Jeremiah 42 17

Jeremiah 42:17 kjv

So shall it be with all the men that set their faces to go into Egypt to sojourn there; they shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: and none of them shall remain or escape from the evil that I will bring upon them.

Jeremiah 42:17 nkjv

So shall it be with all the men who set their faces to go to Egypt to dwell there. They shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence. And none of them shall remain or escape from the disaster that I will bring upon them.'

Jeremiah 42:17 niv

Indeed, all who are determined to go to Egypt to settle there will die by the sword, famine and plague; not one of them will survive or escape the disaster I will bring on them.'

Jeremiah 42:17 esv

All the men who set their faces to go to Egypt to live there shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence. They shall have no remnant or survivor from the disaster that I will bring upon them.

Jeremiah 42:17 nlt

That is the fate awaiting every one of you who insists on going to live in Egypt. Yes, you will die from war, famine, and disease. None of you will escape the disaster I will bring upon you there.'

Jeremiah 42 verses

Jeremiah 42 17 meaning

Jeremiah 42:17 declares with absolute certainty the inescapable doom awaiting those Jewish survivors who, in direct defiance of the Lord's command given through Jeremiah, determined to flee to Egypt for refuge. Their decision to settle there would lead to their certain death by the sword, famine, and plague, with no one among them surviving or escaping the divine judgment specifically intended for them.

Jeremiah 42 17 Context

This verse comes in the immediate aftermath of the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC and the assassination of Gedaliah, the governor appointed by Babylon. A remnant of Judah, fearful of Babylonian retaliation for Gedaliah's murder, resolved to flee to Egypt for safety. However, before executing their plan, they approached the prophet Jeremiah, solemnly promising to obey whatever message the Lord gave them (Jer. 42:5-6). For ten days, Jeremiah sought the Lord's will, which then revealed in verses 7-12 that they should remain in Judah, assuring them of God's protection. Verses 13-16 deliver the Lord's severe warning against going to Egypt. Jeremiah 42:17, therefore, is a powerful and specific pronouncement of divine judgment on this very remnant if they persist in their pre-determined path of seeking refuge in Egypt, directly contradicting God's command. Historically and culturally, Egypt had often been a symbol of earthly strength and a tempting place of refuge for Israel, yet God consistently warned against relying on it (Isa 30:1-7; 31:1-3) because it represented trust in human power over divine sovereignty, often leading to apostasy and enslavement.

Jeremiah 42 17 Word analysis

• All the men (כֹּל הָאֲנָשִׁים - Kol ha'anashim): The Hebrew word Kol signifies totality and absoluteness. This is a comprehensive declaration, including every single person within the group who had chosen this path. It leaves no room for exception, underscoring the universal nature of the impending judgment for this specific defiant group.
• who have set their faces (אֲשֶׁר שָׂמוּ אֶת פְּנֵיהֶם - asher samu et p'neihem): This is an idiom indicating fixed determination, resolute intention, and unyielding resolve. It implies that their decision was firm, a settled purpose in their hearts, even before they sought Jeremiah's counsel. It contrasts sharply with genuine submission to divine guidance and points to a predetermined rebellion (compare Luk 9:51 for a similar idiom indicating strong resolve).
• to go to Egypt (לָבֹוא מִצְרַיִם - la'vo Mitsrayim): "Egypt" (Mitsrayim) here is not merely a geographical location but a theological symbol of reliance on human strength and a rejection of divine protection. For Israel, Egypt carried the memory of both slavery and previous attempts to seek ungodly alliances, always leading to spiritual and national detriment. Their intention to flee there signifies a return to a forbidden path, a distrust of God's promise to keep them safe in Judah (Jer 42:10-12).
• to live there (לָגוּר שָׁם - la'gur sham): This emphasizes the intention for permanent residence, not a temporary escape. Their aim was to settle down in Egypt, indicating a complete turning away from the promised land and the covenant associated with it. This move represented a full commitment to an ungodly security.
• will die (יָמֻתוּ - yamutu): A strong future tense verb, indicating absolute certainty and inevitability. Their fate is sealed by their defiant decision, demonstrating God's unwavering resolve to enforce His decree. There is no possibility of escape from this divinely pronounced death.
• by the sword, famine and plague (בַּחֶרֶב בָּרָעָב וּבַדָּבֶר - bacherev b'ra'av u'vadever): This is a recurring triad of divine judgment throughout the prophetic books (e.g., Jer 21:9, Eze 5:12). These are the most devastating and comprehensive forms of judgment, indicating a total and inescapable annihilation. They represent the instruments through which God punishes rebellion and demonstrates His sovereignty over life and death.
• not one of them will survive (וְלֹא יִהְיֶה לָהֶם שָׂרִיד - v'lo yihiyeh lahem sharid): "Not one survivor." Sarid specifically means a remnant, a survivor from a calamity. The use of "not one" underscores the completeness of the destruction. There will be no one left from this group.
• or escape (וּפָלִיט - u'palit): Palit means an escapee, one who gets away from danger. This reinforces the previous phrase, removing any shred of hope for an escape. Their doom is absolute; no one will make it out alive or flee the judgments.
• the disaster I will bring on them (מֵהָרָעָה אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי מֵבִיא עֲלֵיהֶם - mei'hara'ah asher ani mevi aleihem): This directly attributes the disaster to God's own doing, highlighting divine agency. It's not a chance occurrence but a judgment actively initiated and executed by the Lord as a direct consequence of their disobedience. God Himself is the executor of this righteous wrath.

Words-group analysis

• "all the men who have set their faces to go to Egypt to live there": This phrase defines the specific group subject to the judgment. It's not a generic curse but precisely aimed at those with a pre-determined rebellious resolve to find refuge outside God's prescribed will and land, a posture of intentional disregard for His covenant promises and warnings.
• "will die by the sword, famine and plague": This specifies the triple, comprehensive, and inescapable means of their destruction. It portrays God's all-encompassing judgment, leaving no means of death untouched and ensuring that His pronouncement of doom will be fully executed upon those who reject His explicit instructions.
• "not one of them will survive or escape the disaster I will bring on them": This emphasizes the absolute finality and divine certainty of the judgment. It precludes any possibility of preservation or flight, reinforcing that God's word, once declared, will come to pass with full force against those who spurn His grace and warnings. It's a statement of ultimate divine sovereignty over the destiny of the disobedient.

Jeremiah 42 17 Bonus section

The historical failure of the remnant to heed this warning (Jer 43:1-7) led to the fulfillment of this very prophecy in Egypt. Jeremiah himself was compelled to go with them, serving as a witness to God's unfailing word. This passage holds strong polemics against the reliance on foreign alliances, particularly with Egypt, which was historically seen as a snare for Israel rather than a source of genuine security. It starkly contrasts with God's offer of divine protection and flourishing within the land if they would simply trust and obey (Jer 42:10-12). The outcome serves as a timeless illustration that genuine faith requires not just seeking God's word but fully submitting to it, even when it challenges human comfort or conventional wisdom. It underlines the unchanging truth that choosing any path that deviates from God's explicit instruction leads inevitably to disaster, not protection.

Jeremiah 42 17 Commentary

Jeremiah 42:17 encapsulates the severity of divine judgment against deliberate disobedience. Having already inquired of the Lord through Jeremiah, the remnant expressed a verbal commitment to obey (Jer 42:5-6). Yet, their internal "setting of their faces" toward Egypt revealed a prior, unyielding resolve that undermined their pretense of seeking God's will. The allure of Egypt—representing human systems, perceived safety, and earthly resources apart from God—was stronger than their professed faith. This verse thus functions as an explicit and categorical denouncement of their predetermined rebellion.

The "sword, famine, and plague" are God's chosen instruments of judgment, representing comprehensive physical destruction. This recurring prophetic triad underscores the complete devastation awaiting those who oppose God's command. There is no partial judgment here; God assures total annihilation of the defiant group. The emphasis on "not one...will survive or escape" highlights the futility of trying to evade God's determined judgment once a decision of direct rebellion has been made. The statement that God "will bring" the disaster removes any ambiguity about its origin: it is a direct act of divine justice against those who rejected His explicit warning and chose self-reliance over trusting His covenant faithfulness in the land He designated. This verse profoundly warns against spiritual duplicity and the danger of consulting God while simultaneously being set on one's own course, making clear the grave consequences of choosing perceived human security over genuine submission to God's revealed will.