Jeremiah 42 16

Jeremiah 42:16 kjv

Then it shall come to pass, that the sword, which ye feared, shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine, whereof ye were afraid, shall follow close after you there in Egypt; and there ye shall die.

Jeremiah 42:16 nkjv

then it shall be that the sword which you feared shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt; the famine of which you were afraid shall follow close after you there in Egypt; and there you shall die.

Jeremiah 42:16 niv

then the sword you fear will overtake you there, and the famine you dread will follow you into Egypt, and there you will die.

Jeremiah 42:16 esv

then the sword that you fear shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine of which you are afraid shall follow close after you to Egypt, and there you shall die.

Jeremiah 42:16 nlt

the very war and famine you fear will catch up to you, and you will die there.

Jeremiah 42 verses

Jeremiah 42 16 Meaning

The people of Judah, after the destruction of Jerusalem and their exile to Egypt, desperately sought the Lord's guidance through the prophet Jeremiah. They had already disobeyed God by not heeding Jeremiah's warnings and instead fled to Egypt. This verse declares that their plea for direction from the Lord regarding their future in Egypt will not be answered positively because their heart's desire and their actions are not aligned with God's will. The very people who acted presumptuously and rebelliously now expect divine favor.

Jeremiah 42 16 Context

Following the destruction of Jerusalem and the murder of Gedaliah, the remnant of Judean people who had remained in the land feared the Babylonians and, against Jeremiah’s counsel, fled to Egypt. They took Jeremiah and Baruch with them. In Egypt, they insisted that Jeremiah inquire of the Lord on their behalf, despite their previous disobedience. Chapter 42 details their plea, and the Lord’s subsequent answer delivered through Jeremiah. This specific verse serves as a divine explanation for why the people’s current request for guidance, particularly concerning their welfare in Egypt, will be met with silence. Their past actions of defiance and presumption demonstrate a heart not truly seeking the Lord’s will but their own comfort and security, earned through their wrongful actions.

Jeremiah 42 16 Word analysis

• "But": (Hebrew: וְ – və): A conjunction indicating contrast or a transition, setting this statement against the background of their supposed plea.

• "you": (Hebrew: אתם – atem): Refers to the remnant of Judah in Egypt.

• "have wickedly dealt with": (Hebrew: רשעתם – rish'atem): A strong verb form denoting transgression, wickedness, or acting contrary to divine law, stemming from the root רשע (rasha), meaning wicked, evil. It implies intentional, malicious wrongdoing.

• "your souls": (Hebrew: נפשותיכם – nafshoteikhem): Refers to their very lives, their inner selves, their beings. It emphasizes the depth of their wicked action impacting their existence.

• "in the": (Hebrew: ב – b): A preposition indicating location or the circumstances.

• "wilderness": (Hebrew: במדבר – bammadbar): This refers to the specific location where they have been acting wickedly, likely a reference to their desperate flight and stay in Egypt, characterized by difficult circumstances, much like the wilderness for Israel of old. It can also denote a spiritual desolation due to their sin.

• "when you": (Hebrew: כי – ki): Introduces the reason or cause for the preceding statement, emphasizing the cause-and-effect relationship.

• "fled into": (Hebrew: ברחתם – barach'tem): The verb barach signifies to flee, escape, or run away, conveying haste and desperation.

• "Egypt": (Hebrew: מצרים – Mitzrayim): The land of their historical oppression and eventual deliverance by God, but now the site of their presumptuous refuge.

• "Therefore thus": (Hebrew: כן – ken): An adverb indicating manner or consequence, linking the divine action (or inaction) to their deeds.

• "says": (Hebrew: אמר – amar): The typical prophetic formula, "Thus says the Lord."

• "the LORD": (Hebrew: יהוה – YHWH): The personal covenantal name of God.

• "God of": (Hebrew: אלהי – Elōhey): Indicates possession and relationship.

• "Israel": (Hebrew: ישראל – Yisrael): The chosen covenant people.

• "it shall not": (Hebrew: לא – lō): A strong negation.

• "be for you": (Hebrew: לכם – lachem): Pertaining to you.

• "so": (Hebrew: כן – ken): To grant, to do, to perform.

• "as I": (Hebrew: כן – ken): As in like manner.

• "have sought": (Hebrew: דרשתי – darash'ti): The verb darash means to seek, inquire, or seek out. Here, it is used in contrast to how God will not seek or inquire on their behalf in their current disposition.

• "for you": (Hebrew: אתכם – etchem): Towards you.

• Grouped Analysis:

  • "wickedly dealt with your souls in the wilderness, when you fled into Egypt": This phrase encapsulates their sin: a spiritual flight into spiritual wilderness, marked by the presumption and rebellion of fleeing to Egypt, which is spiritually analogous to turning away from the Lord’s protected land (Jerusalem) to a land associated with bondage. The "wilderness" context is important; instead of waiting in the land God allowed them to remain in, they fled, making their journey and present location akin to a place where one is exposed and vulnerable, lacking God's direct presence and sustenance, precisely because of their sinful choices.

Jeremiah 42 16 Bonus section

The phrase "dealt with your souls" is profound. It suggests their actions affected their very essence and being. Fleeing to Egypt was not merely a geographical relocation; it was a spiritual departure, a repudiation of God's covenantal dealings with His people. The "wilderness" where they "wickedly dealt" implies their current state in Egypt is a desolate spiritual wilderness because they have exiled themselves from God’s promised presence through their own choices. This highlights that external circumstances are often reflections of internal spiritual condition, especially when that condition is marked by disobedience. Their prayer is transactional, expecting a favorable outcome for their ill-gotten security, a common human tendency to separate behavior from its divine consequence.

Jeremiah 42 16 Commentary

The people are experiencing the consequences of their deep-seated rebellion. They acted wickedly by fleeing to Egypt against God's explicit command, choosing their own perceived safety over trusting in the Lord. Now, they seek spiritual direction from the very God they have offended. However, their prayer is not born out of genuine repentance or a desire to align with God's will. It is a request made from a position of disobedience. The verse signifies that such prayer, rooted in presumption and self-will, will not be answered favorably. God's eyes are upon the righteous (1 Peter 3:12), and He does not hear iniquity in the heart (Psalms 66:18). Their actions in fleeing to Egypt represent a turning away from God's leadership and a reliance on their own flawed plans. Hence, God declares He will not "seek" or actively inquire on their behalf in this state, meaning their questions about their future in Egypt will not receive a positive, guiding answer that affirms their path. They will experience God's silence due to their unrepentant heart.