Name Meaning: The name "Ebed-melech" translates to "Servant of the King" in Hebrew. This name reflects his position and role within the royal court of Judah.

Biblical References: Ebed-melech is primarily mentioned in the Book of Jeremiah, specifically in Jeremiah 38:7-13 and Jeremiah 39:15-18.

Historical Context: Ebed-melech was an Ethiopian eunuch serving in the court of King Zedekiah of Judah during the final days before the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem. His position as a eunuch suggests he held a significant and trusted role within the royal household, often associated with administrative duties or personal service to the king.

Role in the Biblical Narrative: Ebed-melech is most noted for his courageous intervention on behalf of the prophet Jeremiah. When Jeremiah was cast into a cistern by the officials of King Zedekiah, who were angered by his prophecies of Jerusalem's impending fall, Ebed-melech took a bold stand. He approached the king, who was sitting at the Benjamin Gate, and pleaded for Jeremiah's life, arguing that the prophet would die of hunger in the cistern due to the lack of bread in the city (Jeremiah 38:9).

King Zedekiah granted Ebed-melech permission to rescue Jeremiah, and Ebed-melech, with the help of thirty men, lifted Jeremiah out of the cistern using ropes and old rags to cushion the prophet's arms (Jeremiah 38:11-13). This act of bravery and compassion highlights Ebed-melech's integrity and fear of God, contrasting with the cowardice and moral failure of the other court officials.

Divine Reward: Ebed-melech's faithfulness and courage did not go unnoticed by God. In Jeremiah 39:15-18, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, promising Ebed-melech deliverance from the impending disaster. The LORD assured him that he would not fall by the sword and that his life would be spared as a reward for his trust in God (Jeremiah 39:18). This divine promise underscores the biblical theme that God honors those who act justly and place their trust in Him, even in the face of great personal risk.

Theological Significance: Ebed-melech's account serves as a powerful example of faith and righteousness. His actions demonstrate the importance of standing up for truth and justice, even when it is unpopular or dangerous. Ebed-melech's trust in God and his willingness to act on behalf of the oppressed reflect the biblical call to love one's neighbor and to act with courage and integrity. His narrative also illustrates God's providential care and reward for those who remain faithful to Him, regardless of their social status or ethnic background.

Cultural and Historical Insights: As an Ethiopian and a eunuch, Ebed-melech's presence in the biblical narrative highlights the inclusivity of God's concern and the diverse makeup of the ancient Near Eastern world. His account is a reminder that God's purposes transcend national and ethnic boundaries, and that He uses individuals from all walks of life to accomplish His will.Ebed-Melech

the king's servant

Ebed-Melech

An Ethiopian servant of king Zedekiah, who was instrumental in saving the prophet Jeremiah from famishing in a filthy dungeon, and was therefore preserved when Jerusalem was taken by Nebuzaradan, Jeremiah 38:7-13; 39:15-18. The Lord knoweth them that are his.

A servant of the king; probably an official title, an Ethiopian, "one of the eunuchs which was in the king's house;" i.e., in the palace of Zedekiah, king of Judah. He interceded with the king in Jeremiah's behalf, and was the means of saving him from death by famine (Jeremiah 38:7-13: Comp. 39:15-18). EBED-MELECH

e-bed-me'-lek, eb-ed-me'-lek (`ebhedh-mekekh, "servant of the king" or "of (god) Melek"):

An Ethiopian eunuch in the service of King Zedekiah, who interceded with the king for the prophet Jeremiah and rescued him from the dungeon into which he had been cast to die (Jeremiah 38:7-13). For this, the word of Yahweh through Jeremiah promised Ebed-meleeh that his life should be spared in the fall of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 39:15-18).

5663. Ebed Melek -- "servant of a king," an official under King ...
... "servant of a king," an official under King Zedekiah. Transliteration: Ebed Melek
Phonetic Spelling: (eh'-bed meh'-lek) Short Definition: Ebed-melech. ...
/hebrew/5663.htm - 6k

Ebedmelech the Ethiopian
... EBEDMELECH THE ETHIOPIAN. ... Ebedmelech is a singular anticipation of that other
Ethiopian eunuch whom Philip met on the desert road to Gaza. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/ebedmelech the ethiopian.htm

Index of Names and Subjects.
... Duhm, Professor, 8, 15, 37, 38, 40, 82, 83, 91, 98, 115, 166, 194, 222, 227, 243,
244, 257, 268, 269, 276, 287, 295, 300, 312, 329, 375, etc. Ebed-Melech, 281. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/index of names and subjects.htm

Expositions of Holy Scripture
... ZEDEKIAH. THE WORLD'S WAGES TO A PROPHET. THE LAST AGONY. EBEDMELECH THE ETHIOPIAN.
GOD'S PATIENT PLEADINGS. THE SWORD OF THE LORD. THE KINSMAN-REDEEMER. 'AS SODOM ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/

The Siege. (xxi, xxxii-xxxiv, xxxvii, xxxviii. )
... others seem to have stirred to rescue the Prophet"unless Baruch had a hand in what
he tells and is characteristically silent about it"Ebed-melech, a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/3 the siege xxi xxxii-xxxiv.htm

What the Scriptures Principally Teach: the Ruin and Recovery of ...
... By it, our Lord Jesus, the good Ebedmelech, comes and casts down a cord
to us, and draws us up out of the pit of sin and misery. ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/lecture vi what the scriptures.htm

We Shall Follow the Example of Abdemelech, if we Believe that the ...
... 1190]. Footnotes: [1174] Ebedmelech means "servant of the king.". [1175]
S. John 16:13. [1176] S. John 16:13. [1177] S. Mark 13:32. ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xi we shall follow.htm

The Way of Life and the Way of Death.
... is the Lord's." [3422] Thou shalt not accept persons when thou reprovest for sins;
but do as Elijah and Micaiah did to Ahab, and Ebedmelech the Ethiopian to ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec i on the two ways.htm

Against Jovinianus.
... Their type is [4322] Ebed-melech the eunuch in Jeremiah, and the eunuch of Queen
Candace in the [4323] Acts of the Apostles, who on account of the strength of ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/against jovinianus.htm

A Discourse
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a discourse.htm

Seasonable Counsel: Or, Advice to Sufferers.
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/seasonable counsel or advice to.htm

Ebedmelech (6 Occurrences)
... Comp. 39:15-18). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. EBED-MELECH. e ... 18).
Multi-Version Concordance Ebedmelech (6 Occurrences). Jeremiah ...
/e/ebedmelech.htm - 9k

Ebed-melech (6 Occurrences)
Ebed-melech. Ebedmelech, Ebed-melech. E'bed-Mel'ech . Easton's Bible Dictionary ...
Ebedmelech, Ebed-melech. E'bed-Mel'ech . Reference Bible.
/e/ebed-melech.htm - 9k

E'bed-Mel'ech (6 Occurrences)
E'bed-Mel'ech. Ebed-melech, E'bed-Mel'ech. Ebenbohan . Multi-Version Concordance
E'bed-Mel'ech (6 Occurrences). Jeremiah 38:7 Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian ...
/e/e'bed-mel'ech.htm - 8k

Cushite (15 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 38:7 Now when Ebed-melech the Cushite, one of the eunuchs who was in the
king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then ...
/c/cushite.htm - 14k

Dungeon (15 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 38:7 Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, a eunuch, who was in the king's
house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon (the king then sitting ...
/d/dungeon.htm - 12k

Water-hole (25 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 38:7 Now it came to the ears of Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, an unsexed servant
in the king's house, that they had put Jeremiah into the water-hole; the ...
/w/water-hole.htm - 14k

Ethiopian (11 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 38:7 Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, a eunuch, who was in the king's
house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon (the king then sitting ...
/e/ethiopian.htm - 18k

Worn-out (4 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 38:11 So Ebedmelech took the men with him, and went into the house of the
king under the treasury, and took there rags and worn-out garments, and let ...
/w/worn-out.htm - 7k

Rotten (9 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 38:11 So Ebedmelech took the men with him, and went into the house of the
king under the treasury, and took thence old cast clouts and old rotten rags ...
/r/rotten.htm - 9k

How did Jeremiah die? | GotQuestions.org

What is a bondservant / bond-servant? | GotQuestions.org

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