Jer 38:16 | NETfull | STEP | So King Zedekiah made a secret promise to Jeremiah and sealed it with an oath. He promised, “As surely as the Lord lives who has given us life and breath, I promise you this: I will not kill you or hand you over to those men who want to kill you.”

Jeremiah 38:16

16 So King Zedekiah made a secret promise to Jeremiah and sealed it with an oath. He promised, ^{▼▼ Heb “So King Zedekiah secretly swore an oath to Jeremiah, saying.”} “As surely as the Lord lives who has given us life and breath, ^{▼▼ Heb “who has made this life/soul/ breath [נֶפֶשׁ, nefesh] for us.” The Hebrew term נֶפֶשׁ refers to the living, breathing substance of a person which constitutes his very life (cf. BDB 659 s.v. נֶפֶשׁ 1; 3).} I promise you this: I will not kill you or hand you over to those men who want to kill you.” ^{▼▼ Heb “who are seeking your life.”}