Jer 38:2-4 | NET2full | STEP | “The Lord says , ‘Those who stay in this city will die in battle or of starvation or disease . Those who leave the city and surrender to the Babylonians will live . They will escape with their lives.’ ”

‏ Jeremiah 38:2-4

2 “The Lord says, ‘Those who stay in this city will die in battle or of starvation or disease. ^{▼▼tn Heb “by sword, by starvation, or by disease.”} Those who leave the city and surrender to the Babylonians ^{▼▼tn Heb “those who go out to the Chaldeans.” For the rendering “Babylonians” for “Chaldeans,” see the study note on 21:4.} will live. They will escape with their lives.’” ^{▼▼tn Heb “his life will be to him for spoil, and he will live.” For the meaning of this idiom see the study note on 21:9. The words “and he will live” have been left out of the translation because they are redundant after “will live” and “they will escape with their lives.”} ^{▼▼sn See Jer 21:9 for this prophecy.} 3 They had also heard him say, ^{▼▼tn The words “They had also heard him say” are not in the Hebrew text but are in the translation for clarity, to eliminate any confusion possible if no introduction preceded a literal translation: “Thus says the Lord.”} “The Lord says, ‘This city will certainly be handed over to the army of the king of Babylon. They will capture it.’” ^{▼▼sn See Jer 21:10; 32:28; 34:2; 37:8 for this same prophecy. Jeremiah had repeatedly said this or words to the same effect.} 4 So these officials said to the king, “This man must be put to death. For he is demoralizing ^{▼▼tn Heb “weakening the hands of.” For this idiom see BDB 951 s.v. רָפָה Pi. and compare the usage in Isa 13:7 and Ezek 21:7 (21:12 HT).} the soldiers who are left in the city as well as all the other people there by these things he is saying. ^{▼▼tn Heb “by saying these things.”} This ^{▼▼tn The Hebrew particle כִּי (ki) has not been rendered here because it is introducing a causal clause parallel to the preceding one. The rendering “For” might be misunderstood as a grounds for the preceding statement. To render “And” or “Moreover” sounds a little odd here. If the particle must be represented, “Moreover” is perhaps the best translation.} man is not seeking to help these people but is trying to harm them.” ^{▼▼tn Or “is not looking out for these people’s best interests but is really trying to do them harm”; Heb “is not seeking the welfare [or “well-being”; Hebrew shalom] of this people but [their] harm [more literally, evil].”}