Jeremiah 26 19

Jeremiah 26:19 kjv

Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death? did he not fear the LORD, and besought the LORD, and the LORD repented him of the evil which he had pronounced against them? Thus might we procure great evil against our souls.

Jeremiah 26:19 nkjv

Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah ever put him to death? Did he not fear the LORD and seek the LORD's favor? And the LORD relented concerning the doom which He had pronounced against them. But we are doing great evil against ourselves."

Jeremiah 26:19 niv

"Did Hezekiah king of Judah or anyone else in Judah put him to death? Did not Hezekiah fear the LORD and seek his favor? And did not the LORD relent, so that he did not bring the disaster he pronounced against them? We are about to bring a terrible disaster on ourselves!"

Jeremiah 26:19 esv

Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Did he not fear the LORD and entreat the favor of the LORD, and did not the LORD relent of the disaster that he had pronounced against them? But we are about to bring great disaster upon ourselves."

Jeremiah 26:19 nlt

But did King Hezekiah and the people kill him for saying this? No, they turned from their sins and worshiped the LORD. They begged him for mercy. Then the LORD changed his mind about the terrible disaster he had pronounced against them. So we are about to do ourselves great harm."

Jeremiah 26 verses

Jeremiah 26 19 Meaning

The prophet Jeremiah, during the reign of King Jehoiakim, prophesied destruction upon Jerusalem and the Temple due to the people's persistent idolatry and disobedience. This verse records that some elders of the land recalled how the prophet Micah, in an earlier time, also prophesied similarly against Jerusalem, yet King Hezekiah, and by extension the people, repented. Because of this repentance, Hezekiah feared the LORD and averted the judgment threatened by Micah's prophecy. This historical precedent was brought up by the elders in an attempt to persuade the authorities to spare Jeremiah, suggesting that repentance could still avert disaster.

Jeremiah 26 19 Context

Jeremiah 26 occurs during a turbulent period in Jerusalem, early in the reign of King Jehoiakim (circa 609 BC). The prophet Jeremiah had been commissioned by God to deliver a severe message of doom to Jerusalem and its Temple. He stood in the Temple courtyard and proclaimed that if the people did not amend their ways, the Temple would become like Shiloh, a place of destruction and abandonment. This prophecy, delivered publicly, provoked immediate and strong opposition from the priests, prophets, and the general populace, who viewed it as an attack on God Himself and the sanctity of His dwelling place. Jeremiah was arrested and brought to trial before the officials and the people. This verse specifically records a pivotal moment during this trial, where some of the elders recalled a past event involving the prophet Micah.

Jeremiah 26 19 Word Analysis

• "Then": Indicates a sequence of events or a turning point in the discussion.
• "certain of the elders": Implies not all, but a significant group within the leadership who were more discerning or perhaps fearful of acting rashly against a prophet.
• "of the land": Specifies their authority was rooted in the governance and territory of Judah, distinguishing them from merely Temple officials or a mob.
• "rose up": Signifies a proactive stance or intervention in the ongoing proceedings against Jeremiah.
• "and spoke": Engaged in discourse, presenting their argument.
• "unto all the assembly": Directed their words to the gathered crowd and authorities who were convened to judge Jeremiah.
• "of the congregation": Reinforces the idea of a public gathering, the community of Israel represented in this trial.
• "in the house of the LORD": Establishes the sacred location of this discussion, ironically, while judging a prophet speaking within that same house.
• "remembered": Evokes historical consciousness and the lesson that can be learned from past divine interactions and human responses.
• "and spoke": Reiteration of their act of communication, emphasizing the delivery of their memory and counsel.
• "unto Hezekiah king of Judah": References a specific historical figure known for his righteousness and devotion.
• "and to all Judah": Included the entire nation in the precedent, emphasizing its relevance to their current situation.
• "saying": Introduces the content of their recollection.
• "Thus saith the LORD of hosts": Attributes the original prophetic message to the highest divine authority, God Almighty, making the precedent’s message authoritative.
• "Amend your ways and your doings": The core of Micah’s message—a call to sincere repentance and behavioral change, not mere outward ceremony.
• "and obey the voice of the LORD": Highlights obedience to God’s revealed will as the pathway to averting judgment.
• "your ways and your doings": Repeats the phrase for emphasis, covering all aspects of life and action.
• "Therefore": Establishes a cause-and-effect relationship between the proposed action (repentance) and the outcome.
• "the LORD will repent him": A anthropomorphic expression indicating God’s change of disposition towards punishment when His people genuinely turn from sin. It implies relenting from the severe judgment.
• "of the evil": The "evil" here refers to the specific punishment or destruction God had threatened to bring upon them.
• "that he hath pronounced against you": Acknowledges that the threat of judgment was indeed divinely ordained and announced.
• "So the elders are testifying": Indicates their words served as a testimony, corroborating Jeremiah’s prophetic calling and message through a historical example.
• "that they heard": Personal recall and therefore believed in the authenticity of the earlier prophetic word.
• "of the LORD": Reiterates the divine source of the earlier prophecy.

Group analysis: The core argument presented by these elders is built upon a "historical precedent of divine judgment averted by repentance." They connect Jeremiah’s message to an earlier, similar prophetic warning from Micah. The phrase "Amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD" encapsulates the essence of genuine repentance as understood by the Old Testament: not just sorrow, but active change in conduct and submission to God’s will. Their reliance on Hezekiah’s reign serves as a powerful example because he was a righteous king who feared God and experienced God's deliverance, reinforcing the efficacy of heeding prophetic warnings and turning to the Lord. The elders’ statement aims to show that if Hezekiah’s repentance led God to "repent him of the evil," then perhaps Jeremiah’s prophecy could be heeded in the present to secure a similar outcome for Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 26 19 Bonus Section

The account of Hezekiah averting judgment after Micah’s prophecy (referenced here implicitly) is detailed in 2 Kings 18-19 and 2 Chronicles 32. Hezekiah faced the threat of the Assyrian army under Sennacherib. Instead of following the fearful policies of his predecessors, Hezekiah tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and prayed fervently in the Temple, reinforcing his walls and preparing defenses. He then sent to Isaiah, asking him to intercede. Isaiah prophesied that Sennacherib would hear a report and return, and he did, with the Assyrian army being miraculously struck down overnight. This specific historical instance provided strong grounds for the elders to argue that Jeremiah's message was not mere slander, but a divine warning, and that obedience coupled with repentance could indeed lead to God's intervention and salvation, mirroring what happened under Hezekiah. The contrast is stark with the prevailing attitude of King Jehoiakim, who was generally disobedient.

Jeremiah 26 19 Commentary

This verse is crucial in understanding the theological basis for prophetic ministry and divine mercy. The elders, by invoking Micah and Hezekiah, appealed to a known historical event that demonstrated God's willingness to relent from judgment when His people responded with sincere repentance. This shows that God's pronouncements of judgment are often conditional upon human response. Their argument serves not only to defend Jeremiah but also to offer a pathway to salvation for their generation. It highlights that genuine repentance involves a transformation of both behavior ("doings") and one's fundamental direction ("ways"). The act of God relenting from declared judgment is termed "repenting," which, when applied to God, signifies a change of dealings based on human actions, rather than an internal change of character for God who is immutable. This demonstrates God’s lovingkindness and His desire for man’s salvation over His judgment.