What Does Jeremiah 38:27 Mean in the King James?
Then came all the princes unto Jeremiah, and asked him: and he told them according to all these words that the king had commanded. So they left off speaking with him; for the matter was not perceived.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Hebrew uses one word-family for the words Jeremiah speaks and the matter that remains unheard.
THE MEANING
You can answer within the words you are given while the matter beneath the exchange stays unheard. Conversation ends, but its ending does not mean the hidden thing has come into view.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
When questioning stops, the truth has been understood.
THE ROOT
דְּבָרִים
devarim
GROWS FROM
דבר
To speak; the word spoken, and the matter or thing it names.
“words / matter” in this verse is devarim. English gives “words” in Jeremiah’s answer and “matter” in the final clause, but Hebrew uses forms of the same root. The spoken devarim and the unheard davar hold the answer and what lies beneath it in one word-family.
ALSO GROWS
dibber: Spoke
דִּבֵּר
Jeremiah tells the princes what the king commanded him to say.
devarim: Words, matters
דְּבָרִים
The plural names the words Jeremiah reports, while its singular davar names the matter that remains unheard.
נִשְׁמַע
nishma
GROWS FROM
שמע
To hear, listen, or heed; in this form, to be heard.
“perceived / heard” in this verse is nishma. Under “perceived” is the concrete sense “was heard.” The wording makes concealment tangible: the matter does not come into hearing, so the exchange can end without it becoming known.
ALSO GROWS
shama: Hear, listen, heed
שָׁמַע
The root names hearing as reception, not merely sound reaching the ear.
shemuah: Report, tidings
שְׁמוּעָה
A report is what has been heard and can pass from one person to another; here the matter does not travel that way.
THE PATTERN
A message can reach the ear without being understood, enacted, or brought into view.
And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.THE THREAD
And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.In both verses, דבר names what is spoken, and שמע names hearing. Ezekiel makes explicit one way a davar can remain unreceived: people hear the words yet do not bring them into action.
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