Jeremiah 28 7

Jeremiah 28:7 kjv

Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of all the people;

Jeremiah 28:7 nkjv

Nevertheless hear now this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people:

Jeremiah 28:7 niv

Nevertheless, listen to what I have to say in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people:

Jeremiah 28:7 esv

Yet hear now this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people.

Jeremiah 28:7 nlt

But listen now to the solemn words I speak to you in the presence of all these people.

Jeremiah 28 verses

Jeremiah 28 7 Meaning

This verse states that all the prophets who preceded Jeremiah spoke of war, disaster, and pestilence against the land of Egypt. This provides a context for understanding the divine message communicated through the prophets, which was often one of judgment against nations for their sins, as well as a warning to God's own people.

Jeremiah 28 7 Context

Jeremiah chapter 28 takes place during the reign of King Zedekiah of Judah. This period is marked by impending Babylonian conquest and exile. Hananiah, a false prophet, openly contradicts Jeremiah's prophecy of Babylonian domination and captivity. Hananiah claims that God will break the yoke of Babylon and return the exiled Judeans and the Temple vessels within two years. This false prophecy offers a deceptive sense of hope and security to the people. Jeremiah 28:7 specifically addresses this false prophetic trend, noting that the prophets before Hananiah, much like Hananiah himself, had also spoken oracular pronouncements of doom and destruction against other nations, implying a consistent prophetic pattern of divine judgment against sin, even if Hananiah misapplies or twists the message for immediate, personal gain.

Jeremiah 28 7 Word Analysis

• "And" (וְ — we): Conjunction, connecting clauses and indicating sequence or addition.
• "all" (כָּל — kol): Comprehensive term, meaning entirety, whole, or every. Here it signifies the totality of prophets speaking prior to Jeremiah.
• "the prophets" (הַנְּבִיאִים — hannəḇî’îm): Plural definite noun, "the prophets." Refers to individuals who served as divine spokespersons.
• "who" (אֲשֶׁר — ’ăšær): Relative pronoun, introducing a subordinate clause describing the prophets.
• "were before" (לִפְנֵי — lip̄nê): Prepositional phrase, meaning "before" or "in front of." Indicates chronological or positional precedence.
• "thee" (לְךָ — ləḵā): Second person masculine singular pronoun, referring to Jeremiah.
• "from" (מִן — min): Preposition indicating origin or separation.
• "ancient times" (מִיָּמִים — mîyāmîm): Noun in plural with preposition, meaning "from days" or "from old." Suggests a long historical period.
• "and" (וְ — we): Conjunction.
• "saying" (לֵאמֹר — lē’mōr): Infinitive of speech, meaning "to say." Indicates what was prophesied.
• "Peace" (שָׁלוֹם — šālōm): Noun meaning peace, prosperity, well-being, safety.
• "against" (עַל — ‘al): Preposition often translated as "against," "upon," or "concerning." Here, it signifies the object of their pronouncements.
• "the land" (הָאָרֶץ — hā’āreṣ): Definite noun, "the land."
• "and" (וְ — we): Conjunction.
• "wealth" (וְעֹשֶׁר — wə‘ōšær): Conjunction and noun meaning wealth, abundance, riches.
• "and" (וְ — we): Conjunction.
• "and" (וְ — we): Conjunction.
• "pestilence" (וּמַגֵּפָה — ûməggēp̄â): Conjunction and noun meaning pestilence, plague, a sweeping blow.
• "upon" (עַל — ‘al): Preposition.
• "the land" (הָאָרֶץ — hā’āreṣ): Definite noun.
• "of Egypt" (מִצְרַיִם — Miṣrayim): Proper noun, Egypt.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "all the prophets who were before thee from ancient times": This phrase emphasizes that Jeremiah was not an anomaly. The prophetic tradition, including many prophets who came before him, had a history of speaking words of judgment. The "ancient times" points to a continuity in God's dealings with nations.
• "saying, Peace against the land of Egypt, and wealth, and pestilence": The structure here might be better understood as "saying [things about] peace, [things about] wealth, and [things about] pestilence, against the land of Egypt." However, the more common interpretation, especially considering the contrast Hananiah was trying to make, is that the other prophets pronounced judgment (war, disaster, pestilence) against Egypt. Hananiah was presenting a different message: peace and prosperity for Judah. The Hebrew "shalom," "osher," and "magefah" (translated here potentially misinterpretively as "wealth" by some) are often found together. However, given the typical prophetic denunciations against Egypt (e.g., Ezekiel 29-30, Isaiah 19), the more consistent interpretation aligns with pronouncements of judgment. Scholars debate if "wealth" here could imply divine blessing or material riches taken in conquest, but the preceding "war" and following "pestilence" lean towards calamitous pronouncements. The point of the verse is that prior prophets were often sent with messages of judgment against nations, which Hananiah contrasts with his message of peace for Judah.

Jeremiah 28 7 Bonus Section

The mention of Egypt in this context is significant. Egypt was often an antagonist to Israel and Judah, yet it was also a powerful nation with which Judah frequently allied or contended. Prophecies against Egypt, such as those in Isaiah 19 and Ezekiel 29-30, demonstrate God's sovereignty over all nations, not just Israel. By referencing these earlier prophetic pronouncements against Egypt, Jeremiah establishes the validity and historical precedent for a prophet to declare doom upon a nation, thereby undermining Hananiah's credibility. The verse implies that while prophets can declare negative judgments (war, pestilence), Hananiah's specific claim of immediate peace and return for Judah is the anomaly, not the prophecy of judgment itself. The faithfulness of a prophet is in declaring God's truth, whether that truth is about judgment or mercy, and Jeremiah had been commissioned to prophesy judgment for Judah.

Jeremiah 28 7 Commentary

Jeremiah 28:7 serves as a crucial retort to Hananiah’s optimistic deception. Jeremiah is essentially saying, "You claim I'm wrong about judgment, but many prophets before me also spoke of calamitous events happening to nations like Egypt." The implication is that God’s message often involves judgment against sin, and that focusing solely on "peace and prosperity" without acknowledging God's righteous requirements and the consequences of disobedience is misleading. This verse highlights the prophetic tradition of divine judgment against gentile nations due to their sins and opposition to God's will. Hananiah was a false prophet because he offered a message of immediate peace and return contrary to God's decreed judgment and exilic plan for Judah. The verse contrasts Hananiah’s singular, false message with the established prophetic precedent of proclaiming God’s wrath against sinful nations.