Jeremiah 41:4 kjv
And it came to pass the second day after he had slain Gedaliah, and no man knew it,
Jeremiah 41:4 nkjv
And it happened, on the second day after he had killed Gedaliah, when as yet no one knew it,
Jeremiah 41:4 niv
The day after Gedaliah's assassination, before anyone knew about it,
Jeremiah 41:4 esv
On the day after the murder of Gedaliah, before anyone knew of it,
Jeremiah 41:4 nlt
The next day, before anyone had heard about Gedaliah's murder,
Jeremiah 41 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 41:4 | Eight men came from Shechem, from Shiloh and from Samaria, even eight men, having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and having cut themselves, with offerings and incense in their hand, to bring them to the house of the LORD. | Lamentation over the slaughter |
| Jer 41:2 | Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and the ten men who were with him arose and struck down all the Judeans who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah, also the Chaldean soldiers who were there. | Ishmael's betrayal and murder |
| Jer 41:3 | And Ishmael also struck down all the Jews who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah, and the Chaldean soldiers who were found there, and the soldiers. | Destruction of the survivors |
| Jer 40:7 | Now when all the captains of the forces, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had set Gedaliah the son of Ahikam over the land and had intrusted to him men, women, children, and the breast-fed of the land, besides the poorest of the land. | Return of exiles and appointment of Gedaliah |
| 2 Kings 25:25 | But in the fifth month, in the seventh day of the month, it came to pass, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah the son of Elishama of the king's seed came, he and ten men with him, and smote Gedaliah, that he died, and the Jews that were with him at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans that were found there, and the host thereof. | Parallel account of the murder |
| Ps 31:11 | I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a terror to them that knew me: they that did see me without fled from me. | Persecution and suffering |
| Ps 88:8 | Mine eye affecteth mine heart by reason of all mine afflictions. | Distress and grief |
| Jer 14:17 | But thou shalt say this word unto them; Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease; for the virgin daughter of my people hath been crushed with a great breach with a sorely wounded wound. | Jeremiah's sorrow for the nation |
| Lam 1:2 | She weepeth sore by night, and her tears are on her cheeks; she hath none to comfort her of all her lovers: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become thine enemies. | Lamenting the fallen city |
| Jer 42:1-2 | Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest, came near, and said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (as thou seest us, now, ) | Plea for divine guidance |
| Prov 3:29 | Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing that he dwelleth securely by thee. | Prohibition of malicious plots |
| Micah 6:8 | He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? | Requirements of righteousness |
| Gal 6:7 | Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. | Principle of sowing and reaping |
| Rev 18:20 | Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath judged your judgment on her. | Divine judgment on evil |
| Jer 11:20 | But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause. | Appeal for divine justice |
| Ps 10:2 | The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined. | Wickedness and divine justice |
| Jer 41:6 | Then Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, with all the men who were with him, went out from Mizpah to go toward Assyria, weeping as he went. | Ishmael's departure |
| Jer 41:7-9 | Now when all the people heard that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done all these things, they returned, and took all that he had left, and went unto Johanan the son of Kareah. For the evil which Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done, the captains of the forces, with all their men, that were in Gilead, took none but Ishmael the son of Nethaniah; for he had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land. But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah also took captive all the residue of the people that were in Mizpah, even the king's daughters, and all that remained of the people in Mizpah, whom Ishmael the son of Nethaniah the son of Ishmael had carried away captive after he had smitten Gedaliah the son of Ahikam: he took them from Mizpah. | Aftermath of the massacre |
| Zech 7:3 | And to speak unto the priests which were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, and keep a fast, as I have done these so many years? | Questioning fasts |
| Jer 41:1 | Now it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah the son of Elishama of the king's seed came, he and ten men with him, and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, that he died, and the Jews that were with him at Mizpah. | Beginning of Ishmael's plot |
Jeremiah 41 verses
Jeremiah 41 4 Meaning
This verse describes a horrifying event where Ishmael son of Nethaniah, along with his conspirators, brutally murdered the Judean men, women, children, and infants who had come to Mizpah to mourn and offer sacrifices. The violence was so severe that it targeted every male, including the youngest and most vulnerable.
Jeremiah 41 4 Context
This verse is part of Jeremiah chapter 41, which details a violent upheaval following the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem. After the fall of Jerusalem, a remnant of Judeans remained in the land under the governorship of Gedaliah. Gedaliah sought to establish a semblance of order and encouraged those who had fled to return and live peacefully. However, Ishmael, of royal lineage, harbored resentment and plotted against Gedaliah, likely fueled by Babylonian political intrigue. The people had gathered at Mizpah, the new administrative center, to mourn the fallen and potentially celebrate the harvest. It was in this setting of sorrow and supposed security that Ishmael carried out his brutal attack. This chapter highlights the instability of the post-conquest period and the betrayal that plagued the remnant of Judah.
Jeremiah 41 4 Word Analysis
- "And it came to pass": This is a common Hebrew idiomatic phrase (וַיְהִי - wayehi) used to introduce a narrative event, signaling the unfolding of a story or the beginning of a new section.
- "eight men": The specific number "eight" might be significant, possibly representing a group with a unified purpose. The number eight can sometimes symbolize new beginnings or resurrection, though in this context it is overshadowed by the act of violence.
- "from Mizpah": Mizpah was a significant place in Israelite history, often associated with gathering, covenant-making, and even as a place of judgment or supplication (e.g., Judges 10:17, 1 Samuel 7:5-17). Here, it is the site of betrayal and slaughter, starkly contrasting with its previous roles.
- "from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria": These locations represent different regions and perhaps different factions of the Jewish people who had come to Mizpah. Shechem was a major city in the north, Shiloh a former religious center where the Ark had resided, and Samaria represented the general northern territories. Their presence at Mizpah signifies a gathering of the scattered remnants.
- "even eight men": This repetition emphasizes the arrival of these specific individuals, drawing attention to their presence and the purpose of their visit.
- "having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and having cut themselves": These are traditional outward expressions of deep mourning and sorrow in ancient Israelite culture (Leviticus 19:27-28, Jeremiah 16:6). The fact that these men exhibited these signs of grief immediately before committing the atrocity is a stark example of hypocrisy and deep-seated malice. They feigned grief to gain access and to lull any suspicion.
- "with offerings and incense in their hand": This indicates they presented themselves as devout worshippers, bringing sacrifices and incense to the house of the LORD (Leviticus 1:9, Numbers 18:1-7). This act of bringing religious items as a cover for murder is a profound sacrilege, a perversion of worship.
- "to bring them to the house of the LORD": This was their stated purpose – to approach the sanctuary of God. This emphasizes the brazenness of their plan, turning a religious occasion into an opportunity for bloodshed.
Word Groups Analysis
- The incongruity of outward mourning and inward violence: The group's presentation—with signs of deep mourning (shaven beards, rent clothes, cut flesh) and religious offerings—is a deliberate deception. Their outward appearance starkly contrasts with their inner intent to commit murder, highlighting a profound hypocrisy and spiritual perversion. This is a critical element that underscores the depravity of their actions.
Jeremiah 41 4 Bonus Section
The prophetic book of Jeremiah is filled with lamentations and accounts of judgment, but chapters 40-43 depict the tragic aftermath of Jerusalem's destruction. This specific event at Mizpah is a critical turning point in the narrative of the remnant, illustrating the persistent wickedness and the tragic consequences of internal division and betrayal, even after immense suffering. The text implies that God witnessed this perversion of worship and this slaughter of His people, aligning with the biblical principle that God sees and will ultimately judge all actions, especially those that misuse religious devotion to perpetrate evil. The verse serves as a sobering reminder of the human capacity for deception and cruelty, even when cloaked in religious garb.
Jeremiah 41 4 Commentary
This verse depicts a devastating act of treachery and sacrilege. Eight men arrived at Mizpah, seemingly as genuine mourners and worshippers, displaying outward signs of deep sorrow. Their purpose was to bring offerings and incense to the house of the LORD. However, their humble and devout appearance was a carefully crafted ruse. Behind this facade of piety and grief lay a murderous intent. They did not come to worship but to slaughter. The stark contrast between their presentation and their actions reveals a chilling deception and a complete abandonment of reverence for God and humanity. This incident serves as a powerful example of how evil can be masked by religious pretenses, and how vulnerability can be exploited under the guise of piety. It underscores the spiritual decay and moral corruption that characterized some within the post-exilic community.