For I will surely deliver you, and you shall not fall by the sword; but your life shall be as a prize to you, because you have put your trust in Me,” says the Lord.’ ”
Parallel translations
- WEB For I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but your life shall be for a prey to you; because you have put your trust in me,’ says Yahweh.”
- KJV For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD.
- BSB For I will surely rescue you so that you do not fall by the sword. Because you have trusted in Me, you will escape with your life like a spoil of war, declares the LORD.’”
- NASB For I will assuredly rescue you, and you will not fall by the sword; but you will have your own life as plunder, because you have trusted in Me,” declares the Lord.’ ”
- NLT Because you trusted me, I will give you your life as a reward. I will rescue you and keep you safe. I, the Lord, have spoken!’”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God will spare Ebedmelech's life because he trusted in the LORD. Faith, not nationality, is the ground of his deliverance.
Overview
The reason given for Ebedmelech's rescue is explicit: 'because you have put your trust in me.' His life will be granted to him 'for a prey,' a vivid idiom for escaping with one's life intact. This anticipates the gospel truth that the righteous are saved by faith (Hab 2:4; Rom 1:17), and that God's salvation reaches beyond Israel to all who believe.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Ps 34:22Yahweh redeems the soul of his servants. None of those who take refuge in him shall be condemned.
- Jer 38:2“Yahweh says, ‘He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence; but he who goes out to the Chaldeans shall live, and his life shall be to him for a prey, and he shall live.’
- Jer 21:9He who remains in this city will die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence; but he who goes out, and passes over to the Chaldeans who besiege you, he shall live, and he will escape with his life.
- Eph 1:12to the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ:
- Ps 84:12Yahweh of Armies, blessed is the man who trusts in you.
- Ps 147:11Yahweh takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his loving kindness.
- 1 Chr 5:20They were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all who were with them; for they cried to God in the battle, and he was answered them, because they put their trust in him.
- Ps 33:18Behold, Yahweh’s eye is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his loving kindness;
- Ps 37:39–40But the salvation of the righteous is from Yahweh. He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
- Ps 37:3Trust in Yahweh, and do good. Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture.
- Ps 146:3–6Don’t put your trust in princes, each a son of man in whom there is no help.
- 1 Pet 1:21who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; so that your faith and hope might be in God.
- Ps 2:12Give sincere homage to the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish on the way, for his wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all those who take refuge in him.
- Jer 17:7–8“Blessed is the man who trusts in Yahweh, and whose confidence is in Yahweh.
- Jer 45:4–5“You shall tell him, Yahweh says: ‘Behold, that which I have built, I will break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up; and this in the whole land.
- Isa 26:3You will keep whoever’s mind is steadfast in perfect peace, because he trusts in you.
- Rom 2:12For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without the law. As many as have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.
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Christ at the center
Against the failure of false shepherds Jeremiah promises the Righteous Branch, 'The LORD our righteousness,' and the new covenant written on the heart and sealed in the blood of Christ.
How Jeremiah 39:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.