Jeremiah 42:1 kjv
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,
Jeremiah 42:1 nkjv
Now all the captains of the forces, Johanan the son of Kareah, Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people, from the least to the greatest, came near
Jeremiah 42:1 niv
Then all the army officers, including Johanan son of Kareah and Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest approached
Jeremiah 42:1 esv
Then all the commanders of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest, came near
Jeremiah 42:1 nlt
Then all the military leaders, including Johanan son of Kareah and Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah, and all the people, from the least to the greatest, approached
Jeremiah 42 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 37:2 | ...But neither he nor his servants nor the people of the land paid any attention to the words of the Lord... | Echoes a general theme of Israel's disobedience. |
| Jeremiah 40:1-6 | The aftermath of Jerusalem's fall, where remnants surrendered to the Babylonians. | Sets the historical stage for this petition. |
| Jeremiah 44:15-19 | Those who had fled to Egypt blamed Jeremiah and rebelled against God. | Contrasts the attitude of the repentant remnant. |
| Psalm 25:4-5 | Show me your ways, Lord; teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior... | A prayer for divine guidance. |
| Proverbs 3:5-6 | Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him... | Emphasizes dependence on God for direction. |
| Isaiah 30:21 | Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way, walk in it." | God's promise to guide His people. |
| Micah 6:8 | He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. | Points to what God desires. |
| John 14:6 | Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." | Christ as the ultimate Way and source of truth. |
| Acts 16:9-10 | ... and during the night Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."... | Divine prompting for action and direction. |
| Romans 12:1-2 | Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice... Do not conform to the pattern of this world... | A call to surrender and discernment of God's will. |
| Hebrews 3:7-13 | As the Spirit says: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts..." | Warning against disobedience and seeking God's will. |
| James 1:5 | If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. | The promise of wisdom from God. |
| 1 Samuel 12:19 | The people said to Samuel, "Pray for your servants in regard to the Lord your God, so that we will not die..." | Similar plea for intercession to a prophet. |
| Deuteronomy 18:15 | The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to him. | Prophetic role to convey God's word. |
| Isaiah 48:17 | This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who leads you by the way you should go." | God's promise to lead and teach His people. |
| Jeremiah 11:1-5 | Jeremiah proclaimed God's covenant and Israel's covenant-breaking. | Previous pronouncements of God's judgment and mercy. |
| Jeremiah 38:14-28 | Jeremiah is rescued from the cistern and speaks to Zedekiah, who secretly asks for guidance. | Jeremiah's prophetic authority acknowledged. |
| 1 Kings 22:5 | However, Jehoshaphat asked, "Is there not yet another prophet of the Lord, that we may inquire of him?" | Kings seeking divine counsel through prophets. |
| Lamentations 3:40 | Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us turn back to the Lord. | A call for introspection and return to God. |
| Psalm 119:105 | Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. | Scripture as a guide. |
Jeremiah 42 verses
Jeremiah 42 1 Meaning
The verse records the direct address of the remnant of the people of Judah to their leaders, Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Neriah. They humble themselves before these leaders, seeking their intercession with God for them. Their plea is to be shown the way in which they should go and the thing that they should do, acknowledging their dependence on divine guidance in their present desperate circumstances following the fall of Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 42 1 Context
This verse occurs immediately after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. The city has fallen, the Temple is in ruins, and the Jewish population has been subjected to extreme hardship and loss. A remnant of the people, fearing further repercussions or simply seeking survival, has gathered at Mizpah under the authority of Gedaliah, the Babylonian-appointed governor. In the face of extreme uncertainty and the profound collapse of their nation, they turn to their spiritual leaders, the prophet Jeremiah and his scribe Baruch, appealing for divine direction through their intercession. The political and spiritual landscape is one of utter desolation, amplifying the people's desperate need for guidance from God.
Jeremiah 42 1 Word analysis
- "Then": Marks the immediate succession of events, following the actions or decisions described in the preceding verses or chapters, indicating chronological flow.
- "all": Refers to the entirety of the individuals present who constituted the remaining populace after the devastating events. This emphasizes the collective desperation and unity of purpose in seeking divine guidance.
- "the people": Identifies the subjects of the verse as the remaining population of Judah, signifying their shared plight.
- "commanded": Implies a prior instruction or arrangement given by those who were in authority amongst the remnants, likely military leaders or elders, to seek out Jeremiah and Baruch. This shows a conscious decision to engage the prophets.
- "Jeremiah": The prophet who faithfully delivered God's messages, often of judgment, throughout Judah's decline and fall.
- "and": Connects Jeremiah with Baruch, highlighting both as key spiritual figures to whom the people turn.
- "Baruch": Jeremiah's scribe, who faithfully recorded the prophet's messages and was an integral part of delivering God's word.
- "the son": Standard Hebrew patronymic structure, identifying Baruch through his father.
- "of Neriah": Identifies Jeremiah's scribe by his lineage.
- "spake": The act of speaking or communicating. Here, it indicates the people addressed Jeremiah and Baruch.
- "unto": Signifies the direction of their speech, indicating who was being addressed.
- "them": Refers back to Jeremiah and Baruch, the intended recipients of the people's plea.
- "saying": Introduces the direct words or message that were communicated to the prophets.
Group of words analysis:
- "Then all the people commanded Jeremiah and Baruch": This phrase signifies a collective request, originating from the remaining populace, directed towards their trusted prophets. The use of "commanded" is significant; it’s not just a casual inquiry but a formal, urgent appeal born out of their desperate circumstances. It implies a recognition of the prophets’ unique role in mediating God’s will, even after national catastrophe.
- "unto them, saying": This clearly marks the commencement of their petition, indicating a formal act of seeking guidance, expecting an answer from God through Jeremiah and Baruch. It underscores their hope that God's word could still be accessed and that He might yet speak to them in their distress.
Jeremiah 42 1 Bonus section
The people's plea is not an anomaly but reflects a historical pattern within Israel. When faced with crises or crucial decisions, they consistently sought the word of God through prophets, priests, or the Urim and Thummim. Jeremiah and Baruch, having been faithful in delivering God’s often-difficult message, are now entrusted with guiding the remnant in their most dire hour. Their appeal underscores a crucial biblical principle: in times of confusion and suffering, the primary recourse is not human ingenuity or political expediency, but humble submission and seeking divine counsel. The remnant’s action is a testament to the enduring power of God’s word and the prophetic office, even amidst apparent national annihilation. It highlights the human need for God's voice to be heard amidst the clamor of life's most challenging moments.
Jeremiah 42 1 Commentary
Following the Babylonian conquest and destruction of Jerusalem, a desperate remnant sought spiritual counsel. They formally approached Jeremiah and his scribe Baruch, recognizing their divine commission. This act demonstrates a lingering dependence on God's word and His appointed messengers, even after the catastrophic judgment they had faced. Their request is not for earthly advice but for direct divine guidance: "Show us the way in which we should go, and what thing we should do." This is a profound acknowledgment of their inability to navigate the post-fall world without God's explicit direction. It mirrors the cries of David in the Psalms and the early disciples in Acts, all seeking wisdom and discernment from the Almighty. Their hope is to hear from God through His prophets, desiring to align their actions with His will to ensure their continued existence and perhaps even restoration. This sets the stage for a critical decision-making process for the remnant, which will ultimately depend on the response they receive from Jeremiah.