Reference

Jeremiah 38:17

Literal Fulfillment Prophecy Fulfilled Literally Prophetic Methods of Communication

“Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon’s princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house:”

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?

So Zedekiah the king sware secretly unto Jeremiah, saying, As the Lord liveth, that made us this soul, I will not put thee to death, neither will I give thee into the hand of these men that seek thy life.

Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon’s princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house:

But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon’s princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand.

And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me.

Why This Verse Was Tagged

Prophetic Methods of Communication

Keyword Match

70% relevance

This verse contains specific terms directly associated with this theme.

Counter-Arguments

The strongest case that this verse does not belong in this theme.

Literal Fulfillment

The verse presents a conditional prophecy, where the "literal fulfillment" of the stated outcomes (Zedekiah's survival, the city not being burned) is entirely dependent on Zedekiah's choice to surrender. This makes it a hypothetical statement rather than a direct prediction of an unchangeable future event, thus weakening its support for the theme of "Literal Fulfillment" as an assured outcome.

Prophecy Fulfilled Literally

This verse describes a conditional promise for the immediate future of Zedekiah and Jerusalem, not a prophecy of a long-term, concrete, physical, or geographical fulfillment of Old Testament promises to Israel. The "fulfillment" here is contingent on Zedekiah's actions, and the outcome is presented as a direct consequence rather than a predetermined prophetic event.

Prophetic Methods of Communication

The verse describes Jeremiah delivering a message, but it does not explicitly detail the method by which Jeremiah himself received that message from God, focusing instead on the content of the prophecy.

Literal Fulfillment

Cross-References

Jeremiah 38:2Thematic

“Thus saith the Lord, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live.”

Jeremiah 27:17Thematic

“Hearken not unto them; serve the king of Babylon, and live: wherefore should this city be laid waste?”

Jeremiah 27:12Thematic

“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 21:4Thematic

“Thus saith the Lord God of Israel; Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans, which besiege you without the walls, and I will assemble them into the midst of this city.”