Jeremiah 26 2

Jeremiah 26:2 kjv

Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD's house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD's house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:

Jeremiah 26:2 nkjv

"Thus says the LORD: 'Stand in the court of the LORD's house, and speak to all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD's house, all the words that I command you to speak to them. Do not diminish a word.

Jeremiah 26:2 niv

"This is what the LORD says: Stand in the courtyard of the LORD's house and speak to all the people of the towns of Judah who come to worship in the house of the LORD. Tell them everything I command you; do not omit a word.

Jeremiah 26:2 esv

"Thus says the LORD: Stand in the court of the LORD's house, and speak to all the cities of Judah that come to worship in the house of the LORD all the words that I command you to speak to them; do not hold back a word.

Jeremiah 26:2 nlt

"This is what the LORD says: Stand in the courtyard in front of the Temple of the LORD, and make an announcement to the people who have come there to worship from all over Judah. Give them my entire message; include every word.

Jeremiah 26 verses

Jeremiah 26 2 Meaning

Jeremiah 26:2 records God's direct command to Jeremiah the prophet. He is to stand publicly in the court of the Temple and speak to all the people gathered there from various cities of Judah. Jeremiah must deliver every single word God has commanded him to speak, without omitting anything. The divine intent behind this comprehensive and unreserved proclamation is to prompt the people to listen and potentially turn from their evil ways, thereby averting the disaster that God plans to bring upon them due to their wickedness.

Jeremiah 26 2 Context

Jeremiah 26:2 sets the stage for a dramatic confrontation during the early reign of King Jehoiakim (circa 609-598 BC). This period was marked by Judah's decline and increasing pressure from rising Babylonian power. King Jehoiakim himself was notoriously wicked, rejecting the ways of his reforming father, Josiah. The people of Judah, mirroring their king, engaged in widespread idolatry, social injustice, and a superficial reliance on the Temple for security, believing that God would never allow His dwelling place in Jerusalem to be destroyed. This verse is God's direct command for Jeremiah to deliver the Temple Sermon (re-iterated from an earlier version in Jer 7), directly challenging their false sense of security. Jeremiah is commanded to speak openly, warning that if they do not repent, the Temple will be destroyed like the tabernacle at Shiloh, and Jerusalem will become a desolate ruin, prompting a violent reaction from the priests, prophets, and the people.

Jeremiah 26 2 Word analysis

• "Thus says the LORD" (כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה - Koh Amar YHVH): This is the quintessential prophetic formula, serving as an absolute divine warrant. It unequivocally declares that the message originates directly from God Himself, not Jeremiah's own opinion, conferring unquestionable authority and urgency upon the subsequent words.
• "Stand" (עֲמֹד - ʿamod): An imperative verb. It implies taking a firm, unmoving position, not just a casual presence. It denotes a public posture of authority and readiness to deliver a significant message, setting a solemn tone.
• "in the court" (בַחֲצַר - bachatser): Specifically refers to one of the public courtyards of the Temple. This was the place where people gathered for worship, teaching, and transactions. Standing here meant speaking to the largest and most representative audience possible, including priests, pilgrims, and local residents. It underscores the public, challenging nature of the prophecy, directly confronting the spiritual heart of the nation.
• "the LORD's house" (בֵּית יְהוָה - beit YHVH): The Temple in Jerusalem, the very symbol of God's presence and Israel's chosen status. Jeremiah's message within this sacred space, threatening its destruction, was profoundly provocative and heretical to many at the time, making the location a critical detail for understanding the gravity of the command.
• "all the cities of Judah" (כָּל-עָרֵי יְהוּדָה - kol-ʿarey Yehudah): Signifies that the message is not just for Jerusalem but for the entire nation. During pilgrimage festivals, people from all over Judah would gather at the Temple, ensuring the message's national reach.
• "who come to worship" (הַבָּאִים לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֺת - habbāʾīm ləhištaḥǎwōt): Refers to those participating in religious rites and pilgrimages. The Hebrew verb hishtaḥawōt means "to prostrate oneself" or "bow down," signifying acts of reverence and submission. This emphasizes that the audience includes people who were outwardly religious, yet often lacked genuine heart-level devotion.
• "speak to them" (תְּדַבֵּר אֲלֵיהֶם - təḏabēr ʾălēyhem): The verb dabar ("to speak") in Hebrew often implies more than casual conversation; it denotes a forceful and authoritative declaration, typical of prophetic utterance. Jeremiah is not just to talk but to proclaim.
• "all the words" (אֶת-כָּל-הַדְּבָרִים - ʾet-kol-haddəvārîm): The use of "all" is emphatic. Jeremiah is not permitted to cherry-pick or omit portions of God's message. This underlines the necessity of complete obedience to God's command and highlights God's character as One who reveals truth fully, not partially.
• "that I command you to speak to them" (אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִיךָ לְדַבֵּר אֲלֵיהֶם - ʾăšer ṣiwwîtîḵā ləḏabēr ʾălēyhem): This phrase further reinforces the divine origin and prescribed content of the message. Jeremiah is a direct mouthpiece, with no authority to alter God's decree. The word tsawa ("to command") carries significant weight, implying a binding instruction.
• "hide not a word" (לֹא תִגְרַע דָּבָר - loʾ tiḡraʿ dābār): A powerful and direct negative imperative. Tigraʿ (from garaʿ) means "to diminish," "to lessen," "to subtract," or "to hold back." This injunction stresses the absolute integrity required of a prophet. It stands in stark contrast to the false prophets who spoke "peace, peace" when there was no peace (Jer 6:14, 8:11), and withheld or softened unwelcome truths to gain popular favor, even as it signals Jeremiah's unwavering loyalty to his divine calling amidst certain opposition.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Thus says the LORD, Stand in the court of the LORD's house": This phrase combines divine authority with a very specific, prominent, and highly provocative physical location. It's a divine commission for a public, confrontational act in the nation's spiritual heartland.
• "to all the cities of Judah who come to worship in the LORD's house": This specifies the extensive and religiously observant audience. It indicates a nationwide address during a period of sacred assembly, emphasizing that the message is for all Judah, not just Jerusalem's residents, particularly those who participate in formal worship yet may lack genuine piety.
• "Speak to them all the words that I command you to speak to them; do not hide a word": This sequence underscores the divine origin, completeness, and non-negotiable nature of the prophetic message. It highlights the prophet's fidelity to God over fear of human repercussion, defining the scope and integrity of his challenging commission. This command implies the words are severe, otherwise, there would be no temptation to "hide" them.

Jeremiah 26 2 Bonus section

• The divine command for Jeremiah to preach in the Temple court directly challenged the "Temple theology" prevalent in Judah, which posited that God would never allow His dwelling place, Jerusalem, or His chosen people to be destroyed (similar to a misguided interpretation of Ps 46). This was a direct polemic against their misplaced confidence in rituals over righteousness and their reliance on a physical structure rather than on genuine obedience to God.
• The phrase "in case they will listen and turn, so that I may repent of the disaster that I intend to bring upon them" reveals God's gracious and compassionate heart. Despite His pronouncements of judgment, God always provides an opportunity for repentance. His intention to bring disaster is conditional upon their continued disobedience, highlighting His long-suffering and desire for His people to avoid calamity.
• The act of a prophet standing in the Temple and prophesying its destruction recalls earlier prophetic challenges to the religious establishment, such as Isaiah 1 and Micah 3, indicating a consistent prophetic tradition of condemning empty ritualism and injustice within God's sanctuary.
• The parallel to Shiloh (alluded to in Jer 7:12, and the wider sermon) serves as a potent historical precedent, reminding the people that God's presence is not automatically guaranteed by a physical building if His covenant terms are repeatedly violated. Shiloh, the location of the tabernacle before the First Temple, was destroyed and abandoned due to Israel's sin.

Jeremiah 26 2 Commentary

Jeremiah 26:2 lays the foundational command for what will become Jeremiah's most dangerous prophetic act recorded in this chapter. God instructs Jeremiah to deliver His unvarnished truth within the very edifice that people believed would protect them – the Temple. The command "do not hide a word" is paramount, encapsulating the essence of faithful prophecy: unflinching obedience to God's commission, regardless of personal cost or popular disapproval. It sets Jeremiah apart from false prophets who appeased the crowd by omitting or twisting divine warnings. This direct and complete revelation of divine judgment for national sin serves a singular purpose: "perhaps they will listen and turn," revealing God's enduring patience and His desire for repentance, even in the face of imminent catastrophe. This passage underscores that God's messages, though sometimes harsh, are always given with the possibility of grace if humanity will genuinely respond.