This verse is part of a tense conversation between King Zedekiah of Judah and the prophet Jeremiah. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
Context: Jerusalem is under siege by the Babylonian army. Jeremiah has been prophesying that the city will fall if Zedekiah doesn't surrender. This message is unpopular with the court officials, who want to resist the Babylonians. Jeremiah has even been imprisoned for his prophecies.
"Then Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “Let no man know of these words...": Zedekiah is secretly consulting with Jeremiah. He wants to know what God's message is but doesn't want his officials (the princes) to find out about this private conversation. Zedekiah is weak and fearful. He believes Jeremiah's prophecies are true, but he is afraid of his own court officials.
"...and you won't die.": This is the King's attempt to protect Jeremiah. Zedekiah is saying that if Jeremiah keeps their conversation secret, the princes, who hate Jeremiah and his messages, won't kill him. The King is powerless to openly defend Jeremiah, so he's relying on secrecy. The implication is that the princes would kill Jeremiah if they knew what he had told the king.
In essence, the verse means:
King Zedekiah, desperate to know his fate but terrified of his court, is telling Jeremiah to keep their conversation a secret to protect himself from the wrath of the princes who oppose Jeremiah's prophecies. The king's weakness and fear are a central theme here. He recognizes the truth of Jeremiah's words but lacks the courage to act on them openly.
This verse is part of a tense conversation between King Zedekiah of Judah and the prophet Jeremiah. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
Context: Jerusalem is under siege by the Babylonian army. Jeremiah has been prophesying that the city will fall if Zedekiah doesn't surrender. This message is unpopular with the court officials, who want to resist the Babylonians. Jeremiah has even been imprisoned for his prophecies.
"Then Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “Let no man know of these words...": Zedekiah is secretly consulting with Jeremiah. He wants to know what God's message is but doesn't want his officials (the princes) to find out about this private conversation. Zedekiah is weak and fearful. He believes Jeremiah's prophecies are true, but he is afraid of his own court officials.
"...and you won't die.": This is the King's attempt to protect Jeremiah. Zedekiah is saying that if Jeremiah keeps their conversation secret, the princes, who hate Jeremiah and his messages, won't kill him. The King is powerless to openly defend Jeremiah, so he's relying on secrecy. The implication is that the princes would kill Jeremiah if they knew what he had told the king.
In essence, the verse means:
King Zedekiah, desperate to know his fate but terrified of his court, is telling Jeremiah to keep their conversation a secret to protect himself from the wrath of the princes who oppose Jeremiah's prophecies. The king's weakness and fear are a central theme here. He recognizes the truth of Jeremiah's words but lacks the courage to act on them openly.