Bible Strands
Jeremiah 38:21
But if you refuse to surrender, this is the word that the LORD has shown me:
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jeremiah delivers this conditional warning directly to King Zedekiah at the moment the king is weighing whether to surrender to the besieging Babylonian forces.
The words — The Hebrew מָאֵן (ma'En) literally means "refusing," while הִרְאַ֖נִי (hir'ani) translates to "he has shown me."
The thread — This formula of divine revelation parallels the prophetic commission in Ezekiel 2:4 and Ezekiel 2:7, where the Lord commands speaking to obstinate audiences, and echoes the confrontation in Exodus 10:3 where Moses demands Pharaoh release the Israelites.
Why it lands — The verse demands that the reader acknowledge God’s direct revelation over human political decisions and choose obedience to that revealed word rather than relying on false assurances.
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
King James Version
But if thou refuse to go forth, this is the word that the Lord hath shewed me:
Cross-references
- Ezekiel 2:4 They are obstinate and stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you are to say to them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says.’
- Ezekiel 2:7 But speak My words to them, whether they listen or refuse to listen, for they are rebellious.
- Exodus 10:3 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and told him, “This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.
- Exodus 16:28 Then the LORD said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep My commandments and instructions?
- Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?
- Numbers 24:13 that even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD? I must speak whatever the LORD says.
- Job 23:13 But He is unchangeable, and who can oppose Him? He does what He desires.
- Job 34:33 Should God repay you on your own terms when you have disavowed Him? You must choose, not I; so tell me what you know.
- Proverbs 1:24 Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand,
- Isaiah 1:19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land.