Introduction to Jeremiah 37:3: A King’s Desperate Request
Jeremiah 37:3 records a politically and spiritually significant moment: King Tsidqiyyāh sends envoys to request intercessory prayer from the prophet Yirmeyāhū. The plea is encapsulated in the verb הִתְפַּלֶּל־נָא, meaning “Please pray!”—a compelling example of biblical Hebrew’s Hitpaʿel imperative with emotional urgency and theological depth. This article analyzes the form, function, and implications of this powerful request within the prophetic tradition.
וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ צִדְקִיָּ֜הוּ אֶת־יְהוּכַ֣ל בֶּן־שֶֽׁלֶמְיָ֗ה וְאֶת־צְפַנְיָ֤הוּ בֶן־מַֽעֲשֵׂיָה֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן אֶל־יִרְמְיָ֥הוּ הַנָּבִ֖יא לֵאמֹ֑ר הִתְפַּלֶּל־נָ֣א בַעֲדֵ֔נוּ אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃
Morphological Analysis of הִתְפַּלֶּל־נָא
The verb הִתְפַּלֶּל־נָא is from the root פָּלַל (p-l-l), which in the Hitpaʿel stem means “to pray” or “to intercede.” This form is a 2nd person masculine singular imperative with the particle נָא, which adds politeness, urgency, or supplication to the request.
- Root: פָּלַל (p-l-l) – “to intercede, to pray”
- Stem: Hitpaʿel (reflexive: to entreat oneself toward another, i.e., to pray)
- Form: Imperative, 2nd person masculine singular
- Suffix: נָא – a particle meaning “please,” expressing entreaty or urgency
- Translation: “Please pray!” or “Make intercession for us, we beg you.”
This grammatical form is particularly common in intercessory contexts, where a prophet is asked to mediate between the people and YHWH.
Phrase-by-Phrase Breakdown
וַיִּשְׁלַח הַמֶּלֶךְ צִדְקִיָּהוּ
- וַיִּשְׁלַח – “And he sent” (Qal wayyiqtol 3ms of שָׁלַח)
- הַמֶּלֶךְ צִדְקִיָּהוּ – “King Tsidqiyyāh”
אֶת־יְהוּכַל בֶּן־שֶׁלֶמְיָה וְאֶת־צְפַנְיָהוּ בֶן־מַעֲשֵׂיָה הַכֹּהֵן
These are the two royal officials and emissaries:
- יְהוּכַל – royal officer
- צְפַנְיָהוּ – a priest
אֶל־יִרְמְיָהוּ הַנָּבִיא לֵאמֹר
- “To Yirmeyāhū the prophet, saying…” – formula introducing direct speech.
הִתְפַּלֶּל־נָא בַעֲדֵנוּ אֶל־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ
- הִתְפַּלֶּל־נָא – “Please pray!” (imperative with entreaty)
- בַעֲדֵנוּ – “on our behalf” (preposition בְּעַד + 1st person plural suffix)
- אֶל־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ – “to YHWH our God”
Rhetorical and Theological Significance
1. Intercession as Mediation
By using הִתְפַּלֶּל in the Hitpaʿel, the king acknowledges Yirmeyāhū’s role as a mediator—someone who can speak to YHWH on behalf of others. The plea affirms the prophetic office as one of spiritual access to God.
2. The Irony of the Request
This is particularly ironic, since Tsidqiyyāh and the leaders have largely rejected Jeremiah’s message, persecuted him, and refused to heed his warnings. Yet, in crisis, they turn to the very prophet they scorned, asking him to intercede.
3. The Urgency of נָא
The particle נָא adds an emotional tone—urgency, desperation, or politeness. Its presence transforms a command into a pleading request. The leaders are no longer issuing decrees—they are begging.
The Role of הִתְפַּלֶּל־נָא in Jeremiah 37:3
The verb הִתְפַּלֶּל־נָא captures a moment of spiritual vulnerability and political desperation. It reflects:
- Grammatical complexity – Hitpaʿel imperative with the emphatic נָא
- Theological depth – acknowledgment of the prophet’s unique role in accessing YHWH
- Rhetorical irony – those who rejected the prophet now seek his intercession
This simple verb becomes a window into Judah’s crisis of leadership, their inconsistency, and their reliance on prophetic prayer in the face of looming judgment. It reminds readers that even those in power may come to a place where their only hope is to cry out: “Please pray for us.”
