Jeremiah 38:21

But if thou refuse to goe foorth, this is the word that the Lord hath shewed me. Jeremiah 38:21 (KJV)

Context: To understand the context of this passage, let’s explore the surrounding verses and the broader narrative of Jeremiah. Jeremiah was a prophet whose ministry spanned the years leading up to and including the early phase of the Babylonian captivity of Judah. The people of Judah had turned away from God, indulging in idolatry and wickedness, which, according to the biblical narrative, brought about divine judgment. Jeremiah’s role was to deliver God’s messages to the people, calling them to repentance and warning them of the impending destruction of Jerusalem.

In Jeremiah 38 we find Jeremiah in a dire situation. The officials of Judah’s king, Zedekiah, became angry with Jeremiah’s prophecies, which included the prediction that Jerusalem would fall to the Babylonians. They accused Jeremiah of undermining the morale of the people and sought his death. Amidst this turmoil, Jeremiah was confined to a cistern—a pit used for collecting water—by these officials. However, an Ethiopian eunuch named Ebed‑Melech, who held a position in the king’s palace, intervened and secured Jeremiah’s rescue.

After Jeremiah was rescued, verse 21 records his words to the officials: “But if thou refuse to go forth, this is the word that the LORD hath shewed me.” The statement is conditional: if Zedekiah refuses to surrender and go forth from the city, the LORD has shown Jeremiah what will happen. The subsequent verses (Jeremiah 38:22‑23) convey the warning that if the king remains in Jerusalem, the Babylonians will capture the city, burn it with fire, and Zedekiah himself will not escape their clutches. The passage therefore presents a stark choice for Zedekiah—submit to the Babylonians and live, or resist the consequences of his actions.