Jeremiah 37:18

Then Jeremiah asked King Zedekiah, “How have I sinned against you or your servants or these people, that you have put me in prison?

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jeremiah addresses King Zedekiah in the palace immediately after the king privately requested a word from the LORD regarding the Babylonian threat.

The words — The Hebrew חָטָאתִי (cha.Ta.ti) translates literally to "have I sinned," paired with מֶה (meh) for "how" or "what," framing Jeremiah's direct legal inquiry into the grounds for his confinement.

The thread — This same pattern of the imprisoned righteous demanding justification appears in Daniel 6:22, Acts 25:8, and John 10:32.

Why it lands — The text first establishes Jeremiah's factual innocence before the authority, then forces the ruler to produce a specific charge rather than rely on political convenience.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיֹּ֣אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he said יִרְמְיָ֔הוּyir.me.Ya.huJeremiah אֶל־'el-to הַמֶּ֖לֶךְha./Me.lekhthe/ king צִדְקִיָּ֑הוּtzid.ki.Ya.huZedekiah מֶה֩mehwhat?חָטָ֨אתִֽיcha.Ta.tihave I sinnedלְךָ֤le./Khato/ youוְלַעֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙ve./la./'a.va.Dei./khaand/ to/ servants/ your וְלָעָ֣םve./la./'Amand/ to the/ people הַזֶּ֔הha./Zeh<the>/ this כִּֽי־ki-that נְתַתֶּ֥םne.ta.Temyou have put אוֹתִ֖י'o.T/i<obj.>/ me אֶל־'el-into בֵּ֥יתbeit[the] house of הַכֶּֽלֶא׃ha./Ke.le'<the>/ imprisonment

King James Version

Moreover Jeremiah said unto king Zedekiah, What have I offended against thee, or against thy servants, or against this people, that ye have put me in prison?

Cross-references

John 10:32 But Jesus responded, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone Me?”
Acts 25:8 Then Paul made his defense: “I have committed no offense against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”
Daniel 6:22 My God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, for I was found innocent in His sight, and I have done no wrong against you, O king.”
Acts 25:11 If, however, I am guilty of anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is no truth to their accusations against me, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”
Acts 25:25 But I found he had done nothing worthy of death, and since he has now appealed to the Emperor, I decided to send him.
Genesis 31:36 Then Jacob became incensed and challenged Laban. “What is my crime?” he said. “For what sin of mine have you so hotly pursued me?
1 Samuel 24:9 and said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’?
1 Samuel 26:18 And he continued, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done? What evil is in my hand?
Proverbs 17:13 If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
Proverbs 17:26 It is surely not good to punish the innocent or to flog a noble for his honesty.

People named

JeremiahZedekiah