Jeremiah Chapter 37 – Commentary and Explanation
Ah, Jeremiah 37. Now this chapter really shows how things can spiral fast when people ignore God's word even after so many chances to listen. It's one of those chapters where you just wanna shake your head and say, “They still didn’t get it?” I mean, by this point in the book of Jeremiah, we’ve seen warning after warning, and yet, the people, especially the leaders, still just… carry on in their own stubborn ways. But also, it’s a bit tragic, y'know? Because you can almost feel the pain and pressure building up in Jeremiah’s life too.
So let’s break it down step by step, and yeah… it's gonna get a little messy, not just in the text, but in the situation itself.
Setting the Stage: New King, Same Problems (Verse 1)
So right out the gate in verse 1, we’re told that Zedekiah the son of Josiah was made king by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, in place of Coniah (also known as Jehoiachin). Zedekiah didn’t take the throne through inheritance or God's blessing — he was appointed by Babylon’s king.
And here’s where it already starts off sideways. He’s more like a puppet ruler really. Babylon is calling the shots. So from the beginning, this kingship is built not on obedience to God, but on political maneuvering. And Zedekiah… poor guy, he’s weak, indecisive, and just kind of caught in between trying to please the people, the prophets, and Babylon — and he ends up pleasing none of them.
Ignoring the Word Yet Asking for Prayer? (Verses 2–3)
Verse 2 says flat out: “Neither he nor his officials nor the people of the land listened to the words the Lord had spoken through Jeremiah the prophet.” And yet, in verse 3, what happens? Zedekiah sends two guys — Jehucal and Zephaniah — to Jeremiah to ask him to pray for them.
Like what? You ignore the prophet, but now that things are getting shaky, you're running to him asking him to pray to the God you don’t listen to? It’s kind of like when people keep living their life however they want, and then only when there’s a crisis they’re like, “God help me!” — but they never actually wanted to follow Him before that.
Zedekiah isn’t seeking repentance, he just wants a way out. And that’s a big difference.
Jeremiah Was Still Free at This Time (Verse 4)
At this point Jeremiah was still moving around freely — he hadn’t been locked up yet, although that’s coming real soon. Verse 4 lets us know this. It’s like the calm before the storm. Jeremiah has freedom of movement, but the mood is tense, and everything’s about to flip.
Egypt Makes a Move – But It’s a Fake-Out (Verses 5–7)
Now, something interesting happens. Egypt’s army starts marching out of Egypt to help Judah against Babylon. When the Babylonians heard this, they backed off from Jerusalem for a while.
And people — especially Zedekiah and his crew — probably thought, “Ha! We got this! Egypt’s coming to save us!”
But Jeremiah gets a word from the Lord right here: Don’t get your hopes up. Egypt will go back home. Babylon will return. And they will destroy this city. Like it’s gonna burn. Period.
God is basically saying: "This is not your salvation. Don’t trust in Egypt. Don’t trust in false hope. This judgment is still coming." It’s a reminder that sometimes, we think our problems have gone away when really, they’ve just stepped back for a minute.
A Harsh Warning – This City Will Burn (Verse 8–10)
Now verse 10? Wow. That one is chilling. Jeremiah tells them:
"Even if you defeated all the Babylonian army that is attacking you and only wounded men were left in their tents, they would come out and burn this city down."
That’s serious. It's like God is saying, “This thing I said will happen? It’s gonna happen no matter what. Even if your enemies are weak and almost dead, I’ll use them to bring this judgment.”
That’s how sure God is of His word. He doesn’t bluff. If He says something, it will come to pass.
Jeremiah Arrested – False Accusation (Verses 11–15)
So the Babylonian army temporarily leaves. And what does Jeremiah do? He decides to go leave Jerusalem to head out to the territory of Benjamin. Maybe to take care of business, or possibly to check his land or family — we’re not told.
But at the gate, a guard named Irijah arrests him and accuses him of trying to defect to the Babylonians. Like, “Oh, so you're one of those guys going to the enemy, huh?”
Jeremiah says, “That’s not true!” But they don’t believe him. They beat him and throw him in prison. And just like that — boom — the prophet of God is now treated like a traitor.
It's ironic, because Jeremiah was probably the least traitorous person in the land. He’d been faithfully delivering God’s word, warning people. But sometimes telling the truth makes you the most unpopular person.
And we gotta pause here — how often do we shoot the messenger because we don’t like the message? Jeremiah didn’t say what he said to make people happy. He said what he was told to say by God. And that’s what landed him in a dark dungeon.
Thrown Into the Dungeon (Verse 16)
Verse 16 tells us Jeremiah was put into a vaulted cell in a dungeon and stayed there a long time. A long time.
Like this wasn’t a one-night jail. This was deep, dirty, possibly dark, damp — depressing. It’s really hard to imagine what that felt like. He was isolated. Physically suffering. Maybe wondering, “God, why am I in here when I was just doing what you told me?”
Sometimes obedience doesn’t come with rewards right away. Sometimes it comes with a prison cell.
Zedekiah Calls for a Secret Meeting (Verse 17)
Eventually, Zedekiah sneaks him out for a private conversation. It’s such a Zedekiah thing to do — not bold enough to listen to the prophet publicly, but curious enough to call for him secretly.
He asks, “Is there any word from the Lord?”
And Jeremiah doesn’t sugarcoat it. He says, “Yep. There is. You’re gonna be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon.”
Zedekiah must’ve been crushed. He wanted a “nice” prophecy. A feel-good word. But again — Jeremiah ain’t a people-pleaser. He just says it like it is.
Jeremiah Defends Himself (Verses 18–20)
Then Jeremiah asks him basically, “What did I do wrong? Where are all those other prophets who said the Babylonians wouldn’t attack us? Where are they now, huh?”
He’s pointing out the irony — the liars are walking free, and the one guy telling the truth is in jail.
He also pleads not to be sent back to the dungeon or he might die there. And honestly, it’s so human. Even prophets get tired. Even the strongest people of God have breaking points.
Moved to the Courtyard – A Little Mercy (Verse 21)
To Zedekiah’s small credit, he orders Jeremiah to be moved to the courtyard of the guard, which is a less terrible place than the dungeon. He even makes sure Jeremiah gets a loaf of bread daily — as long as there’s any left in the city.
This little mercy is something. But it's not enough. Zedekiah is still caught in fear, torn between obeying God and trying to save face with his officials and the public.
Reflections: What Does This Chapter Show Us?
Whew. Okay, now that we’ve walked through the chapter — what’s it really saying?
1. You can’t fake submission to God.
Zedekiah tried to get God's help without surrendering to God. That doesn't work. If we’re only calling on God when we need something, but we don’t want to actually obey Him, then we’re not following — we’re just using.
2. Truth is not always accepted.
Jeremiah told the truth, and what did he get? Beaten, thrown in a dungeon, accused of treason. Sometimes doing right doesn’t pay off immediately. But in the long run, God honors truth and integrity.
3. Temporary relief is not the same as deliverance.
When Babylon backed off because of Egypt, people thought maybe the worst was over. But it was just a pause. Judgment was still coming. We gotta be careful not to confuse a break in the storm with the end of it.
4. Weak leadership brings destruction.
Zedekiah knew deep down that Jeremiah spoke the truth, but he was too afraid to act on it. His indecision — his people-pleasing ways — led the whole nation closer to disaster.
5. God’s word always stands.
Even when it seems like things are shifting, changing, maybe even looking hopeful — if God has spoken something, He will do it. His word doesn’t return void.
Wrapping It All Up…
Jeremiah 37 ain’t a feel-good chapter. It’s raw. It’s real. It’s full of fear, rejection, fake hope, weak leadership, and deep suffering.
But there’s something powerful in it too — the picture of a man of God who stays faithful even when the whole world turns against him.
Jeremiah didn’t change his message to get out of prison. He didn’t stop speaking because people hated what he said. He didn’t fake encouragement just to make Zedekiah feel better.
He spoke truth. And he trusted God, even in the dark.
That’s what we need today — voices that are true, not trendy. People who obey God even when it costs them something. People who aren’t just looking for a quick rescue, but truly surrendering their hearts.
So yeah. Jeremiah 37 is tough. But it's also a mirror. It asks us:
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Are we listening to God, or only when we’re desperate?
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Are we willing to tell the truth, even if it lands us in trouble?
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Are we living for short-term comfort or long-term obedience?
And maybe the hardest one…
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Are we being like Zedekiah — knowing the truth, but too scared to follow it?
It’s a heavy chapter, but it’s one that can wake us up, if we’re willing.
Thanks for reading. If you made it this far, you probably already know — the next chapters? They don’t get easier. But they get deeper. And we’re gonna keep walking with Jeremiah, one step at a time.
Stay strong. Stay true. Speak truth. Even in the dungeon.
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