Jeremiah 37:6

Jer 37:6 Then came the word of the LORD unto the prophet Jeremiah, saying,

Ver. 6. Then came the word of the Lord.] In answer to the messengers that came to request prayers.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

37:6-10 The Lord answered Jeremiah’s prayer (37:3) with a warning for Zedekiah. The Egyptians would provide no lasting help, and the Babylonians would return to destroy Jerusalem—a prophecy that was fulfilled in 586 BC.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Then came the word of the Lord unto the Prophet Jeremiah,.... At the time when the messengers came to him from the king to pray for them; for Jer 37:4 are to be included in a parenthesis:

saying; as follows: which is an answer to the messengers.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Return, routed, chap. xlvi. 15. His army was small, Ezechiel xvii. 17., and xxx. 21. This king Ephree, (chap. xliv. 30.) or Apries, had succeeded Psammis, after an interregnum of ten years’ continuance. (Herodotus ii. 161.) --- He foresaw that his own dominions would be invaded, after Jerusalem, the key, was taken. The other allies of Juda perfidiously sat still, or joined the Chaldeans. (Calmet)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

6-10. Chaldeans shall… burn it — The one thing noticeable about this passage is its terrible earnestness and minuteness. Jeremiah assures Judah that the Egyptians shall return to their own land and the Chaldeans to their siege, and that no possible reverse that can come to the Chaldeans will save the city from its impending fate. Even though the whole army were defeated, and there remained only the wounded who had been pierced through and through, (for this is the force of the term translated wounded,) still they would rise up and “burn” the city.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Then came the word of the Lord to this effect: Jer 37:7. "Thus saith Jahveh, the God of Israel: Thus shall ye say to the king of Judah who hath sent you to me to ask at me, Behold, the army of Pharaoh, which marched out to your help, will return to Egypt, their own land. Jer 37:8. And the Chaldeans shall return and fight against this city, and take it, and burn it with fire. Jer 37:9. Thus saith Jahveh: Do not deceive yourselves by thinking, The Chaldeans will quite withdraw from us; for they will not withdraw. Jer 37:10. For, even though he had beaten the whole army of the Chaldeans who are fighting with you, and there remained of them only some who had been pierced through and through, yet they would rise up, every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire." In order to cut off every hope, the prophet announces that the Egyptians will bring no help, but withdraw to their own land before the Chaldeans who went out to meet them, without having accomplished their object; but then the Chaldeans will return, continue the siege, take the city and burn it. To assure them of this, he adds: "Ye must not deceive yourselves with the vain hope that the Chaldeans may possibly be defeated and driven back by the Egyptians. The destruction of Jerusalem is so certain that, even supposing you were actually to defeat and repulse the Chaldeans, and only some few grievously wounded ones remained in the tents, these would rise up and burn the city." In הלוך ילכוּ the inf. abs. is to be observed, as strengthening the idea contained in the verb: "to depart wholly or completely;" הלך is here to "depart, withdraw." אנשׁים in contrast with חיל are separate individuals. מדקּר, pierced through by sword or lance, i.e., grievously, mortally wounded.

Keil & Delitzsch — Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1861–1891) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API. (Old Testament only.)

the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "Yahweh

The idiom "the word of Yahweh came to" is used to introduce a special message from God. See how you translated a similar phrase in Jeremiah 1:4. AT: "Yahweh gave a message to Jeremiah the prophet. He said, 'Yahweh" or "Yahweh spoke this message to Jeremiah the prophet: 'Yahweh" (See: Idiom)

you will say

The word "you" refers to the two men that king Zedekiah had sent to Jeremiah, Jehukal son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah son of Maaseiah the priest. (See: Forms of You)

to seek advice from me

The word "me" refers to Yahweh.

See

"Look" or "Listen" or "Pay attention to what I am about to tell you"

They will fight against this city, capture it, and burn it

Compare how you translated "to wage war against it and take it, and to burn it" in Jeremiah 34:22.

translationWords

word of God

Jeremiah

prophet

Yahweh

God

Israel

king

kingdom of Judah

send

seek

advice

Pharaoh

Egypt

Chaldea

return

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.