.
  • 1 Samuel 7:6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.
  • Nehemiah 3:15 But the gate of the fountain repaired Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah; he built it, and covered it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and the wall of the pool of Siloah by the king's garden, and unto the stairs that go down from the city of David.