Definition: And Ebedmelech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah, Put now [these] old cast clouts and rotten rags under thine armholes under the cords. And Jeremiah did so.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this passage from Jeremiah 38:12. It's a really strange and dramatic story! Here’s what it means in simple terms: The Basic Idea: This verse describes a situation where a man named Ebedmelech is trying to fix a piece of clothing – likely a tunic or robe – that’s completely ruined. He’s doing this by deliberately making the holes and damage much worse than they originally were. Let's unpack it layer by layer: “These old cast clouts and rotten rags…” : This is a really vivid description of the damaged clothing. "Cast clouts" means torn or ragged pieces, and "rotten rags" suggests it’s very dirty and full of flaws. “…under thine armholes under the cords.” : This is the crucial part. He's placing these ruined items inside the garment itself – right under the sleeves and the stringy parts (the “cords”). “And Jeremiah did so.” : This is the action. Jeremiah, the prophet, is deliberately making the damage even worse. What’s the point of this? The story is a metaphor for a situation where someone is trying to cover up their mistakes or wrongdoing. Jeremiah is essentially saying: "You've made a big mess, and you're trying to hide it by making it worse!" It’s important to note: This verse is from an ancient text (the Hebrew Bible) and is considered somewhat symbolic and mysterious. It doesn’t necessarily mean Jeremiah was actually doing this – the story is more about expressing his frustration with the situation. In short, it's a story about someone trying to hide their mistakes by making them even worse. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse from Jeremiah? Discuss the context of this passage in more detail (like its time period)?