Jeremiah 38:1Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashhur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur the son of Malchijah, heard the words that Jeremiah spoke to all the people, saying,
The setting
Jerusalem, 586 BC. Four powerful court officials huddle together, plotting against the prophet. These are the king's inner circle - men with everything to lose if Jerusalem falls. Modern-day government quarter of East Jerusalem, Palestine.
The emotion here: documenting the gathering storm against God's messenger
The original word
devarim (דְּבָרִים) — words, but also 'matters' or 'affairs' - spoken words that have power
Why it matters
All four men listed held hereditary positions - their families had been court officials for generations
Read with care
What most readers miss in Jeremiah 38:1
These aren't random enemies — they're the establishment, the power structure, united against one man's message
Common misconceptionPeople think opposition means you're wrong. But sometimes the establishment unites against truth precisely because it threatens their power.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Jeremiah 38:1
Bible Genome reading
Jeremiah 38:1 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Jeremiah 38:1 comes from the book of Jeremiah, written during the Divided Kingdom period. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 10% and a tone that is urgent. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include opposition, political intrigue. Notable phrases: heard the words.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same deciding
“"You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Deuteronomy 5:7
“"You shall not murder.”
— Exodus 20:13
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
— Matthew 23:12
“For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7
“But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"”
— Acts 3:6
Your reflection
What does Jeremiah 38:1 mean to you, today?
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