16 But King Zedekiah swore to Jeremiah in secret saying , "As the Lord lives , who made this life for us, surely I will not put you to death nor will I give you over to the hand of these men who are seeking your life ."

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 38:16

Commentary on Jeremiah 38:14-28

(Read Jeremiah 38:14-28)

Jeremiah was not forward to repeat the warnings, which seemed only to endanger his own life, and to add to the king's guilt, but asked whether he feared to do the will of God. The less men fear God, the more they fear men; often they dare not act according to their own judgments and consciences.