The Bible Says
Jeremiah 38:14-16 Meaning

In Jeremiah 38:14, we see a clandestine meeting between Judah’s last monarch (who reigned from 597 BC to 586 BC) and the prophet Jeremiah (who lived approximately 650 BC to 570 BC): Then King Zedekiah sent and had Jeremiah the prophet brought to him at the third entrance that is in the house of the LORD; and the king said to Jeremiah, "I am going to ask you something; do not hide anything from me" (v. 14). The setting is Jerusalem, and the third entrance in the house of the LORD (v. 14) presumably indicates a less public location in the Temple area, designed to keep their meeting undisclosed. This secrecy underscores King Zedekiah’s anxiety over political dangers and his increasingly desperate quest for divine guidance without drawing attention from his officials.

Jeremiah’s role as a prophet is pivotal here. By summoning him in private, King Zedekiah concedes Jeremiah’s authenticity but also reveals his own fear of the prophet's message. Zedekiah, faced with impending doom due to his kingdom’s disobedience, hopes for a word of relief. However, the prophet’s counsel had consistently warned the people and their king to surrender to the Babylonian invaders or face catastrophic judgment from God (Jeremiah 38:17-18).

In Jeremiah 38:14, Zedekiah’s plea not to hide anything from him shows that truth, even if costly, is necessary for any hope of salvation. The king’s concern prepares us to see the tension that arises when a powerful ruler seeks the word of God from a prophet who has been ridiculed and imprisoned. This moment also reflects how Jesus later faced private inquiries from political and religious leaders, who wanted to hear truth, but not necessarily with an obedient heart (Luke 23:8-9).

Jeremiah 38:15 displays the prophet’s understandable hesitation: Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "If I tell you, will you not certainly put me to death? Besides, if I give you advice, you will not listen to me" (v. 15) Jeremiah has already been persecuted for his obedient proclamation of God’s word, and he doubts the sincerity of the king’s request. He fears that the harsh message he has shared repeatedly-calling for a humble surrender-could again provoke royal wrath.

Jeremiah’s boldness in speaking this concern to the king underscores his devotion to God above any human authority. Though he is rightly cautious, Jeremiah is not silent about the inconvenient truth. This dynamic parallels the prophets throughout Scripture who risked their lives to remain faithful to God’s message (1 Kings 22:13-14). It also points forward to how Jesus did not compromise His message even when confronted by threatening authorities (John 18:19-23).

The heart of Jeremiah’s question is whether Zedekiah will actually listen. Spiritual deafness had plagued Judah for generations, and now the crisis was near its climax. Beyond physical dangers, Jeremiah grieves that the king might yet again choose empty reassurances from false prophets instead of godly counsel. Jeremiah’s plea also raises the essential point that hearing truth means little unless it results in obedience (James 1:22).

Jeremiah 38:16 reveals the king’s private oath: But King Zedekiah swore to Jeremiah in secret saying, "As the LORD lives, who made this life for us, surely I will not put you to death nor will I give you over to the hand of these men who are seeking your life" (v. 16). By referring to the LORD’s life-giving power, Zedekiah performs an ancient act of swearing that calls upon God’s divine witness. This vow reassures Jeremiah that the king will protect him from immediate harm and appease his anxieties-at least in that clandestine moment.

However, the king’s secret promise demonstrates his indecision. He longs for the prophet’s guidance, yet he has neither the courage to proclaim it openly nor the resolve to obey it wholeheartedly. Still, Zedekiah’s acknowledgment that men are seeking Jeremiah’s life confirms the heightened tension in Jerusalem as the Babylonian siege continues. All around, danger looms, both from invading forces and from those who fear Jeremiah’s prophecies.

Zedekiah’s hidden pledge foreshadows the continued struggle between trusting God’s instruction and appeasing the powerful factions in Judah. Though the king’s assurance temporarily protects Jeremiah, the larger question is whether Zedekiah will truly act on the counsel he receives. This dynamic parallels the struggle of integrating God’s word into life’s crucial decisions-something Jesus repeatedly highlighted when urging people to hear and heed the voice of His Father in heaven (Matthew 7:24-27).