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Jeremiah 40: Jeremiah Chooses to Stay

In Jeremiah 40 the captain of Babylon's guard finds Jeremiah in chains among the people being taken away. He sets Jeremiah free and lets him choose where to live. Jeremiah chooses to stay in Judah with Gedaliah, the new governor, among the people left in the land. People who had scattered come back, and they gather a big harvest. But Gedaliah is warned of a plot against him and does not believe it.

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Bible:

Read Jeremiah 40

World English Bible · 16 verses

  1. 1 The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, after Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were carried away captive to Babylon.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  2. 2 The captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said to him, “Yahweh your God pronounced this evil on this place;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  3. 3 and Yahweh has brought it, and done according as he spoke. Because you have sinned against Yahweh, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing has come on you.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  4. 4 Now, behold, I release you today from the chains which are on your hand. If it seems good to you to come with me into Babylon, come, and I will take care of you; but if it seems bad to you to come with me into Babylon, don’t. Behold, all the land is before you. Where it seems good and right to you to go, go there.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  5. 5 Now while he had not yet gone back, “Go back then,” he said, “to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people; or go wherever it seems right to you to go.” So the captain of the guard gave him food and a present, and let him go.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  6. 6 Then Jeremiah went to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah, and lived with him among the people who were left in the land.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  7. 7 Now when all the captains of the forces who were in the fields, even they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed to him men, women, children, and of the poorest of the land, of those who were not carried away captive to Babylon,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  8. 8 then Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of the Maacathite, they and their men came to Gedaliah to Mizpah.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  9. 9 Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan swore to them and to their men, saying, “Don’t be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it will be well with you.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  10. 10 As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah, to stand before the Chaldeans who will come to us; but you, gather wine and summer fruits and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that you have taken.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  11. 11 Likewise when all the Jews who were in Moab, and among the children of Ammon, and in Edom, and who were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  12. 12 then all the Jews returned out of all places where they were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, to Mizpah, and gathered very much wine and summer fruits.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  13. 13 Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces who were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  14. 14 and said to him, “Do you know that Baalis the king of the children of Ammon has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam didn’t believe them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  15. 15 Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, “Please let me go, and I will kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man will know it. Why should he take your life, that all the Jews who are gathered to you should be scattered, and the remnant of Judah perish?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  16. 16 But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, “You shall not do this thing, for you speak falsely of Ishmael.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

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Jeremiah 40 · Preschool

Set Free to Stay

Name Date

Color Jeremiah with the people who stayed in the land. God gave them food to gather!

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“Then Jeremiah went to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah, and lived with him among the people who were left in the land.”

Jeremiah 40:6 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Then explain that Jeremiah was set free from chains. He could go anywhere, but he chose to stay and help his people. Talk about ways you can stay close and help people who need you.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

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