Jeremiah 38:22
New International Version
All the women left in the palace of the king of Judah will be brought out to the officials of the king of Babylon. Those women will say to you: “’They misled you and overcame you— those trusted friends of yours. Your feet are sunk in the mud; your friends have deserted you.’

New Living Translation
All the women left in your palace will be brought out and given to the officers of the Babylonian army. Then the women will taunt you, saying, ‘What fine friends you have! They have betrayed and misled you. When your feet sank in the mud, they left you to your fate!’

English Standard Version
Behold, all the women left in the house of the king of Judah were being led out to the officials of the king of Babylon and were saying, “‘Your trusted friends have deceived you and prevailed against you; now that your feet are sunk in the mud, they turn away from you.’

Berean Standard Bible
All the women who remain in the palace of the king of Judah will be brought out to the officials of the king of Babylon, and those women will say: ‘They misled you and overcame you—those trusted friends of yours. Your feet sank into the mire, and they deserted you.’

King James Bible
And, behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah's house shall be brought forth to the king of Babylon's princes, and those women shall say, Thy friends have set thee on, and have prevailed against thee: thy feet are sunk in the mire, and they are turned away back.

New King James Version
‘Now behold, all the women who are left in the king of Judah’s house shall be surrendered to the king of Babylon’s princes, and those women shall say: “Your close friends have set upon you And prevailed against you; Your feet have sunk in the mire, And they have turned away again.”

New American Standard Bible
‘Behold, all of the women who have been left in the palace of the king of Judah are going to be brought out to the officers of the king of Babylon; and those women will say, “Your close friends Have misled and overpowered you; While your feet were sunk in the mire, They turned back.”

NASB 1995
‘Then behold, all of the women who have been left in the palace of the king of Judah are going to be brought out to the officers of the king of Babylon; and those women will say, “Your close friends Have misled and overpowered you; While your feet were sunk in the mire, They turned back.”

NASB 1977
‘Then behold, all of the women who have been left in the palace of the king of Judah are going to be brought out to the officers of the king of Babylon; and those women will say, “Your close friends Have misled and overpowered you; While your feet were sunk in the mire, They turned back.”

Legacy Standard Bible
‘And behold, all of the women who have remained in the house of the king of Judah are going to be brought out to the officers of the king of Babylon; and behold, those women will say, “Your close friends Have misled and overpowered you; While your feet were sunk in the mud, They turned back.”

Amplified Bible
‘Then behold, all the women who are left in the palace of the king of Judah will be brought out to the officers of the king of Babylon and those women will say [to you, King Zedekiah], “Your close friends Have prevailed against your better judgment and have overpowered and deceived you; While your feet were sunk in the mire [of trouble], They turned back.”

Christian Standard Bible
‘All the women who remain in the palace of Judah’s king will be brought out to the officials of the king of Babylon and will say to you, “Your trusted friends misled you and overcame you. Your feet sank into the mire, and they deserted you.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
‘All the women who remain in the palace of Judah’s king will be brought out to the officials of the king of Babylon and will say: Your trusted friends misled you and overcame you. Your feet sank into the mire, and they deserted you.

American Standard Version
Behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah's house shall be brought forth to the king of Babylon's princes, and those women shall say, Thy familiar friends have set thee on, and have prevailed over thee: now that thy feet are sunk in the mire, they are turned away back.

Contemporary English Version
then the women of your palace will be taken prisoner by Nebuchadnezzar's officials. And those women will say to you: Friends you trusted led you astray. Now you're trapped in mud, and those friends you trusted have all turned away.

English Revised Version
behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah's house shall be brought forth to the king of Babylon's princes, and those women shall say, Thy familiar friends have set thee on, and have prevailed over thee: now that thy feet are sunk in the mire: they are turned away back.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
All the women who are left in the palace of Judah's king will be brought out to the officers of the king of Babylon. These women will say: 'Your trusted friends have misled you and used you. Your feet are stuck in the mud, and your friends have deserted you.'

Good News Translation
In it I saw all the women left in Judah's royal palace being led out to the king of Babylonia's officers. Listen to what they were saying as they went: 'The king's best friends misled him, they overruled him. And now that his feet have sunk in the mud, his friends have left him.'"

International Standard Version
Look, all the women who are left in the house of the king of Judah will be brought out to the officers of the king of Babylon, and will say, 'These friends of yours have mislead you and overcome you. Your feet have sunk down into the mire, but they have turned away.'

Majority Standard Bible
All the women who remain in the palace of the king of Judah will be brought out to the officials of the king of Babylon, and those women will say: ?They misled you and overcame you?those trusted friends of yours. Your feet sank into the mire, and they deserted you.?

NET Bible
All the women who are left in the royal palace of Judah will be led out to the officers of the king of Babylon. They will taunt you saying, 'Your trusted friends misled you; they have gotten the best of you. Now that your feet are stuck in the mud, they have turned their backs on you.'

New Heart English Bible
look, all the women who are left in the king of Judah's house shall be brought forth to the king of Babylon's officers, and those women shall say, 'Your familiar friends have set you on, and have prevailed over you. Your feet are sunk in the mire, they have turned away back.'

Webster's Bible Translation
And behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah's house shall be brought forth to the king of Babylon's princes, and those women shall say, Thy friends have set thee on, and have prevailed against thee: thy feet are sunk in the mire, and they are turned away back.

World English Bible
‘Behold, all the women who are left in the king of Judah’s house will be brought out to the king of Babylon’s princes, and those women will say, “Your familiar friends have turned on you, and have prevailed over you. Your feet are sunk in the mire, they have turned away from you.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
That, behold, all the women who have been left in the house of the king of Judah are brought forth to the heads of the king of Babylon, and behold, they are saying: Persuaded you, and prevailed against you, "" Have your allies, "" Your feet have sunk into mire, "" They have been turned backward.

Young's Literal Translation
That, lo, all the women who have been left in the house of the king of Judah are brought forth unto the heads of the king of Babylon, and lo, they are saying: Persuaded thee, and prevailed against thee, Have thine allies, Sunk into mire have thy feet, They have been turned backward.

Smith's Literal Translation
And behold, all the women which were left in the house of the king of Judah being brought forth to the chiefs of the king of Babel, and they say, The men of thy peace enticed thee, and they prevailed against thee: they sank thy foot in mire, they turned away back.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Behold all the women that are left in the house of the king of Juda, shall be brought out to the princes of the king of Babylon: and they shall say: Thy men of peace have deceived thee, and have prevailed against thee, they have plunged thy feet in the mire, and in a slippery place, and they have departed from thee.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Behold, all the women who remain in the house of the king of Judah will be led away to the rulers of the king of Babylon. And the women will say: ‘Your men of peacefulness have led you astray, and they have prevailed against you. They have immersed your feet in mud and have set them in a slippery place. And they have withdrawn from you.’

New American Bible
I see all the women who remain in the house of Judah’s king being brought out to the princes of Babylon’s king, and they are crying: ‘They betrayed you, outdid you, your good friends! Now that your feet are sunk in mud, they slink away.’

New Revised Standard Version
a vision of all the women remaining in the house of the king of Judah being led out to the officials of the king of Babylon and saying, ‘Your trusted friends have seduced you and have overcome you; Now that your feet are stuck in the mud, they desert you.’
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Behold, all the women who are left in the king of Judah's house shall go forth to the king of Babylon's princes, and those women shall say, Your friends have deceived you and have prevailed against you; yea, they have caused your feet to sink in the mire, and they have turned away from you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
‘All women that are left in the house of the King of Judea shall come out to the Princes of the King of Babel and say “The men who have been invoking your peace deceived you and prevailed over you and sank your feet into the mud, and they have turned their tail”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah's house shall be brought forth to the king of Babylon's princes, and those women shall say: Thy familiar friends have set thee on, And have prevailed over thee; Thy feet are sunk in the mire, And they are turned away back.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And, behold, all the women that are left in the house of the king of Juda were brought forth to the princes of the king of Babylon; and they said, The men who were at peace with thee have deceived thee, and will prevail against thee; and they shall cause thy foot to slide and fail, they have turned back from thee.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jeremiah Rescued
21But if you refuse to surrender, this is the word that the LORD has shown me: 22 All the women who remain in the palace of the king of Judah will be brought out to the officials of the king of Babylon, and those women will say: ‘They misled you and overcame you— those trusted friends of yours. Your feet sank into the mire, and they deserted you.’ 23All your wives and children will be brought out to the Chaldeans. And you yourself will not escape their grasp, for you will be seized by the king of Babylon, and this city will be burned down.”…

Cross References
Jeremiah 6:12-15
Their houses will be turned over to others, their fields and wives as well, for I will stretch out My hand against the inhabitants of the land,” declares the LORD. / “For from the least of them to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; from prophet to priest, all practice deceit. / They dress the wound of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace at all. ...

Jeremiah 20:10
For I have heard the whispering of many: “Terror is on every side! Report him; let us report him!” All my trusted friends watch for my fall: “Perhaps he will be deceived so that we may prevail against him and take our vengeance upon him.”

Isaiah 3:16-26
The LORD also says: “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty—walking with heads held high and wanton eyes, prancing and skipping as they go, jingling the bracelets on their ankles— / the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will make their foreheads bare.” / In that day the Lord will take away their finery: their anklets and headbands and crescents; ...

Isaiah 47:1-3
“Go down and sit in the dust, O Virgin Daughter of Babylon. Sit on the ground without a throne, O Daughter of the Chaldeans! For you will no longer be called tender or delicate. / Take millstones and grind flour; remove your veil; strip off your skirt, bare your thigh, and wade through the streams. / Your nakedness will be uncovered and your shame will be exposed. I will take vengeance; I will spare no one.”

Lamentations 1:8-9
Jerusalem has sinned greatly; therefore she has become an object of scorn. All who honored her now despise her, for they have seen her nakedness; she herself groans and turns away. / Her uncleanness stains her skirts; she did not consider her end. Her downfall was astounding; there was no one to comfort her. Look, O LORD, on my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed!

Ezekiel 16:37-41
therefore I will surely gather all the lovers with whom you found pleasure, all those you loved and all those you hated. I will gather them against you from all around and expose you before them, and they will see you completely naked. / And I will sentence you to the punishment of women who commit adultery and those who shed blood; so I will bring upon you the wrath of your bloodshed and jealousy. / Then I will deliver you into the hands of your lovers, and they will level your mounds and tear down your lofty shrines. They will strip off your clothes, take your fine jewelry, and leave you naked and bare. ...

Ezekiel 23:22-29
Therefore, Oholibah, this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will incite your lovers against you, those from whom you turned away in disgust. And I will bring them against you from every side— / the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, the men of Pekod, Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them—all desirable young men, governors and commanders, officers and men of renown, mounted on horses. / They will come against you with a host of peoples, with weapons, chariots, and wagons. They will array themselves against you on every side with buckler and shield and helmet. I will delegate judgment to them, and they will punish you according to their own standards. ...

Micah 1:8-9
Because of this I will lament and wail; I will walk barefoot and naked. I will howl like a jackal and mourn like an ostrich. / For her wound is incurable; it has reached even Judah; it has approached the gate of my people, as far as Jerusalem itself.

2 Kings 25:4-7
Then the city was breached; and though the Chaldeans had surrounded the city, all the men of war fled by night by way of the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden. They headed toward the Arabah, / but the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho, and his whole army deserted him. / The Chaldeans seized the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah, where they pronounced judgment on him. ...

2 Chronicles 36:17-20
So He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who put their young men to the sword in the sanctuary, sparing neither young men nor young women, neither elderly nor infirm. God gave them all into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, / who carried off everything to Babylon—all the articles of the house of God, both large and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king and his officials. / Then the Chaldeans set fire to the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem. They burned down all the palaces and destroyed every article of value. ...

Matthew 27:28-31
They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. / And they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand, knelt down before Him, and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” / Then they spit on Him and took the staff and struck Him on the head repeatedly. ...

Luke 23:11
And even Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked Him. Dressing Him in a fine robe, they sent Him back to Pilate.

John 19:2-3
The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns, set it on His head, and dressed Him in a purple robe. / And they went up to Him again and again, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and slapping Him in the face.

Acts 7:52
Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers—

Romans 8:35-37
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? / As it is written: “For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” / No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.


Treasury of Scripture

And, behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah's house shall be brought forth to the king of Babylon's princes, and those women shall say, Your friends have set you on, and have prevailed against you: your feet are sunk in the mire, and they are turned away back.

all.

Jeremiah 43:6
Even men, and women, and children, and the king's daughters, and every person that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Neriah.

Lamentations 5:11
They ravished the women in Zion, and the maids in the cities of Judah.

and those.

Thy friends.

Jeremiah 38:4-6
Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death: for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt…

Jeremiah 20:10
For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.

Psalm 41:9
Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

have set.

Jeremiah 38:19
And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me.

Lamentations 1:2
She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies.

Micah 7:5
Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.

thy feet.

Jeremiah 38:6
Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.

Psalm 69:2,14
I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me…

they are.

Jeremiah 46:5,21
Wherefore have I seen them dismayed and turned away back? and their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back: for fear was round about, saith the LORD…

Isaiah 42:17
They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.

Lamentations 1:13
From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: he hath made me desolate and faint all the day.

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Babylon's Familiar Feet Forth Friends House Judah's Mire Prevailed Princes Sunk Turned Women
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Babylon's Familiar Feet Forth Friends House Judah's Mire Prevailed Princes Sunk Turned Women
Jeremiah 38
1. Jeremiah, by a false suggestion, is put into the dungeon of Malchiah.
7. Ebed-Melech, by suit, gets him some enlargement.
14. Upon secret conference, he counsels the king by yielding to save his life.
24. By the king's instructions he conceals the conference from the princes.














All the women left in the palace of the king of Judah
This phrase highlights the dire situation in Jerusalem during the Babylonian siege. The "women left" indicates those who remained after many had been taken or had fled. In ancient Near Eastern culture, women in the palace often represented the last vestiges of a kingdom's dignity and continuity. The Hebrew word for "women" (נָשִׁים, nashim) can also imply vulnerability, as they were often seen as dependent on the protection of men. The palace, a symbol of royal authority and security, is now a place of impending doom, reflecting the complete collapse of Judah's political and social structures.

will be brought out to the officials of the king of Babylon
This phrase signifies the total subjugation of Judah to Babylon. The act of being "brought out" (יָצָא, yatsa) suggests a forced removal, indicating the loss of freedom and autonomy. The "officials of the king of Babylon" (שָׂרֵי מֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל, sarei melech bavel) were representatives of Nebuchadnezzar's power, and their presence underscores the shift in authority from Judah to Babylon. Historically, this reflects the common practice of conquering empires to display their dominance by taking captives, especially from the royal household, to demonstrate their victory and control.

and those women will say
The phrase introduces a prophetic declaration, often used in Hebrew literature to convey a message of judgment or truth. The women, though captives, become the mouthpiece of a divine message, highlighting the irony and tragedy of the situation. Their words are not just a lament but a pronouncement of the consequences of Judah's leadership failures.

‘They misled you and overcame you—your trusted friends
This part of the verse reveals the betrayal and deception by those who were supposed to be allies. The Hebrew root for "misled" (הִתְעוּ, hit'u) implies leading astray or causing to wander, often used in the context of false prophets or unfaithful advisors. "Overcame" (יָכֹלוּ, yakolu) suggests overpowering or prevailing, indicating that the trusted friends were not only deceitful but also successful in their betrayal. This reflects a common biblical theme where misplaced trust in human alliances leads to downfall, emphasizing the need for reliance on God rather than on fallible human counsel.

Your feet sank into the mud
This vivid imagery conveys a sense of being trapped and helpless. The Hebrew word for "mud" (טִיט, tit) is often associated with miry clay, symbolizing entrapment and the inability to move forward. This metaphor illustrates the consequences of poor leadership and misguided trust, leading to a situation where escape or progress is impossible. It serves as a powerful reminder of the spiritual and moral quagmire that results from turning away from God's guidance.

and they deserted you.’
The final phrase underscores the ultimate betrayal and abandonment. The Hebrew root for "deserted" (עָזַב, azav) means to forsake or leave behind, often used in the context of covenant unfaithfulness. This abandonment by trusted allies is a poignant reflection of Judah's own abandonment of God, leading to their current plight. It serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of forsaking divine covenant and the inevitable isolation that follows when human alliances fail.

Verse 22. - All the women that are left; i.e. probably the wives of Zedekiah's royal predecessors, who had passed into his own harem as concubines. Even Hezekiah, as Payne Smith well points out, had a numerous harem ('Records of the Past,' 1:39, where "daughters" is equivalent to "girls"). Zedekiah's own wives are spoken of in the next verse. Thy friends have set thee on, etc. The first half of this taunting song (mashal) reminds of Obadiah 1:7 (for other points of contact with Obadiah, see on Jeremiah 49:7-22). The meaning is that, after urging the weak-minded Zedekiah on to a conflict with the Chaldeans, they have left him involved in hopeless difficulties.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
All
כָל־ (ḵāl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the women
הַנָּשִׁ֗ים (han·nā·šîm)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

who
אֲשֶׁ֤ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

remain
נִשְׁאֲרוּ֙ (niš·’ă·rū)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7604: To swell up, be, redundant

in the palace
בְּבֵ֣ית (bə·ḇêṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of the king
מֶֽלֶךְ־ (me·leḵ-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of Judah
יְהוּדָ֔ה (yə·hū·ḏāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites

will be brought out
מוּצָא֕וֹת (mū·ṣā·’ō·wṯ)
Verb - Hofal - Participle - feminine plural
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the officials
שָׂרֵ֖י (śā·rê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

of the king
מֶ֣לֶךְ (me·leḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of Babylon,
בָּבֶ֑ל (bā·ḇel)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 894: Babylon -- an eastern Mediterranean empire and its capital city

and those [women]
וְהֵ֣נָּה (wə·hên·nāh)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person feminine plural
Strong's 2007: Themselves

will say:
אֹמְר֗וֹת (’ō·mə·rō·wṯ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘They misled you
הִסִּית֜וּךָ (his·sî·ṯū·ḵā)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5496: To prick, stimulate, to seduce

and overcame you—
וְיָכְל֤וּ (wə·yā·ḵə·lū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3201: To be able, have power

those trusted
שְׁלֹמֶ֔ךָ (šə·lō·me·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 7965: Safe, well, happy, friendly, welfare, health, prosperity, peace

friends of yours.
אַנְשֵׁ֣י (’an·šê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

Your feet
רַגְלֶ֖ךָ (raḡ·le·ḵā)
Noun - fdc | second person masculine singular
Strong's 7272: A foot, a step, the pudenda

sank
הָטְבְּע֥וּ (hā·ṭə·bə·‘ū)
Verb - Hofal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 2883: To sink, sink down

into the mire,
בַבֹּ֛ץ (ḇab·bōṣ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1206: Mire

and they deserted
נָסֹ֥גוּ (nā·sō·ḡū)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5472: To move away, backslide

you.??
אָחֽוֹר׃ (’ā·ḥō·wr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 268: The hinder part, behind, backward, the West


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 38:22 Behold all the women who are left (Jer.)
Jeremiah 38:21
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