Lexical Summary Ebed Melek: Ebed-Melek Original Word: עֶבֶד מֶלֶךְ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Ebed-melech From ebed and melek; servant of a king; Ebed-Melek, a eunuch of Zedekeah -- Ebed-melech. see HEBREW ebed see HEBREW melek NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ebed and melek Definition "servant of a king," an official under King Zedekiah NASB Translation Ebed-melech (6). Brown-Driver-Briggs עֶ֫בֶד מֶ֫לֶךְ proper name, masculine (= servant of the king, or < of (god) Melek, compare GrayProp. N. 117, 147 ff.); — Ethiopian official of Zedekiah Jeremiah 38:7,8,10,11,12; Jeremiah 39:16; ᵐ5 Αβδεμελεχ. Topical Lexicon Name and Identity Ebed-melech (“servant of the king”) is introduced in the final days of the kingdom of Judah as a Cushite (Ethiopian) officer in the palace of King Zedekiah. Though an outsider ethnically, Scripture presents him as spiritually aligned with the covenant God of Israel. Biblical Occurrences Jeremiah 38:7; Jeremiah 38:8; Jeremiah 38:10; Jeremiah 38:11; Jeremiah 38:12; Jeremiah 39:16. Historical Setting The events occur circa 587 BC, during Babylon’s siege of Jerusalem. Political intrigue, prophetic opposition, and societal collapse frame the narrative. Jeremiah, having repeatedly warned Judah, is silenced by princes who cast him into a mud-filled cistern (Jeremiah 38:6). Amid national apostasy, Ebed-melech emerges as a lone voice of justice. Narrative Overview 1. Intervention (Jeremiah 38:7-13) “But Ebed-melech the Cushite, a eunuch in the king’s palace, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern… So Ebed-melech went out from the king’s palace and said to the king, ‘My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all they have done to Jeremiah the prophet’ ” (Jeremiah 38:7-9). Granted authority, he mobilizes thirty men, fashions ropes and rags, and gently lifts the prophet from the mire—an act combining courage, compassion, and practical wisdom. 2. Promise of Deliverance (Jeremiah 39:16-18) Through Jeremiah the Lord sends a personal oracle: “I will surely rescue you, and you will not fall by the sword… because you have put your trust in Me” (Jeremiah 39:18). While Jerusalem falls, the foreigner who trusted Yahweh is spared. Character Traits and Spiritual Lessons • Moral Courage: Ebed-melech appeals directly to Zedekiah, risking courtly backlash. Theological Significance 1. Inclusivity of God’s Grace The Cushite’s deliverance prefigures Isaiah’s vision that foreigners who join themselves to the Lord will be welcomed (Isaiah 56:3-7). His account anticipates the gospel’s global reach. 2. Divine Justice and Protection While Judah’s nobles oppose the prophetic word, the humble servant receives divine favor, illustrating the biblical reversal where God “opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 3. Faith Versus Fear Zedekiah capitulates to peer pressure; Ebed-melech acts boldly. The account contrasts fleshly fear with steadfast faith. Legacy and Typological Insights • Foreshadowing of Christ’s Saving Work: Ebed-melech descends into the pit to raise up the suffering prophet, mirroring the redemptive pattern of rescue from death. Practical Application for Ministry • Stand for truth even when isolated. See Also Jeremiah 26:24 (Ahikam’s protection of Jeremiah) 2 Kings 25:27-30 (Jehoiachin’s release by Evil-merodach) Forms and Transliterations מֶ֖לֶךְ מֶ֥לֶךְ מֶ֨לֶךְ מלך me·leḵ Melech meleḵLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Jeremiah 38:7 HEB: וַיִּשְׁמַ֡ע עֶֽבֶד־ מֶ֨לֶךְ הַכּוּשִׁ֜י אִ֣ישׁ NAS: But Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, KJV: Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, one INT: heard Ebed-melech the Ethiopian one Jeremiah 38:8 Jeremiah 38:10 Jeremiah 38:11 Jeremiah 38:12 Jeremiah 39:16 6 Occurrences |
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