Jeremiah 37 shows a king asking for prayer while refusing to act on God’s word, and a prophet imprisoned for telling the truth. These questions are for small groups, Sunday classes, and anyone studying the chapter on their own. Each set of questions comes with a leader’s note so you can guide the discussion without preparing a separate summary.
Jeremiah 37 at a Glance
King Zedekiah, placed on the throne by Babylon, sends officials to ask Jeremiah to pray for Judah. Pharaoh’s army has briefly drawn the Babylonian siege away from Jerusalem, and the people hope this means deliverance. Jeremiah tells them plainly that the relief is temporary and that Babylon will return and burn the city.
The chapter then follows Jeremiah’s arrest on suspicion of defecting, his beating and imprisonment in the house of Jonathan the scribe, and his secret meeting with Zedekiah. The king asks for a word from God, hears the hard answer, and moves Jeremiah to the court of the guard with a daily ration of bread.
Observation Questions
Use these questions first, before anyone offers an opinion. Ask the group to point to the exact words on the page and to name what the text says, not what they think it means. Keep answers short and move on once the facts are clear.
Jeremiah 37:2
But neither he, nor his servants, nor the people of the land, listened to the LORD’s words, which he spoke by the prophet Jeremiah.
(WEB)
Reading this verse aloud sets the central problem of the chapter in plain view. It reminds the group that the king and people had God’s word available but did not heed it. Pause after reading and ask why that gap matters so much.
Jeremiah 37:7-8
7 “The LORD, the God of Israel, says, ‘You shall tell the king of Judah, who sent you to me to inquire of me: “Behold, Pharaoh’s army, which has come out to help you, will return to Egypt into their own land. 8 The Chaldeans will come again, and fight against this city. They will take it and burn it with fire.”’
(WEB)
These verses carry Jeremiah’s clear message to the king about what would come. Hearing them aloud helps the group feel the directness of the warning. Invite members to consider how they receive hard words from God.
Jeremiah 37:17
Then Zedekiah the king sent, and had him brought out. The king asked him secretly in his house, “Is there any word from the LORD?” Jeremiah said, “There is.” He also said, “You will be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.”
(WEB)
This verse captures the private meeting between the king and the prophet. Reading it aloud draws attention to the king’s question and Jeremiah’s honest reply. The group can reflect on what it means to seek God’s word sincerely.
Jeremiah 37:18-19
18 Moreover Jeremiah said to king Zedekiah, “How have I sinned against you, against your servants, or against this people, that you have put me in prison? 19 Now where are your prophets who prophesied to you, saying, ‘The king of Babylon will not come against you, nor against this land?’
(WEB)
These verses show Jeremiah defending his innocence and questioning the false prophets. Reading them together reveals the contrast between faithful and unfaithful speech. The discussion can center on how to discern true words from those that only comfort.
Jeremiah 37:21
Then Zedekiah the king commanded, and they committed Jeremiah into the court of the guard. They gave him daily a loaf of bread out of the bakers’ street, until all the bread in the city was gone. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.
(WEB)
This closing verse shows Jeremiah still held in confinement but still provided for. Reading it aloud ends the chapter on a note of quiet care. Let the group share where they have noticed similar provision in their own hard seasons.
Memory Verse for Jeremiah 37
A Closing Prayer for the Group
Father, we come to you aware that it is easy to ask for help and still refuse to listen. Forgive us for the times we have wanted comfort more than truth, and for the ways we have sought your word without changing our course. Give us ears that hear and hearts that obey, even when the message is hard. Be near to anyone in this group who feels confined, afraid, or unheard, and provide for them as you provided for Jeremiah. Teach us to trust your faithfulness in every season. Amen.
