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Contemporary English Version

Jeremiah 37:3

Later, the Babylonian army attacked Jerusalem, but they left after learning that the Egyptian army was headed in this direction. One day, Zedekiah sent Jehucal and the priest Zephaniah to talk with me. At that time, I was free to go wherever I wanted, because I had not yet been put in prison. Jehucal and Zephaniah said, "Jeremiah, please pray to the Lord our God for us."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Alliances;   Intercession;   Jehucal;   Jeremiah;   Maaseiah;   Shelemiah;   Zedekiah;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Zephaniah;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Zedekiah;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Jehucal;   Maaseiah;   Shelemiah;   Zephaniah;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Alliances;   Jehucal;   Jeremiah;   Prayer;   Shelemiah;   Zephaniah;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Jehucal;   Jeremiah;   Maaseiah;   Shelemiah;   Zephaniah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Government;   Greek Versions of Ot;   Jehucal;   Maaseiah;   Pharaoh;   Shelemiah;   Zephaniah;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Jehucal ;   Maaseiah ;   Shelemiah ;   Zephaniah ;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Je'hucal;   Ma-Ase'iah;   Shelemi'ah;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Zedekiah;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Jehucal;   Maaseiah;   Shelemiah;   Siege;   Zedekiah (2);   Zephaniah;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Nebuchadnezzar;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Nevertheless, King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah son of Maaseiah, the priest, to the prophet Jeremiah, requesting, “Please pray to the Lord our God for us!”
Hebrew Names Version
Tzidkiyahu the king sent Yehukhal the son of Shelemyahu, and Tzefanyah the son of Ma`aseyah, the Kohen, to the prophet Yirmeyahu, saying, Pray now to the LORD our God for us.
King James Version
And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Pray now unto the Lord our God for us.
English Standard Version
King Zedekiah sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah, to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "Please pray for us to the Lord our God."
New American Standard Bible
Yet King Zedekiah sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and the priest Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "Please pray to the LORD our God in our behalf."
New Century Version
Now King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah with a message to Jeremiah the prophet. This was the message: "Jeremiah, please pray to the Lord our God for us."
Amplified Bible
Yet King Zedekiah sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah [along] with Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, "Please pray [now] to the LORD our God for us."
World English Bible
Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Pray now to Yahweh our God for us.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And Zedekiah the King sent Iehucal the sonne of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the sonne of Maaseiah the Priest to the Prophet Ieremiah, saying, Pray now vnto the Lord our God for vs.
Legacy Standard Bible
Yet King Zedekiah sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "Please pray to Yahweh our God on our behalf."
Berean Standard Bible
Yet King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah, to Jeremiah the prophet with the message, "Please pray for us to the LORD our God!"
Complete Jewish Bible
Tzidkiyahu the king sent Y'hukhal the son of Shelemyahu and Tz'fanyahu the son of Ma‘aseiyah, the cohen, to the prophet Yirmeyahu with the message, "Please pray to Adonai our God for us."
Darby Translation
And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Pray now unto Jehovah our God for us.
Easy-to-Read Version
King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah to Jeremiah the prophet with a message. This was the message they brought to Jeremiah: "Jeremiah, pray to the Lord our God for us."
George Lamsa Translation
And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the son of Maasiah the priest to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, Pray now for us before the LORD your God.
Good News Translation
King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah to ask me to pray to the Lord our God on behalf of our nation.
Lexham English Bible
And king Zedekiah sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "Please pray for us to Yahweh our God."
Literal Translation
And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal, the son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah, the son of Maaseiah the priest, to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, Pray now for us to Jehovah our God.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Neuertheles Sedechias the kynge sent Iuchal the sonne of Selamia and Sophonias the sonne of Maasia the prest to the prophet Ieremy, sayenge: O praye thou vnto the LORDE oure God for vs.
American Standard Version
And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Pray now unto Jehovah our God for us.
Bible in Basic English
And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal, the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah, the son of Maaseiah the priest, to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Make prayer now to the Lord our God for us.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, to the prophet Jeremiah, saying: 'Pray now unto the LORD our God for us.'
King James Version (1611)
And Zedekiah the king sent Iehucal the sonne of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest to the prophet Ieremiah, saying, Pray now vnto the Lord our God for vs.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Neuerthelesse, Zedekia the king sent Iehucall the sonne of Selemiah, and Sophoniah the sonne of Maasiah the priest, to the prophete Ieremie, saying: O pray thou vnto the Lorde our God for vs.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
For, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will bring back the captivity of my people Israel and Juda, said the Lord: and I will bring them back to the land which I gave to their fathers, and they shall be lords of it.
English Revised Version
And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Pray now unto the LORD our God for us.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And kyng Sedechie sente Jothal, the sone of Selemye, and Sofonye, the preest, the sone of Maasie, to Jeremye, the profete, and seide, Preie thou for vs oure Lord God.
Update Bible Version
And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Pray now to Yahweh our God for us.
Webster's Bible Translation
And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Pray now to the LORD our God for us.
New English Translation
King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah to the prophet Jeremiah. He told them to say, "Please pray to the Lord our God on our behalf."
New King James Version
And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, "Pray now to the LORD our God for us."
New Living Translation
Nevertheless, King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the priest, son of Maaseiah, to ask Jeremiah, "Please pray to the Lord our God for us."
New Life Bible
King Zedekiah sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the religious leader, to Jeremiah the man of God, saying, "Pray to the Lord our God for us."
New Revised Standard
King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah to the prophet Jeremiah saying, "Please pray for us to the Lord our God."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah son of Maaseiah the priest unto Jeremiah the prophet saying, - Pray thou I beseech thee in our behalf, unto Yahweh, our God.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And king Sedecias sent Juchal the son of Selemias, and Sophonias the son of Maasias the priest to Jeremias the prophet, saying: Pray to the Lord our God for us.
Revised Standard Version
King Zedeki'ah sent Jehu'cal the son of Shelemi'ah, and Zephani'ah the priest, the son of Ma-asei'ah, to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "Pray for us to the LORD our God."
Young's Literal Translation
And Zedekiah the king sendeth Jehucal son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah son of Maaseiah the priest, unto Jeremiah the prophet, saying, `Pray, we beseech thee, for us unto Jehovah our God.'
THE MESSAGE
However, King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the priest, son of Maaseiah, to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "Pray for us—pray hard!—to the Master, our God ."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Yet King Zedekiah sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "Please pray to the LORD our God on our behalf."

Contextual Overview

1 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia had removed Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim from being the king of Judah and had made Josiah's son Zedekiah king instead. 2 But Zedekiah, his officials, and everyone else in Judah ignored everything the Lord had told me. 3Later, the Babylonian army attacked Jerusalem, but they left after learning that the Egyptian army was headed in this direction. One day, Zedekiah sent Jehucal and the priest Zephaniah to talk with me. At that time, I was free to go wherever I wanted, because I had not yet been put in prison. Jehucal and Zephaniah said, "Jeremiah, please pray to the Lord our God for us." 6Then the Lord told me to send them back to Zedekiah with this message: Zedekiah, you wanted Jeremiah to ask me, the Lord )God of Israel, what is going to happen. So I will tell you. The king of Egypt and his army came to your rescue, but soon they will go back to Egypt. 8 Then the Babylonians will return and attack Jerusalem, and this time they will capture the city and set it on fire. 9 Don't fool yourselves into thinking that the Babylonians will leave as they did before. 10 Even if you could defeat their entire army, their wounded survivors would still be able to leave their tents and set Jerusalem on fire.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Zephaniah: Jeremiah 21:1, Jeremiah 21:2, Jeremiah 29:21, Jeremiah 29:25, Jeremiah 52:24

Pray: Jeremiah 2:27, Jeremiah 21:1, Jeremiah 21:2, Jeremiah 42:2-4, Jeremiah 42:20, Exodus 8:8, Exodus 8:28, Exodus 9:28, Exodus 10:17, Numbers 21:7, 1 Samuel 12:19, 1 Kings 13:6, Acts 8:24

Reciprocal: Numbers 11:2 - cried Jeremiah 37:7 - Thus Jeremiah 37:17 - Is there

Cross-References

Genesis 37:13
his father Jacob said to him, "I want you to go to your brothers. They are with the sheep near Shechem." "Yes, sir," Joseph answered.
Genesis 37:14
His father said, "Go and find out how your brothers and the sheep are doing. Then come back and let me know." So he sent him from Hebron Valley. Joseph was near Shechem
Genesis 37:20
Let's kill him and throw him into a pit and say that some wild animal ate him. Then we'll see what happens to those dreams."
Genesis 37:22
"Don't murder him or even harm him. Just throw him into a dry well out here in the desert." Reuben planned to rescue Joseph later and take him back to his father.
Genesis 37:23
When Joseph came to his brothers, they pulled off his fancy coat
Genesis 37:30
Then he went back to his brothers and said, "The boy is gone! What am I going to do?"
Genesis 37:32
After this, they took the coat to their father and said, "We found this! Look at it carefully and see if it belongs to your son."
Judges 5:30
"Sisera and his troops are finding treasures to bring back— a woman, or maybe two, for each man, and beautiful dresses for those women to wear."
2 Samuel 13:18
The servant made her leave, and he locked the door behind her. The king's unmarried daughters used to wear long robes with sleeves.
Ezekiel 16:16
You made shrines for yourself and decorated them with some of your clothes. That's where you took your visitors to have sex with them. These things should never have happened!

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest,.... That is, Zephaniah the priest, as the accents shaw; though his father Maaseiah was doubtless a priest too; according to the Syriac version, both Jehucal, called Jucal, Jeremiah 38:1; and Zephaniah, were priests; since it reads in the plural number, "priests": these the king sent as messengers

to the Prophet Jeremiah, saying, pray now unto the Lord our God for us. This message was sent either upon the rumour of the Chaldeans coming against Jerusalem, as some think; or rather when it had departed from the city, and was gone to meet the army of the king of Egypt; so that this petition to the prophet was to pray that the king of Egypt alight get the victory over the Chaldean army, and that that might not return unto them. Thus wicked men will desire the prayers of good men in times of distress, when their words, their cautions, admonitions, exhortations, and prayers too, are despised by them at another time.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

This embassy is not to be confounded with that Jeremiah 21:1 which took place when Nebuchadnezzar was just marching upon Jerusalem; this was in the brief interval of hope occasioned by the approach of an Egyptian army to raise the siege. The Jews were elated by this temporary relief, and miserably abused it Jeremiah 34:11. Zedekiah seems to some extent to have shared their hopes, and to have expected that the prophet would intercede for the city as successfully as Isaiah had done Isaiah 37:6. Jehucal was a member of the warlike party Jeremiah 38:1, as also was the deputy high priest Zephaniah, but otherwise he was well affected to Jeremiah.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Jeremiah 37:3. Zedekiah - to the prophet Jeremiah — He was willing to hear a message from the Lord, provided it were according to his own mind. He did not fully trust in his own prophets.


 
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