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

This verse describes God's severe judgment against those who defied His prophets and His word, specifically pronouncing the destruction of Jerusalem and the downfall of its inhabitants. It declares that God will no longer show them compassion or favor, because their actions and their persistence in disobedience have sealed their fate.

Jeremiah 42 17 Context

This verse is found in chapter 42 of Jeremiah, following the assassination of Gedaliah, the governor appointed by Nebuchadnezzar. The remaining Judean people, fearful of Babylonian reprisals, sought Jeremiah's counsel regarding their move to Egypt. Despite Jeremiah's message from God advising them to stay in the land, they chose to disobey and migrate to Egypt. Chapter 42 outlines their plea and Jeremiah's God-given response, which was a dire prophecy of doom for those who would go to Egypt, and specifically verse 17 details this fate. The historical context is the post-exilic period, where a remnant of the Jewish people remained in Judah after the destruction of Jerusalem, making decisions about their future under Babylonian rule.

Jeremiah 42 17 Word Analysis

• וְכָל־ (v'chol): "And all" - This connective phrase signifies the comprehensive nature of the judgment, affecting everyone who fits the description.

• שְׁאֵרִית (she'erit): "remnant" - Referring to the survivors of Judah after the destruction of Jerusalem. This highlights that even those spared the initial destruction were subject to God's continued judgment for disobedience.

• יְהוּדָה (Yehudah): "Judah" - The kingdom and people from whom the survivors originated.

• הַנִּכְנָסִים (hanikhnasim): "who enter" or "who have turned to live" - This particple indicates those actively choosing to settle in Egypt. It's a choice that brings divine consequence.

• לָגוּר (lagur): "to sojourn," "to dwell," "to live as a foreigner" - Implies a temporary or insecure state, fitting their status in Egypt as refugees.

• בְּמִצְרַיִם (bemitzrayim): "in Egypt" - The specific location where the judgment would be executed. Egypt, a land they turned to for refuge, becomes the site of their demise.

• יָמוּתוּ (yamutu): "they shall die" - The future tense, definite pronouncement of death.

• בַּחֶרֶב (ba'cherev): "by the sword" - One instrument of judgment, representing military conflict and slaughter.

• וּבָרָעָב (uvara'av): "and by famine" - The second instrument of judgment, signifying a complete lack of sustenance and widespread starvation.

• עַד־כְּלוֹתָם (ad'kelotam): "until their consumption" or "until they are finished" - Emphasizes the thoroughness of the judgment; no survivors will be left from this group.

• וְהָיוּ (v'hayu): "and they shall be" - Introducing further consequences of their disobedience.

• לְאָלָה (le'alah): "for a curse," "for an execration" - Their fate will serve as a warning and a horrifying example to others.

• וּלְחֶרְפָּה (ul'cherpah): "and for a reproach," "for an insult" - They will be scorned and ridiculed, their name used in a derogatory manner.

• וּלְקְלָלָה (ul'qelalah): "and for a curse" - Reinforces the severity of their situation, meaning they will be used to pronounce curses upon others.

• וּבְכֹל־ (uvchol): "and in all" - Continues the pervasive nature of their negative status.

• אֶרֶץ־ (eretz): "land" - General term for territory.

• מִצְרַיִם (mitzrayim): "Egypt" - Reiterated as the locus of their ultimate downfall.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "shall die by the sword and by famine until they are consumed": This triplet of doom signifies a complete annihilation, employing two primary divine instruments of judgment. The "consumption" implies an utter end, leaving no trace.
  • "they shall be for a curse, and for a reproach, and for a curse": The repetition of "curse" (אָלָה 'alah and קְלָלָה qelalah are near synonyms) underscores the magnitude of their status as a warning. Their lives in Egypt become synonymous with bad luck and misfortune for others.
  • "all the remnant of Judah who have turned to live in Egypt": This phrase identifies the specific group facing this extreme judgment—those who, against God's counsel, chose Egypt as their refuge. It emphasizes personal responsibility and choice leading to predetermined divine consequence.
  • "I will set my face against them for disaster": This anthropomorphic expression portrays God's active opposition. "Setting one's face against" means determinedly opposing; "disaster" (לְרָעָה l'ra'ah) signifies not just misfortune but utter ruin.

Jeremiah 42 17 Bonus Section

The choice of "Egypt" is significant in Old Testament theology. While Egypt was the place of Israel's initial bondage, it was also a place where God often used to test or judge His people when they turned to its false gods or sought alliances against His will (e.g., Isaiah 30:1-7). For the remnant in Jeremiah 42, Egypt represented a return to familiar ground associated with both salvation (from Egypt) and apostasy. By moving to Egypt, they ironically embraced the very power they were meant to rely on God apart from. The prophecy here, mirroring earlier Deuteronomic curses, emphasizes that obedience to God’s word is paramount to security and prosperity, and disobedience leads to exile and destruction, even in perceived places of refuge. The fate of these individuals serves as a sober reminder of the cost of choosing human counsel over divine instruction.

Jeremiah 42 17 Commentary

Jeremiah 42:17 delivers a stark pronouncement of judgment on the remnant of Judah who fled to Egypt against God's explicit command through Jeremiah. Having refused to heed the prophet's counsel to stay in the land, they embraced a perilous path. God declares that they will face death by sword and famine in Egypt, indicating a complete and total destruction. Their demise will not be a quiet ending but a public disgrace; they will become a proverb, a curse, and a byword, serving as a chilling example to all nations. This verse is a profound testament to God's unwavering justice and the severe consequences of rejecting His word and His appointed messengers. It highlights that seeking refuge in a path contrary to God's will leads not to safety, but to judgment and despair. Their faith was not in the Lord who promised to preserve a remnant, but in their own understanding and the perceived security of Egypt, a misplaced trust that resulted in their ultimate annihilation.