Book of Jeremiah - Chapter 37 - Verse 21

After prophesying against the kingdom of Judah, including its leaders and people, Jeremiah found himself in trouble with King Zedekiah. As a result, the king ordered Jeremiah to be confined in the court of the prison, where he was given a daily portion of bread from the bakers' street. This act of confinement was a form of punishment and oppression towards Jeremiah for speaking out against the sins of the people and their leaders. By limiting his access to food and freedom, King Zedekiah hoped to silence Jeremiah and prevent him from prophesying further destruction upon the city. Despite these difficult circumstances, Jeremiah remained faithful to his calling as a prophet of God, continuing to deliver messages of warning and hope to the people even from inside the prison walls.

In this verse, we see the prophet Jeremiah being imprisoned by King Zedekiah in the court of the prison. The significance of this action is not merely a physical confinement of the prophet, but it also symbolizes the rejection and suppression of God's voice through Jeremiah's prophecies. By restricting Jeremiah's movements and limiting his access to the people, the king sought to silence the message of impending judgment and destruction that the prophet was delivering from God. Despite being a prisoner, Jeremiah continued to receive a daily portion of bread, emphasizing the contrast between the physical needs of the body and the spiritual hunger for truth and righteousness. The bakers' street mentioned in the verse also adds a layer of symbolism, as bread is a staple of sustenance and nourishment, highlighting the basic provision that was provided to Jeremiah even in his captivity. Overall, this verse serves as a reminder of the struggles and persecution that prophets often face when delivering God's message to a stubborn and disobedient people.