Jeremiah 37:3
New International Version
King Zedekiah, however, sent Jehukal son of Shelemiah with the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah to Jeremiah the prophet with this message: “Please pray to the LORD our God for us.”

New Living Translation
Nevertheless, King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the priest, son of Maaseiah, to ask Jeremiah, “Please pray to the LORD our God for us.”

English Standard Version
King Zedekiah sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah, to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “Please pray for us to the LORD our God.”

Berean Standard Bible
Yet King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah, to Jeremiah the prophet with the message, “Please pray to the LORD our God for us!”

King James Bible
And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Pray now unto the LORD our God for us.

New King James Version
And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “Pray now to the LORD our God for us.”

New American Standard Bible
Yet King Zedekiah sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and the priest Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “Please pray to the LORD our God in our behalf.”

NASB 1995
Yet King Zedekiah sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “Please pray to the LORD our God on our behalf.”

NASB 1977
Yet King Zedekiah sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “Please pray to the LORD our God on our behalf.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Yet King Zedekiah sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “Please pray to Yahweh our God on our behalf.”

Amplified Bible
Yet King Zedekiah sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah [along] with Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “Please pray [now] to the LORD our God for us.”

Christian Standard Bible
Nevertheless, King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah son of Maaseiah, the priest, to the prophet Jeremiah, requesting, “Please pray to the LORD our God on our behalf! ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Nevertheless, King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah son of Maaseiah, the priest, to Jeremiah the prophet, requesting, “Please pray to the LORD our God for us!”

American Standard Version
And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Pray now unto Jehovah our God for us.

English Revised Version
And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Pray now unto the LORD our God for us.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
King Zedekiah sent Jehucal (son of Shelemiah) and the priest Zephaniah (son of Maaseiah) to the prophet Jeremiah. They asked him, "Please pray to the LORD our God for us."

Good News Translation
King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah to ask me to pray to the LORD our God on behalf of our nation.

International Standard Version
King Zedekiah sent Shelemiah's son Jehucal and Maaseiah's son Zephaniah the priest to Jeremiah the prophet, asking him, "Please pray to the LORD our God for us."

Majority Standard Bible
Yet King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah, to Jeremiah the prophet with the message, “Please pray to the LORD our God for us!”

NET Bible
King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah to the prophet Jeremiah. He told them to say, "Please pray to the LORD our God on our behalf."

New Heart English Bible
Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, "Pray now to the LORD our God for us."

Webster's Bible Translation
And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Pray now to the LORD our God for us.

World English Bible
Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “Pray now to Yahweh our God for us.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Zedekiah the king sends Jehucal son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah son of Maaseiah the priest, to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “Pray, we implore you, for us to our God YHWH.”

Young's Literal Translation
And Zedekiah the king sendeth Jehucal son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah son of Maaseiah the priest, unto Jeremiah the prophet, saying, 'Pray, we beseech thee, for us unto Jehovah our God.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And king Zedekiah will send Jehucal son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah, son of Maaseiah the priest, to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, Pray now for us to Jehovah our God.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And king Sedecias sent Juchal the son of Selemias, and Sophonias the son of Maasias the priest to Jeremias the prophet, saying: Pray to the Lord our God for us.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And king Zedekiah sent Jehucal, the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah, the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to Jeremiah the prophet, saying: “Pray to the Lord our God for us.”

New American Bible
Yet King Zedekiah sent Jehucal, son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah, son of Maaseiah the priest, to Jeremiah the prophet with this request: “Please appeal to the LORD, our God, for us.”

New Revised Standard Version
King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah to the prophet Jeremiah saying, “Please pray for us to the LORD our God.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the son of Maasiah the priest to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, Pray now for us before the LORD your God.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And King Tsedeqia sent Yukal, son of Shelamiah, and Tsephenia, son of Massia the Priest, to Jeremiah the Prophet, saying: ‘Pray for us before LORD JEHOVAH your God!’
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, to the prophet Jeremiah, saying: 'Pray now unto the LORD our God for us.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And king Sedekias sent Joachal son of Selemias and Sophonias the priest son of Maasaeas to Jeremias, saying, Pray now for us to the Lord.
Audio Bible



Context
Jeremiah Warns Zedekiah
2But he and his officers and the people of the land refused to obey the words that the LORD had spoken through Jeremiah the prophet. 3Yet King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah, to Jeremiah the prophet with the message, “Please pray to the LORD our God for us!” 4Now Jeremiah was free to come and go among the people, for they had not yet put him in prison.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 21:1-2
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur son of Malchijah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah. They said, / “Please inquire of the LORD on our behalf, since Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is waging war against us. Perhaps the LORD will perform for us something like all His past wonders, so that Nebuchadnezzar will withdraw from us.”

Jeremiah 42:2-4
Jeremiah the prophet and said, “May our petition come before you; pray to the LORD your God on behalf of this entire remnant. For few of us remain of the many, as you can see with your own eyes. / Pray that the LORD your God will tell us the way we should walk and the thing we should do.” / “I have heard you,” replied Jeremiah the prophet. “I will surely pray to the LORD your God as you request, and I will tell you everything that the LORD answers. I will not withhold a word from you.”

2 Kings 22:13
“Go and inquire of the LORD for me, for the people, and for all Judah concerning the words in this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that burns against us because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book by doing all that is written about us.”

2 Kings 25:18-21
The captain of the guard also took away Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest of second rank, and the three doorkeepers. / Of those still in the city, he took a court official who had been appointed over the men of war, as well as five royal advisors. He also took the scribe of the captain of the army, who had enlisted the people of the land, and sixty men who were found in the city. / Nebuzaradan captain of the guard took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. ...

1 Samuel 28:6
He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.

2 Chronicles 34:20-21
and commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the servant of the king: / “Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for those remaining in Israel and Judah concerning the words in the book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that has been poured out on us because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD by doing all that is written in this book.”

Ezekiel 14:3
“Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I consult with them in any way?

Ezekiel 20:1-3
In the seventh year, on the tenth day of the fifth month, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and they sat down before me. / Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, / “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: Have you come to inquire of Me? As surely as I live, I will not be consulted by you, declares the Lord GOD.

Isaiah 37:2-4
And he sent Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the scribe, and the leading priests, all wearing sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz / to tell him, “This is what Hezekiah says: Today is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace; for children have come to the point of birth, but there is no strength to deliver them. / Perhaps the LORD your God will hear the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to defy the living God, and He will rebuke him for the words that the LORD your God has heard. Therefore lift up a prayer for the remnant that still survives.”

Isaiah 30:1-2
“Woe to the rebellious children,” declares the LORD, “to those who carry out a plan that is not Mine, who form an alliance, but against My will, heaping up sin upon sin. / They set out to go down to Egypt without asking My advice, to seek shelter under Pharaoh’s protection and take refuge in Egypt’s shade.

Matthew 7:7-8
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

James 1:5-6
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. / But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

1 Timothy 2:1-2
First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone— / for kings and all those in authority—so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity.

Acts 8:24
Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”

Acts 12:5
So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him.


Treasury of Scripture

And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Pray now to the LORD our God for us.

Zephaniah.

Jeremiah 21:1,2
The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, when king Zedekiah sent unto him Pashur the son of Melchiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, saying, …

Jeremiah 29:21,25
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, of Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and of Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, which prophesy a lie unto you in my name; Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall slay them before your eyes; …

Jeremiah 52:24
And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door:

Pray.

Jeremiah 2:27
Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.

Jeremiah 21:1,2
The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, when king Zedekiah sent unto him Pashur the son of Melchiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, saying, …

Jeremiah 42:2-4,20
And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:) …

Jump to Previous
Behalf Beseech Jehucal Jeremiah Maaseiah Ma-Asei'ah Message Please Prayer Priest Prophet Shelemiah Shelemi'ah Zedekiah Zedeki'ah Zephaniah Zephani'ah
Jump to Next
Behalf Beseech Jehucal Jeremiah Maaseiah Ma-Asei'ah Message Please Prayer Priest Prophet Shelemiah Shelemi'ah Zedekiah Zedeki'ah Zephaniah Zephani'ah
Jeremiah 37
1. The Egyptians having raised the siege of the Chaldeans,
3. king Zedekiah sends to Jeremiah to pray for the people.
6. Jeremiah prophesies the Chaldeans' certain return and victory.
11. He is taken for a fugitive, beaten, and put in prison.
16. He assures Zedekiah of the captivity.
18. Entreating for his liberty, he obtains some favor.














Yet King Zedekiah
The word "Yet" indicates a contrast or continuation from previous events, suggesting that despite prior actions or circumstances, King Zedekiah is taking a specific step. Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, reigned during a tumultuous period marked by Babylonian threats. His name, meaning "The Lord is my righteousness," is ironic given his inconsistent faithfulness to God. Historically, Zedekiah was placed on the throne by Nebuchadnezzar, which often led to divided loyalties between Babylon and his own people.

sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah
Jehucal, also known as Jucal, is a figure mentioned in the context of Zedekiah's reign. His name means "Yahweh is able," which is significant given the desperate situation Judah faced. The act of sending Jehucal indicates a formal and serious request, as he was a royal official. Shelemiah, his father, means "Yahweh has repaid," suggesting a lineage of names that reflect a reliance on God, even if not always practiced.

and Zephaniah son of Maaseiah, the priest
Zephaniah, a priest, signifies the involvement of religious authority in the king's request. His name means "Yahweh has hidden," which could imply a hope for divine protection or intervention. Maaseiah, meaning "work of Yahweh," further emphasizes a divine connection. The inclusion of a priest highlights the blending of political and religious concerns during this crisis, as priests were often seen as intermediaries between God and the people.

to Jeremiah the prophet
Jeremiah, known as the "weeping prophet," was called by God to deliver messages of warning and hope to Judah. His role as a prophet was to speak God's truth, often in the face of opposition. The Hebrew root of "prophet" (navi) implies one who is called or appointed, underscoring Jeremiah's divine mission. His presence in this narrative is crucial, as he represents God's voice amidst the political and social turmoil.

with this message 'Please pray to the LORD our God for us.'
The plea "Please pray" indicates a recognition of Jeremiah's spiritual authority and a desperate need for divine intervention. The phrase "the LORD our God" reflects a communal acknowledgment of Yahweh as the covenant God of Israel, despite the nation's wavering faithfulness. This request for prayer suggests a moment of humility and recognition of dependence on God, even if it is driven by desperation rather than genuine repentance. Historically, this reflects the common practice of seeking prophetic intercession during times of national crisis, highlighting the enduring belief in the power of prayer and divine intervention.

(3) And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal . . .--The time and, probably, occasion of the mission is given in Jeremiah 37:5. The Chaldaeans had raised the siege of Jerusalem on hearing of the approach of the Egyptian army under Pharaoh-Hophra, the Apries of Herodotus (Herod. ii. 161-169. Ezekiel 17:15, Ezekiel 29:1-16, Ezekiel 30-32.), and the king seems to have thought that an opportunity presented itself for asserting his independence, and wished to gain the sanction and the prayers of the prophet for this policy. Of the two officers who are here named, Jehucal appears as accusing the prophets in Jeremiah 38:1, Zephaniah in Jeremiah 21:1; Jeremiah 29:25. They clearly belonged to the anti-Chaldaean party, and were therefore, for the most part, openly hostile to the prophet. Their application to him was either simply an official act in obedience to the king's commands, or sprang from the hope, as before in Jeremiah 21:1, that they might, by a show of religious zeal for Jehovah, win him over to their cause. The stress which they lay on his praying to "the Lord our God" indicates the latter alternative as probable. . . . Verse 3. - And Zedekiah the king sent. This was Zedekiah's second embassy to Jeremiah. His request on the former occasion bad been for a prophecy; on the present it was for an "effectual fervent prayer," such as Hezekiah's embassy asked of Isaiah (Isaiah 37:6). But the issue was to be very different from that in the case of Sennacherib's invasion! Jehucal. The same man appears in Jeremiah 38. l, among those who brought about the imprisonment of Jeremiah. Zephaniah. The high priest's deputy, mentioned again in Jeremiah 21:1; Jeremiah 29:25; Jeremiah 52:24.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Yet King
הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

Zedekiah
צִדְקִיָּ֜הוּ (ṣiḏ·qî·yā·hū)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6667: Zedekiah -- 'Yah is righteousness', six Israelites

sent
וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ (way·yiš·laḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

Jehucal
יְהוּכַ֣ל (yə·hū·ḵal)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3081: Jehucal -- 'the LORD is able', a courtier of King Zedekiah

son
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Shelemiah
שֶֽׁלֶמְיָ֗ה (še·lem·yāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8018: Shelemiah -- 'friend of Yah', the name of several Israelites

and Zephaniah
צְפַנְיָ֤הוּ (ṣə·p̄an·yā·hū)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6846: Zephaniah -- 'Yah has treasured', four Israelites

the priest,
הַכֹּהֵ֔ן (hak·kō·hên)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3548: Priest

the son
בֶן־ (ḇen-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Maaseiah,
מַֽעֲשֵׂיָה֙ (ma·‘ă·śê·yāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4641: Maaseiah -- 'work of Yah', the name of a number of Israelites

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Jeremiah
יִרְמְיָ֥הוּ (yir·mə·yā·hū)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3414: Jeremiah -- 'Yah loosens', the name of a number of Israelites

the prophet
הַנָּבִ֖יא (han·nā·ḇî)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5030: A spokesman, speaker, prophet

with the message,
לֵאמֹ֑ר (lê·mōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Please
נָ֣א (nā)
Interjection
Strong's 4994: I pray', 'now', 'then'

pray
הִתְפַּלֶּל־ (hiṯ·pal·lel-)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 6419: To judge, to intercede, pray

for us
בַעֲדֵ֔נוּ (ḇa·‘ă·ḏê·nū)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the LORD
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

our God!”
אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ (’ĕ·lō·hê·nū)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative


Links
Jeremiah 37:3 NIV
Jeremiah 37:3 NLT
Jeremiah 37:3 ESV
Jeremiah 37:3 NASB
Jeremiah 37:3 KJV

Jeremiah 37:3 BibleApps.com
Jeremiah 37:3 Biblia Paralela
Jeremiah 37:3 Chinese Bible
Jeremiah 37:3 French Bible
Jeremiah 37:3 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Jeremiah 37:3 Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son (Jer.)
Jeremiah 37:2
Top of Page
Top of Page