Illustration created for this project.
Ebed-Melech
A Cushite court official who lifted the prophet Jeremiah out of a muddy cistern.
What we know — and how we know it
Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1
Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 1
Origin & birthplace
Name & titles
ScholarlyThe name Ebed-Melech (עֶבֶד-מֶלֶךְ) means "servant of the king" and reads more like a court title or designation than a birth-name, fitting his role as a royal official (a Cushite eunuch) in Zedekiah's household. Scholars accordingly debate whether it records his personal name or his office.
Onomastic analysis; the compound ʿebed ("servant") + melek ("king"), discussed in Jeremiah commentary literature.
Where in scripture
JeremiahIn their own words — 2 recorded sayings
“My lord the king, these men have done evil in all they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have put into the water-hole; and he will come to his death in the place where he is through need of food: for there is no more bread in the town.” — Jeremiah 38:9
“And Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah, Put these bits of old cloth under your arms under the cords. And Jeremiah did so.” — Jeremiah 38:12
Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).
Places in their life
Photo: Godot13 — CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)