Jeremiah 28:2 kjv
Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.
Jeremiah 28:2 nkjv
"Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying: 'I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.
Jeremiah 28:2 niv
"This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: 'I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.
Jeremiah 28:2 esv
"Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.
Jeremiah 28:2 nlt
"This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies, the God of Israel, says: 'I will remove the yoke of the king of Babylon from your necks.
Jeremiah 28 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 28:1 | "In the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fifth month of the fourth year, Hananiah the son of Azur, a prophet from Gibeon, spoke to me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and all the people..." | Introduces the setting |
| Jeremiah 28:2 | "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: 'I have broken the yokes of the king of Babylon." | Directly quotes the false prophecy |
| Jeremiah 28:11 | "And Hananiah said before all the people, 'Thus says the LORD: "Even within two years I will return all the vessels of the LORD’s house that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took from this place and carried to Babylon." | Specifies the false prediction |
| Jeremiah 28:15 | "Then Jeremiah said to Hananiah, 'Listen, Hananiah, the LORD has not sent you, and you have made this people trust in a lie." | Jeremiah's counter-prophecy |
| Jeremiah 28:16 | "'Therefore thus says the LORD: "Behold, I will send you off the earth. This year you shall die, because you have uttered rebellion against the LORD."'" | Hananiah's punishment |
| Jeremiah 28:17 | "Hananiah the prophet died in the seventh month of that year." | Fulfillment of the prophecy |
| Jeremiah 27:1-3 | Prophesies about yokes of submission to Babylon. | Sets up the conflict |
| 1 Kings 18:19-21 | Elijah confronts prophets of Baal. | Similar conflict with false prophets |
| Deuteronomy 18:20-22 | Criteria for distinguishing true from false prophets. | God's standard for prophecy |
| Isaiah 9:15-16 | Denounces prophets who lead people astray. | Rebuke of deceptive leadership |
| Ezekiel 13:3-10 | Condemnation of prophets who speak smooth things. | Warnings against false prophecy |
| Matthew 7:15-16 | Jesus warns about false prophets. | Warning against false prophets |
| 2 Timothy 4:3-4 | The time will come when people will not endure sound teaching but seek teachers who will tickle their ears. | General warning about pleasing lies |
| 2 Peter 2:1-3 | Describes false teachers who bring destructive heresies. | Warning about deceptive teachers |
| 1 John 4:1 | "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world." | Call to discernment |
| Romans 10:14-17 | How can they believe without hearing, and how can they hear without a preacher? | Importance of true proclamation |
| Acts 20:29-30 | Paul warns the elders about grievous wolves entering in. | Warning about false leaders |
| Psalm 2:4 | "He who is enthroned in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision." | God's perspective on defiance |
| Proverbs 29:25 | "The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe." | Trusting God over men |
| Isaiah 30:10 | "who say to the seers, 'Do not see,' and to the prophets, 'Do not prophesy to us what is right, but what is pleasing, prophesy illusions." | The desire for comforting lies |
| Jeremiah 6:14 | "They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, 'Peace, peace,' when there is no peace." | Diagnosis of superficial healing |
Jeremiah 28 verses
Jeremiah 28 2 Meaning
This verse introduces Hananiah, a false prophet from Gibeon. His pronouncements directly contradict Jeremiah's prophecy concerning the return of the people from Babylonian exile. Hananiah's words are designed to be pleasing to the ear of the Israelites in Jerusalem, offering a false hope of imminent deliverance and the swift return of temple vessels taken by Nebuchadnezzar. This creates a stark contrast between truth and deception.
Jeremiah 28 2 Context
The events of Jeremiah 28 occur during the reign of Zedekiah, the last king of Judah. Jerusalem is under Babylonian siege or imminent threat. The people are experiencing immense hardship and fear. Many are looking for any word of encouragement and a speedy return to normalcy. Jeremiah has been faithfully delivering God’s message of impending judgment and prolonged Babylonian exile, including the necessity of submitting to Nebuchadnezzar's authority. Hananiah appears in the midst of this crisis, speaking directly in the Temple precinct, in front of the spiritual and national leadership, as well as the common people. This public setting highlights the challenge to God’s true prophet.
Jeremiah 28 2 Word analysis
- "Thus": Hebrew: כֹּה (ko). An adverb signifying "so," "thus," or "in this manner." It introduces a statement of what has been said or done.
- "says": Hebrew: אָמַר (amar). The simple past tense verb meaning "to say," "to speak," or "to tell."
- "the LORD": Hebrew: יְהוָה (YHWH). The personal covenantal name of God, often translated as "LORD" in English. It emphasizes God's eternal presence and active role in His covenant people.
- "of hosts": Hebrew: צְבָאוֹת (tzv'ot). Means "armies" or "hosts." In reference to God, it signifies His sovereignty and supreme power over all celestial armies and earthly forces. It denotes His omnipotence.
- "the God": Hebrew: אֱלֹהֵי (Elohei). A plural form of "El" (God) often used in a singular possessive sense, meaning "my God" or "the God of." Here, it signifies "the God of."
- "of Israel": Hebrew: יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrael). The collective name for the covenant people of God, stemming from the patriarch Jacob. It identifies the specific covenant relationship.
- "I have broken": Hebrew: שָׁבַרְתִּי (shavarti). The perfect tense of the verb שָׁבַר (shavar), meaning "to break," "to shatter," or "to shatter into pieces." The perfect tense can indicate a completed action with present results.
- "the yokes": Hebrew: הַעֻלּוֹת (ha'ulot). Plural noun from עוֹל (ol), meaning "yoke," "yoke of service," or "burden." It represents subjugation, servitude, or oppressive power. In Jeremiah's earlier prophecies (Jer 27:2-8), he wore yokes, symbolizing submission to Babylon. Hananiah claims these yokes of subjugation have been broken.
- "of the king": Hebrew: מֶלֶךְ (melekh). "King." Refers to Nebuchadnezzar, the reigning monarch of Babylon.
- "of Babylon": Hebrew: בָּבֶל (Bavel). The name of the great empire that conquered Jerusalem and deported its people.
Phrase/Words Group Analysis:
- "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel": This is a standard prophetic formula introducing a divine oracle. Hananiah is counterfeiting the very voice and authority of God. He is impersonating God’s spokesperson to give a message that is contrary to God’s actual will. This opening attempts to give his false words divine weight.
- "I have broken the yokes of the king of Babylon": This is the core of the false prophecy. It directly negates Jeremiah's message, which consistently taught that continued resistance would lead to worse destruction, and that submission to Babylon for a period was God's will for the nation’s purification and eventual restoration. The use of "yokes" refers back to Jeremiah's tangible prophecy in chapter 27, making this a direct public confrontation and contradiction.
Jeremiah 28 2 Bonus section
Hananiah’s deceptive prophecy illustrates a critical theme in biblical teaching: the danger of presenting pleasant but untrue messages over harsh but necessary truths. The biblical concept of "ear-tickling" prophecy (2 Timothy 4:3) is vividly displayed here. False prophets often emerge during periods of national distress, preying on people's desperation for hope. Their messages are designed to resonate with popular opinion or desire, rather than with divine revelation. This episode also underscores the importance of discernment. True prophecy from God is always consistent with His character and His established word, even when it is difficult to hear. Hananiah’s specific claim about breaking the yokes is a direct attack on the divine plan revealed through Jeremiah. The severity of his falsehood is emphasized by God’s direct and swift judgment upon him for misleading God’s people and rebelling against the Lord's commission. This account serves as a permanent warning against accepting flattering pronouncements that contradict established truth.
Jeremiah 28 2 Commentary
Hananiah, a false prophet, presents a message of immediate relief and impending victory, claiming God has already nullified Babylonian dominance. This utterance directly contradicts Jeremiah’s divinely sanctioned prophecy of prolonged servitude and hardship. Hananiah's words are crafted to be psychologically appealing, offering comfort and a false sense of security to a fearful populace. The statement "I have broken the yokes of the king of Babylon" is a direct refutation of Jeremiah's consistent teaching and the symbolic yokes he wore, as described in Jeremiah chapter 27. This represents a serious theological error and rebellion against God’s ordained message for the people during a time of judgment. Hananiah's goal is to win favor by offering a lie that sounds good, a common tactic of false prophets throughout biblical history. This highlights the constant spiritual battle for truth, especially in times of crisis.