Jeremiah 39:12

“Take him, look after him, and do not let any harm come to him; do for him whatever he says.”

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Nebuchadnezzar issues a written command through his captain of the guard, Nebuzaradan, regarding the prophet Jeremiah during the siege of Jerusalem. The order instructs the Babylonian military leaders to protect the prophet and fulfill his requests.

The words — The Hebrew imperative קָחֶ֗נּוּ (qahennu) commands the officials to take and keep the prophet, while עֵינֶ֙יךָ֙ שִׂ֣ים (‘eineka sim) literally means "set your eyes on him" to denote close watch and protection. The phrase אַל־תַּ֥עַשׂ (’al ta‘as) pairs with מְא֣וּמָה רָּ֑ע (me’umah ra‘) to explicitly prohibit doing any harmful thing to him.

The thread — The theme of God shielding a prophet from hostile rulers runs in Psalms 105:14, which records God rebuking kings to prevent oppression. The broader pattern of God directing royal authority to secure His purposes appears in Proverbs 21:1 and Proverbs 16:7, where the Lord turns the king’s heart and forces enemies into peace.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that human commands, even from conquering kings, operate under divine oversight. It requires the reader to acknowledge that God’s messengers receive protection and provision regardless of political circumstances.

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

קָחֶ֗נּוּka.Che./nutake/ him וְעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙ve./'ei.Nei./khaand/ eyes/ your שִׂ֣יםsimset עָלָ֔יו'a.La/von/ him וְאַל־ve./'al-and/ may not תַּ֥עַשׂTa.'asyou doל֖וֹl/oto <the>/ himמְא֣וּמָהme.'U.mahanything רָּ֑עRa'harmful כִּ֗יKithat כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙ka./'a.Sherjust/ as יְדַבֵּ֣רye.da.Berhe will say אֵלֶ֔יךָ'e.Lei./khato/ you כֵּ֖ןkenso עֲשֵׂ֥ה'a.Sehdo עִמּֽוֹ׃i.M/owith/ him

King James Version

Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee.

Cross-references

Proverbs 16:7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.
Psalms 105:14 He let no man oppress them; He rebuked kings on their behalf:
Proverbs 21:1 The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.
Jeremiah 40:4 But now, behold, I am freeing you today from the chains that were on your wrists. If it pleases you to come with me to Babylon, then come, and I will take care of you. But if it seems wrong to you to come with me to Babylon, go no farther. Look, the whole land is before you. Wherever it seems good and right to you, go there.”
Proverbs 23:5 When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.
Jeremiah 24:6 I will keep My eyes on them for good and will return them to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them.
Amos 9:4 Though they are driven by their enemies into captivity, there I will command the sword to slay them. I will fix My eyes upon them for harm and not for good.”
Acts 7:10 and rescued him from all his troubles. He granted Joseph favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household.
1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”