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Ebed-Melech
Excerpt from the Lexham Bible Dictionary, the most advanced Bible dictionary.
An Ethiopian servant of King Zedekiah who rescued Jeremiah from the cistern (Jer 38:7–13). When Zedekiah’s officials threw Jeremiah into the cistern to die, Ebed-Melech interceded and received permission from the king to get him out. Because of his action, God promised to spare Ebed-Melech during the fall of Jerusalem (Jer 39:15–18). It is likely that Ebed-Melech was a eunuch, though it is not certain.
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The Lexham Bible Dictionary
Ebed-Melech
Ebed-Melech (עֶבֶד־מֶלֶך‎, eved-melekh). An Ethiopian servant of King Zedekiah who rescued Jeremiah from the cistern (Jer 38:7–13). When Zedekiah’s officials threw Jeremiah into the cistern to die, Ebed-Melech interceded and received permission from the king to get him out. Because of his action, God
The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary
Ebed-Melech (Person)
EBED-MELECH (PERSON) [Heb ʿebed melek (עֶבֶד מֶלֶך)]. An Ethiopian eunuch prominent in the service of the palace of Zedekiah and who provided timely aid to the prophet Jeremiah during his incarceration (Jer 38:7–13; 39:15–18).Four components inhere with the personal life of this remarkable individual.
Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible
Ebed-melech
Ebed-melech. Ethiopian eunuch in King Zedekiah’s court. He secured the king’s permission to rescue the prophet Jeremiah out of a cistern where he had been thrown to die (Jer 38:6–13). For this righteous act Ebed-melech was promised God’s safety at the fall of Jerusalem (Jer 39:16).
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised
Ebed-melech
Ebed-melech ē-bed-mēʹlek, eb-ed-meʹlek [Heb. ʿeḇeḏ-meleḵ—‘servant of the king’]. An Ethiopian eunuch in the service of King Zedekiah, who interceded with the king for the prophet Jeremiah and rescued him from the cistern into which he had been cast to die (Jer. 38:7–13). For this, the word of Yahweh
Tyndale Bible Dictionary
Ebed-Melech
EBED-MELECH Ethiopian eunuch in King Zedekiah’s court. He secured the king’s permission to rescue the prophet Jeremiah out of a cistern where he had been thrown to die (Jer 38:6–13). For this righteous act, Ebed-melech was promised God’s safety at the fall of Jerusalem (39:16).
The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (Revised and Updated)
Ebed-Melech
Ebed-melech (ee´bid-mee´lik; Heb., “servant of the king”), the Ethiopian eunuch and Jerusalem palace official who was responsible for rescuing Jeremiah out of an empty cistern, into which he had been thrown by the Judeans (Jer. 38:1–13).
The Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia
Ebed-Melech
EBED-MELECH. This name meaning “servant of the king” may also have been a title equal to “king’s minister.” He was an Ethiopian (Cushite) eunuch at the court of King Zedekiah of Judah, perhaps in charge of the royal harem, an office which would give him private access to the king. He obtained Zedekiah’s
The New Bible Dictionary, Third Edition
Ebed-Melech
EBED-MELECH (Heb. eḇed-meleḵ, a common name = ‘servant of the king’). Ethiopian servant of Zedekiah who rescued Jeremiah from a dungeon (Je. 38:7–13), and for this his life was to be spared at the sack of Jerusalem (Je. 39:15–18).D. J. Wiseman.
Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible
Ebed-Melech
Ebed-Melech (Heb. ʾeḇeḏ meleḵ)An Ethiopian who reproached King Zedekiah for the decision to place Jeremiah in a cistern (Jer. 38:7–13; 39:15–18) during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. Ebed-melech then rescued Jeremiah from the cistern at a time when all of Jerusalem appeared to have abandoned
Eerdmans Bible Dictionary
Ebed-Melech
Ebed-Melech [ēˊbĭd mĕlˊĭk] (Heb. (˓eḇeḏ-meleḵ “servant [lit. “slave”] of the king”). An Ethiopian “eunuch” (so the MT at Jer. 38:7; LXX omits), probably a court official, who petitioned the Judean king Zedekiah to release the prophet Jeremiah from the cistern into which he had been thrown
Catholic Bible Dictionary
Ebed-Melech
EBED-MELECH (Hebrew, “servant of the king”) An Ethiopian eunuch in the court of King Zedekiah of Judah. He assisted Jeremiah during the time of the prophet’s imprisonment (Jer 38:7–13; 39:15–18).
Smith’s Bible Dictionary
Ebed-melech
E´bed-me´lech (a king’s servant), an Ethiopian eunuch in the service of King Zedekiah, through whose interference Jeremiah was released from prison. Jer. 38:7ff.; 39:15ff. (b.c. 1589.)
See also
Roles
Eunuch