# Once, they put the prophet Jeremiah into a dry well

This begins a new event about Jeremiah being held captive in a well. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]])

# a dry well

The well did not currently have any water in it, but it did still have mud in the bottom. This could be translated as: “an empty well.”

# But then the king had mercy on him

The connecting word **But** contrasts the people putting Jeremiah in the well to die, and the king having mercy on him and ordering him brought out. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast]])

# had mercy on him

This means he was kind to Jeremiah and helped him.