Jeremiah 40:14
New International Version
and said to him, “Don’t you know that Baalis king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them.

New Living Translation
They said to him, “Did you know that Baalis, king of Ammon, has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to assassinate you?” But Gedaliah refused to believe them.

English Standard Version
and said to him, “Do you know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam would not believe them.

Berean Standard Bible
and said to him, “Are you aware that Baalis king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them.

King James Bible
And said unto him, Dost thou certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay thee? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.

New King James Version
and said to him, “Do you certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to murder you?” But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam did not believe them.

New American Standard Bible
and said to him, “Are you well aware that Baalis the king of the sons of Ammon has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam did not believe them.

NASB 1995
and said to him, “Are you well aware that Baalis the king of the sons of Ammon has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam did not believe them.

NASB 1977
and said to him, “Are you well aware that Baalis the king of the sons of Ammon has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam did not believe them.

Legacy Standard Bible
and said to him, “Do you indeed know that Baalis the king of the sons of Ammon has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to strike down your life?” But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam did not believe them.

Amplified Bible
and said to him, “Do you know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam did not believe them.

Christian Standard Bible
and warned him, “Don’t you realize that Baalis, king of the Ammonites, has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to kill you? ” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam would not believe them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and warned him, “Don’t you realize that Baalis, king of the Ammonites, has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to kill you?” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam would not believe them.

American Standard Version
and said unto him, Dost thou know that Baalis the king of the children of Ammon hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take thy life? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.

Contemporary English Version
They said, "Gedaliah, we came to warn you that King Baalis of Ammon hired Ishmael to murder you!" Gedaliah refused to believe them,

English Revised Version
and said unto him, Dost thou know that Baalis the king of the children of Ammon hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take thy life? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They asked him, "Do you know that King Baalis of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael, Nethaniah's son, to kill you?" However, Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, didn't believe them.

Good News Translation
and said to him, "Don't you know that King Baalis of Ammon has sent Ishmael to murder you?" But Gedaliah did not believe it.

International Standard Version
They told him, "Are you aware that Baalis, the king of the people of Ammon, has sent Nethaniah's son Ishmael to take your life?" But Ahikam's son Gedaliah did not believe them.

Majority Standard Bible
and said to him, “Are you aware that Baalis king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them.

NET Bible
They said to him, "Are you at all aware that King Baalis of Ammon has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to kill you?" But Gedaliah son of Ahikam would not believe them.

New Heart English Bible
and said to him, "Do you know that Baalis the king of the people of Ammon has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take your life?" But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam did not believe them.

Webster's Bible Translation
And said to him, Dost thou certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay thee? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.

World English Bible
and said to him, “Do you know that Baalis the king of the children of Ammon has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam didn’t believe them.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and they say to him, “Do you really know that Ba‘alis king of the sons of Ammon has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to strike your soul?” And Gedaliah son of Ahikam has not given credence to them.

Young's Literal Translation
and they say unto him, 'Dost thou really know that Baalis king of the sons of Ammon hath sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to smite thy soul?' And Gedaliah son of Ahikam hath not given to them credence.

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will say to him, Knowing, wilt thou know that Baalis, king of the sons of Ammon sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to strike thee in soul? And Gedaliah son of Ahikam believed not in them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And they said to him: Know that Baalis the king of the children of Ammon hath sent Ismahel the son of Nathanias to kill thee. And Godolias the son of Ahicam believed them not.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And they said to him: “Know that Baalis, the king of the sons of Ammon, has sent Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah, to strike down your life.” And Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, did not believe them.

New American Bible
and said to him, “Surely you are aware that Baalis, the Ammonite king, has sent Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, to assassinate you?” But Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, would not believe them.

New Revised Standard Version
and said to him, “Are you at all aware that Baalis king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam would not believe them.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And said to him, Do you not know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay you? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam did not believe them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they said to him: “Do you not know that Balleis, King of the children of Amon, sent Ishmayl, son of Nethaniah, to kill you?” And Gedaliah, son of Akhiqam, did not believe them
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and said unto him: 'Dost thou know that Baalis the king of the children of Ammon hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take thy life?' But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and said to him, Dost thou indeed know that king Beleissa son of Ammon has sent Ismael to thee to slay thee? But Godolias believed them not.
Audio Bible



Context
The Plot Against Gedaliah
13Meanwhile, Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the armies in the field came to Gedaliah at Mizpah 14and said to him, “Are you aware that Baalis king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them. 15Then Johanan son of Kareah spoke privately to Gedaliah at Mizpah. “Let me go and kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah,” he said. “No one will know it. Why should he take your life and scatter all the people of Judah who have gathered to you, so that the remnant of Judah would perish?”…

Cross References
2 Kings 25:25
In the seventh month, however, Ishmael son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, who was a member of the royal family, came with ten men and struck down and killed Gedaliah, along with the Judeans and Chaldeans who were with him at Mizpah.

Jeremiah 41:1-3
In the seventh month, Ishmael son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, who was a member of the royal family and one of the king’s chief officers, came with ten men to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah, and they ate a meal together there. / Then Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the ten men who were with him got up and struck down Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, with the sword, killing the one whom the king of Babylon had appointed to govern the land. / Ishmael also killed all the Jews who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah, as well as the Chaldean soldiers who were there.

Jeremiah 39:10
But Nebuzaradan left behind in the land of Judah some of the poor people who had no property, and at that time he gave them vineyards and fields.

Jeremiah 42:1-3
Then all the commanders of the forces, along with Johanan son of Kareah, Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest, approached / 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.”

Jeremiah 43:2-3
Azariah son of Hoshaiah, Johanan son of Kareah, and all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, “You are lying! The LORD our God has not sent you to say, ‘You must not go to Egypt to reside there.’ / Rather, Baruch son of Neriah is inciting you against us to deliver us into the hands of the Chaldeans, so that they may put us to death or exile us to Babylon!”

2 Samuel 3:27
When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel.

2 Samuel 20:10
Amasa was not on guard against the dagger in Joab’s hand, and Joab stabbed him in the stomach and spilled out his intestines on the ground. And Joab did not need to strike him again, for Amasa was dead. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri.

2 Kings 25:22-24
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, over the people he had left behind in the land of Judah. / When all the commanders of the armies and their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah as governor, they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah son of the Maacathite, as well as their men. / And Gedaliah took an oath before them and their men, assuring them, “Do not be afraid of the servants of the Chaldeans. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will be well with you.”

Isaiah 16:14
And now the LORD says, “In three years, as a hired worker counts the years, Moab’s splendor will become an object of contempt, with all her many people. And those who are left will be few and feeble.”

Ezekiel 25:12-14
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because Edom acted vengefully against the house of Judah, and in so doing incurred grievous guilt, / therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I will stretch out My hand against Edom and cut off from it both man and beast. I will make it a wasteland, and from Teman to Dedan they will fall by the sword. / I will take My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel, and they will deal with Edom according to My anger and wrath. Then they will know My vengeance, declares the Lord GOD.’

Matthew 2:16
When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was filled with rage. Sending orders, he put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi.

Matthew 26:3-4
At that time the chief priests and elders of the people assembled in the courtyard of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, / and they conspired to arrest Jesus covertly and kill Him.

Mark 14:1
Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were two days away, and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a covert way to arrest Jesus and kill Him.

Luke 22:2
and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death, for they feared the people.

John 11:53
So from that day on they plotted to kill Him.


Treasury of Scripture

And said to him, Do you certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay you? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.

Ammonites.

Jeremiah 25:21
Edom, and Moab, and the children of Ammon,

Jeremiah 41:10
Then Ishmael carried away captive all the residue of the people that were in Mizpah, even the king's daughters, and all the people that remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam: and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah carried them away captive, and departed to go over to the Ammonites.

Jeremiah 49:1-6
Concerning the Ammonites, thus saith the LORD; Hath Israel no sons? hath he no heir? why then doth their king inherit Gad, and his people dwell in his cities? …

Ishmael.

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 41:2,10
Then arose Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men that were with him, and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan with the sword, and slew him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land…

Proverbs 26:23-26
Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross…

slay thee? Heb.

1 Corinthians 13:5-7
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; …

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Ahikam Ahi'kam Ammon Ammonites Aware Believe Believed Children Death Faith Gedaliah Gedali'ah Indeed Ishmael Ish'mael Life Nethaniah Nethani'ah Really Slay Smite Soul
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Ahikam Ahi'kam Ammon Ammonites Aware Believe Believed Children Death Faith Gedaliah Gedali'ah Indeed Ishmael Ish'mael Life Nethaniah Nethani'ah Really Slay Smite Soul
Jeremiah 40
1. Jeremiah, being set free by Nebuzaradan, goes to Gedaliah.
7. The dispersed Jews repair unto him.
13. Johanan revealing Ishmael's conspiracy is not believed.














and said to him
This phrase introduces a direct communication, emphasizing the importance of the message being delivered. In the context of ancient Israel, direct speech often carried significant weight, as it was a primary means of conveying urgent or critical information. The Hebrew root for "said" (אָמַר, 'amar) implies not just speaking, but declaring or commanding, indicating the seriousness of the warning being given to Gedaliah.

Are you aware
This question challenges Gedaliah's awareness and vigilance. It suggests a need for discernment and alertness, qualities essential for leadership. The Hebrew concept of awareness often involves not just knowledge, but understanding and wisdom, which are crucial for making sound decisions.

Baalis, king of the Ammonites
Baalis is identified as the king of the Ammonites, a neighboring nation often in conflict with Israel. The Ammonites were descendants of Lot, and their relationship with Israel was historically contentious. The mention of Baalis highlights the political intrigue and the external threats facing the remnant of Judah. Understanding the historical enmity between Israel and Ammon provides insight into the gravity of the situation.

has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah
Ishmael, a member of the royal family, is portrayed as an agent of Baalis. His lineage, "son of Nethaniah," connects him to the house of David, adding a layer of complexity to his actions. The sending of Ishmael by Baalis suggests a conspiracy, reflecting the turbulent political landscape following the Babylonian conquest. This phrase underscores the internal and external challenges to Gedaliah's leadership.

to take your life
The phrase reveals the lethal intent behind Ishmael's mission. The Hebrew root for "take" (נָכָה, nakah) often implies striking or smiting, indicating a violent action. This threat to Gedaliah's life symbolizes the broader instability and danger facing the Jewish community in the aftermath of Jerusalem's fall.

But Gedaliah son of Ahikam
Gedaliah, appointed governor by the Babylonians, is depicted as a figure of authority and responsibility. His lineage, "son of Ahikam," connects him to a family known for its loyalty to the prophetic message of Jeremiah. This background suggests that Gedaliah was chosen for his integrity and potential to lead the remnant wisely.

did not believe them
Gedaliah's disbelief reflects a tragic flaw in his leadership. The Hebrew root for "believe" (אָמַן, 'aman) implies trust and faithfulness. His failure to heed the warning demonstrates a lack of discernment, which ultimately leads to his downfall. This serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of vigilance and the consequences of ignoring wise counsel.

(14) Dost thou certainly know that Baalis . . .--The king of the Ammonites so named appears from Jeremiah 27:3 to have been in alliance with Zedekiah; and Ishmael, as belonging to the royal house of Judah, seems to have been still plotting with him against the authority of the Chaldaeans. Open resistance being now impossible, they have recourse to assassination. The plot becomes known, and Johanan, faithful to his new protector, warns him against it, but, as the sequel shows, in vain. Gedaliah, in the guileless trustfulness of his character, does not believe that Ishmael is capable of such a crime, and will not sanction another crime by way of precaution.

Verse 14. - Baalis the king of the Ammonites. Perhaps the same king referred to in Jeremiah 27:3 as seeking alliance with Zedekiah. He was naturally opposed to the Babylonian official, Gedaliah. Hath sent Ishmael. Ishmael was connected with the royal family (Jeremiah 41:1), and was probably jealous of Gedaliah.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
and said to him,
וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Are you aware
הֲיָדֹ֤עַ (hă·yā·ḏō·a‘)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 3045: To know

that
כִּ֞י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

Baalis
בַּעֲלִ֣יס ׀ (ba·‘ă·lîs)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1185: Baalis -- perhaps 'son of delight', an Ammonite king

king
מֶ֣לֶךְ (me·leḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of the Ammonites
בְּנֵֽי־ (bə·nê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

has sent
שָׁלַח֙ (šā·laḥ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

Ishmael
יִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל (yiš·mā·‘êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3458: Ishmael -- 'God hears', the name of several Israelites

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

of Nethaniah
נְתַנְיָ֔ה (nə·ṯan·yāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5418: Nethaniah -- 'given of Yah', the name of several Israelites

to take
לְהַכֹּתְךָ֖ (lə·hak·kō·ṯə·ḵā)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5221: To strike

your life?”
נָ֑פֶשׁ (nā·p̄eš)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

But Gedaliah
גְּדַלְיָ֖הוּ (gə·ḏal·yā·hū)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1436: Gedaliah -- 'Yah is great', three Israelites

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

of Ahikam
אֲחִיקָֽם׃ (’ă·ḥî·qām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 296: Ahikam -- 'my brother has arisen', an Israelite

did not
וְלֹא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

believe them.
הֶאֱמִ֣ין (he·’ĕ·mîn)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 539: To confirm, support


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 40:14 And said to him Do you know (Jer.)
Jeremiah 40:13
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