Jeremiah 42:13 kjv
But if ye say, We will not dwell in this land, neither obey the voice of the LORD your God,
Jeremiah 42:13 nkjv
"But if you say, 'We will not dwell in this land,' disobeying the voice of the LORD your God,
Jeremiah 42:13 niv
"However, if you say, 'We will not stay in this land,' and so disobey the LORD your God,
Jeremiah 42:13 esv
But if you say, 'We will not remain in this land,' disobeying the voice of the LORD your God
Jeremiah 42:13 nlt
"But if you refuse to obey the LORD your God, and if you say, 'We will not stay here;
Jeremiah 42 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 42:13 | If the people of Judah do not go into Egypt, then a sword will be upon them. | Warning of consequences |
| Jeremiah 46:25 | The Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "I will punish Amon of No, and Egypt. | Judgment on Egypt |
| Isaiah 19:1 | Oracle concerning Egypt. See, the LORD rides on a swift cloud and is coming to Egypt. | Judgment on Egypt |
| Jeremiah 43:13 | He will shatter the obelisks of Heliopolis in Egypt and will burn the temples of the gods of Egypt. | Judgment on Egypt |
| Ezekiel 30:13 | " ‘ “I will destroy the idols and put an end to the images in Memphis. No prince will rule the land of Egypt again. I will put fear in the land of Egypt. | Judgment on Egypt |
| 1 Samuel 5:3 | When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, they saw that Dagon had fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD. | Dagon's fall |
| 1 Samuel 5:4 | When they got up the next day, they saw that Dagon had fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD! Its head and its hands were severed off, lying on the threshold; only the trunk of Dagon remained. | Dagon's fall |
| Psalm 2:4 | The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. | God's sovereignty |
| Psalm 115:4-7 | But their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak, eyes, but do not see, ears, but do not hear, noses, but do not smell, hands, but do not feel, feet, but do not walk, nor do they make a sound with their throats. Those who make them become like them, and so do all who trust in them. | Idolatry's futility |
| Isaiah 46:1-2 | Bel bows down, Nebo stoops low; their idols are borne by beasts, for burdens and wains. The things you carry are heavy burdens for the weary. They stoop, they bow down together; they cannot save their burdens, but themselves go into captivity. | Idolatry's futility |
| Jeremiah 10:5 | Like scarecrows in a melon patch, they cannot speak; they have to be carried. They cannot walk and must be carried. Do not fear them; they can do no harm, nor can they do any good. | Idolatry's impotence |
| Jeremiah 10:14 | Everyone is senseless and without knowledge; every goldsmith is shamed by his idols. The molten image is a fraud, and there is no breath in it. | Idolatry's fraudulence |
| John 1:14 | The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, of the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. | Divine presence |
| 1 Corinthians 10:20 | No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, never to God, and I do not want you to be partners with demons. | Demons and idols |
| 1 John 5:21 | Dear children, keep yourselves from idols. | Warning against idols |
| Romans 1:23 | And exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal human beings and birds and animals and reptiles. | Idolatry's corruption |
| Acts 19:35 | And when the city clerk had calmed the crowd, he said, “People of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the guardian of the temple of the great goddess Artemis and of the image that fell from heaven? | Idols and divine claims |
| Revelation 13:4 | And they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can war against it?” | Worship of false powers |
| Jeremiah 52:17 | The Babylonians destroyed the bronze pillars, and the movable stands, and the bronze Sea, and took them to Babylon. | Destruction of idols |
Jeremiah 42 verses
Jeremiah 42 13 Meaning
This verse contains a warning from Jeremiah to the remnants of Judah. It declares that the great and terrifying idol of Dagon will be thrown down and broken into pieces, signifying its utter helplessness and impotence.
Jeremiah 42 13 Context
This verse is part of Jeremiah chapter 42, which describes the actions of the remaining leaders of Judah after the fall of Jerusalem and the murder of Gedaliah. Despite having disregarded Jeremiah's warnings, they now turn to him again, seeking divine guidance. They bind themselves to obey whatever the LORD their God tells them. However, their intention is not sincere obedience, but rather to ensure Jeremiah relays a favorable message.
The chapter recounts Jeremiah praying for them. God responds, telling them not to fear the Chaldeans, with whom they are currently afraid, but to stay in the land of Judah. He promises to build them up and not tear them down, and to have mercy on them so that the Chaldeans will also have mercy on them. But if they refuse to obey the voice of the LORD their God and decide to go to Egypt, then the very sword and famine they fear in Judah will follow them there and overtake them in Egypt. This verse, specifically Jeremiah 42:13, directly states the consequence for going to Egypt. The ultimate context is God's judgment upon a disobedient people who consistently chose to turn away from Him and seek refuge in worldly powers and idols, rather than trusting in His protection.
Jeremiah 42 13 Word Analysis
“But if”: This phrase introduces a conditional statement, indicating a choice and its associated consequences. It highlights the direct cause-and-effect relationship established by God's word.
“you”: Refers to the leaders and the remnant of the people of Judah who have sought Jeremiah's counsel.
“obstinately refuse”: This powerfully conveys a deliberate and stubborn rejection of God's command. It suggests a hardened heart and a persistent turning away from the divine will. The Hebrew word "mā’an" (מָאֵן) often carries the sense of refusing stubbornly, persisting in opposition, or declining vehemently. It implies not just a simple no, but an active and willful denial.
“to heed”: Signifies paying attention to, listening to, and obeying. It's not just hearing words, but internalizing and acting upon them.
“the voice”: Refers to the word or command of God as spoken through the prophet Jeremiah. In Hebrew thought, the "voice" of God represents His authoritative declaration and will.
“of the LORD”: Emphasizes the divine origin of the command. The "LORD" (Yahweh, יְהוָה) is the covenant-keeping God of Israel.
“your God”: Reaffirms the covenant relationship and God's rightful authority over His people. It implies a call to return to their covenant faithfulness.
“saying”: Introduces the specific decree that they refuse.
“You shall not go”: This is the direct command that they are warned against disobeying. The prohibition is clear and absolute.
“into Egypt”: Specifies the prohibited destination. Egypt represents a worldly power and a false security, a place of exile and bondage for Israel's past, to which they are tempted to flee in their fear.
“to dwell there”: Clarifies that the prohibition is not about a temporary visit but about taking up residence.
Refusal and Consequence: The grouping "obstinately refuse to heed the voice of the LORD your God, saying, ‘You shall not go into Egypt to dwell there’" sets up the direct linkage to the following threat. This refusal triggers God's judgment.
The Path of Disobedience: The choice to go to Egypt is presented not as an independent decision, but as a defiance of God’s spoken word, leading to His specified retribution.
Jeremiah 42 13 Bonus Section
The chapter that contains this verse (Jeremiah 42) vividly illustrates the recurring theme in the Old Testament of God's persistent call to faithfulness and the people's repeated propensity towards idolatry and reliance on human strength, even after experiencing God's chastening hand. The reference to Egypt specifically taps into a long history in Israel’s narrative. From their enslavement in Egypt to their subsequent reliance on Egyptian alliances as warned against by prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah himself, Egypt often represented a turning away from God and His covenant protection. The idol of Dagon, mentioned in 1 Samuel, fell before the Ark of the LORD, signifying the utter powerlessness of pagan gods against the true God, a potent symbol against which Jeremiah's warning against seeking refuge in the perceived strength of Egypt is juxtaposed.
Jeremiah 42 13 Commentary
Jeremiah 42:13 is a pivotal warning, underscoring the grave consequences of ignoring God's direct commands, especially when motivated by fear and worldly logic. The people of Judah, having already suffered immense judgment, were given a clear path to follow – to remain in their land under God's provision. Their desire to flee to Egypt stemmed from fear of the Babylonians and a misplaced hope in Egyptian military aid or refuge, mirroring their historical tendency to rely on foreign powers instead of the Lord. God’s prohibition against going to Egypt was a test of their faith and a call to covenant loyalty. To “obstinately refuse” indicates a stubborn rejection of this divine instruction, demonstrating that their earlier plea for God’s word was not born of genuine repentance, but of self-interest. The consequence announced is inescapable: the very dangers they sought to escape by going to Egypt—the sword and famine—would pursue them there. This illustrates a universal principle: disobedience to God’s clear word invariably leads to judgment, often in ways that directly contradict the desired outcomes of the sin. The verse serves as a stark reminder that true safety and blessing are found only in obedience, not in worldly strategies or fleeing from God’s intended path.