Jeremiah 40:9 Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, swore an oath to them and their men, assuring them, "Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you.

◄ Jeremiah 40:9 ►

New International Version
Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, took an oath to reassure them and their men. “Do not be afraid to serve the Babylonians,” he said. “Settle down in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you.

New Living Translation
Gedaliah vowed to them that the Babylonians meant them no harm. “Don’t be afraid to serve them. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and all will go well for you,” he promised.

English Standard Version
Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, swore to them and their men, saying, “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.

Berean Standard Bible
Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, swore an oath to them and their men, assuring them, “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you.

King James Bible
And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan sware unto them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.

New King James Version
And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, took an oath before them and their men, saying, “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.

New American Standard Bible
Then Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, swore to them and to their men, saying, “Do not be afraid of serving the Chaldeans; stay in the land and serve the king of Babylon, so that it may go well for you.

NASB 1995
Then Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, swore to them and to their men, saying, “Do not be afraid of serving the Chaldeans; stay in the land and serve the king of Babylon, that it may go well with you.

NASB 1977
Then Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, swore to them and to their men, saying, “Do not be afraid of serving the Chaldeans; stay in the land and serve the king of Babylon, that it may go well with you.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, swore to them and to their men, saying, “Do not be afraid of serving the Chaldeans; stay in the land and serve the king of Babylon, that it may go well with you.

Amplified Bible
Then Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, swore to them and their men, saying, “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans; stay in this land and serve the king of Babylon, that it may go well with you.

Christian Standard Bible
Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, swore an oath to them and their men, assuring them, “Don’t be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well for you.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, swore an oath to them and their men, assuring them, “Don’t be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well for you.

American Standard Version
And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan sware unto them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.

Contemporary English Version
Gedaliah told them, "There's no need to be afraid of the Babylonians. Everything will be fine, if we live peacefully and obey King Nebuchadnezzar.

English Revised Version
And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan sware unto them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Gedaliah, son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, swore an oath to them and their men. He said, "Don't be afraid to serve the Babylonians. Live in this country, serve the king of Babylon, and you will prosper.

Good News Translation
Gedaliah said to them, "I give you my word that there is no need for you to be afraid to surrender to the Babylonians. Settle in this land, serve the king of Babylonia, and all will go well with you.

International Standard Version
Ahikam's son Gedaliah, the grandson of Shaphan, swore an oath to them and their men: "Don't be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Remain in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and things will go well for you.

Majority Standard Bible
Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, swore an oath to them and their men, assuring them, “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you.

NET Bible
Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, took an oath so as to give them and their troops some assurance of safety. "Do not be afraid to submit to the Babylonians. Settle down in the land and submit to the king of Babylon. Then things will go well for you.

New Heart English Bible
Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan swore to them and to their men, saying, "Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, swore to them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.

World English Bible
Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan swore to them and to their men, saying, “Don’t be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it will be well with you.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, swears to them and to their men, saying, “Do not be afraid of serving the Chaldeans, abide in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it is well for you;

Young's Literal Translation
And swear to them doth Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, and to their men, saying, 'Be not afraid of serving the Chaldeans, abide in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it is well for you;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, will swear to them and to their men, saying, Ye shall not fear serving the Chaldeans: dwell in the land and serve the king of Babel, and it shall be well to you.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Godolias the son of Ahicam the son of Saphan swore to them and to their companions, saying: Fear not to serve the Chaldeass: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, swore to them and to their companions, saying: “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Live in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it will be well with you.

New American Bible
Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, swore an oath to them and their men: “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Stay in the land and serve the king of Babylon, so that everything may go well with you.

New Revised Standard Version
Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan swore to them and their troops, saying, “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Stay in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall go well with you.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan swore to them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans; dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Gedaliah son of Akhiqam, son of Shaphan, swore to them and to the men who were with them, and he said: "Do not be afraid to work for the Chaldeans. Dwell in the land and work for the King of Babel, and it shall be well for you

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan swore unto them and to their men, saying: 'Fear not to serve the Chaldeans; dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Godolias swore to them and to their men, saying, Be not afraid before the children of the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be better for you.

Audio Bible

Context

Gedaliah Rules in Judah
…8they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah son of the Maacathite—they and their men. 9Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, swore an oath to them and their men, assuring them, “Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you. 10As for me, I will stay in Mizpah to represent you before the Chaldeans who come to us. As for you, gather wine grapes, summer fruit, and oil, place them in your storage jars, and live in the cities you have taken.”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

2 Kings 25:24
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.”

Jeremiah 42:10-12
‘If you will indeed stay in this land, then I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you, for I will relent of the disaster I have brought upon you. / Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, whom you now fear; do not be afraid of him, declares the LORD, for I am with you to save you and deliver you from him. / And I will show you compassion, and he will have compassion on you and restore you to your own land.’

Jeremiah 38:17-18
Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “This is what the LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you indeed surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, then you will live, this city will not be burned down, and you and your household will survive. / But if you do not surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, then this city will be delivered into the hands of the Chaldeans. They will burn it down, and you yourself will not escape their grasp.’”

Jeremiah 27:11
But the nation that will put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will leave in its own land, to cultivate it and reside in it, declares the LORD.”

Jeremiah 29:7
Seek the prosperity of the city to which I have sent you as exiles. Pray to the LORD on its behalf, for if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

2 Chronicles 36:20-21
Those who escaped the sword were carried by Nebuchadnezzar into exile in Babylon, and they became servants to him and his sons until the kingdom of Persia came to power. / So the land enjoyed its Sabbath rest all the days of the desolation, until seventy years were completed, in fulfillment of the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah.

Ezekiel 11:16
Therefore declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries to which they have gone.’

Isaiah 1:19-20
If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land. / But if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Romans 13:1-2
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. / Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

1 Peter 2:13-14
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority, / or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.

Titus 3:1
Remind the believers to submit to rulers and authorities, to be obedient and ready for every good work,

Matthew 22:21
“Caesar’s,” they answered. So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

Acts 5:29
But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.

Romans 12:18
If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.

Hebrews 12:14
Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

Treasury of Scripture

And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan swore to them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.

sware.

1 Samuel 20:16,17
So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David's enemies…

2 Kings 25:24
And Gedaliah sware to them, and to their men, and said unto them, Fear not to be the servants of the Chaldees: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon; and it shall be well with you.

Fear.

Jeremiah 27:11
But the nations that bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him, those will I let remain still in their own land, saith the LORD; and they shall till it, and dwell therein.

Jeremiah 38:17-20
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: …

Genesis 49:15
And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.

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Abide Afraid Ahikam Ahi'kam Babylon Babylonians Chaldaeans Chaldeans Chalde'ans Dwell Fear Gedaliah Gedali'ah Oath Reassure Servants Serve Serving Settle Shaphan Sware Swear Swore

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Abide Afraid Ahikam Ahi'kam Babylon Babylonians Chaldaeans Chaldeans Chalde'ans Dwell Fear Gedaliah Gedali'ah Oath Reassure Servants Serve Serving Settle Shaphan Sware Swear Swore

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.

Berean Study Bible

Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan
This introduction of Gedaliah is significant as it establishes his lineage and credibility. Gedaliah was appointed by the Babylonians as governor over the remnant in Judah after the destruction of Jerusalem. His father, Ahikam, was a supporter of the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 26:24), and his grandfather, Shaphan, was a scribe during King Josiah's reign, involved in the discovery of the Book of the Law (2 Kings 22:3-14). This lineage suggests a family committed to the spiritual and political welfare of Judah, providing Gedaliah with a heritage of faithfulness and reform.

took an oath before them and their men
The act of taking an oath in ancient Israel was a solemn and binding commitment, often invoking God's name as a witness. Gedaliah's oath was meant to assure the people of his sincerity and to establish trust. In a time of political upheaval and uncertainty, such an oath would have been crucial in stabilizing the community and encouraging cooperation with the new Babylonian rule.

assuring them, 'Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans'
The Chaldeans, synonymous with the Babylonians, were the dominant power after their conquest of Jerusalem. Gedaliah's assurance not to fear serving them reflects a pragmatic approach to the political reality. Historically, this was a time when resistance would have led to further destruction and suffering. Gedaliah's counsel aligns with Jeremiah's earlier prophecies, which urged submission to Babylon as God's instrument of judgment (Jeremiah 27:12-13).

Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon
This phrase emphasizes the importance of stability and continuity for the remnant in Judah. "Live in the land" suggests a return to normalcy and the cultivation of the land, which was vital for survival and economic recovery. Serving the king of Babylon was not just a political necessity but also a fulfillment of God's directive through Jeremiah, indicating that submission was part of God's plan for the people's future restoration.

and it will go well with you
This promise of well-being is conditional upon obedience and cooperation with the Babylonian authorities. It echoes the Deuteronomic principle that obedience to God's commands leads to blessing (Deuteronomy 28:1-14). In this context, serving Babylon was part of God's command, as revealed through Jeremiah. The assurance of well-being would have been a powerful motivator for a people who had experienced the trauma of conquest and exile.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(9) Fear not to serve the Chaldeans . . .--Gedaliah, acting as Satrap of the province, assures them that, though they had fought against the conquerors, there would be a full amnesty, and that they might therefore banish all fears of being maltreated. He will remain at his post, and they may return to their own homes.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

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

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

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

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

of Shaphan,
שָׁפָן֙ (šā·p̄ān)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8227: A species of rockrabbit, the hyrax

swore an oath
וַיִּשָּׁבַ֨ע (way·yiš·šā·ḇa‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7650: To seven oneself, swear

to them
לָהֶ֜ם (lā·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

and their men,
וּלְאַנְשֵׁיהֶ֣ם (ū·lə·’an·šê·hem)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

assuring them,
לֵאמֹ֔ר (lê·mōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

be afraid
תִּֽירְא֖וּ (tî·rə·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 3372: To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten

to serve
מֵעֲב֣וֹד (mê·‘ă·ḇō·wḏ)
Preposition-m | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave

the Chaldeans.
הַכַּשְׂדִּ֑ים (hak·kaś·dîm)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3778: Chaldeans -- a region of southern Babylon and its inhab

Live
שְׁב֣וּ (šə·ḇū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

in the land
בָאָ֗רֶץ (ḇā·’ā·reṣ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

and serve
וְעִבְד֛וּ (wə·‘iḇ·ḏū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave

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

of Babylon,
בָּבֶ֖ל (bā·ḇel)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 894: Babylon -- an eastern Mediterranean empire and its capital city

and it will go well
וְיִיטַ֥ב (wə·yî·ṭaḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3190: To be good, well, glad, or pleasing

for you.
לָכֶֽם׃ (lā·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 40:9 Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son (Jer.)