Jeremiah 42:19 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Jeremiah 42:19 kjv
The LORD hath said concerning you, O ye remnant of Judah; Go ye not into Egypt: know certainly that I have admonished you this day.
Jeremiah 42:19 nkjv
"The LORD has said concerning you, O remnant of Judah, 'Do not go to Egypt!' Know certainly that I have admonished you this day.
Jeremiah 42:19 niv
"Remnant of Judah, the LORD has told you, 'Do not go to Egypt.' Be sure of this: I warn you today
Jeremiah 42:19 esv
The LORD has said to you, O remnant of Judah, 'Do not go to Egypt.' Know for a certainty that I have warned you this day
Jeremiah 42:19 nlt
"Listen, you remnant of Judah. The LORD has told you: 'Do not go to Egypt!' Don't forget this warning I have given you today.
Jeremiah 42 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 28:15 | "But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God..." | Consequences for disobedience |
| Jer 7:23-24 | "...but they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff..." | Persistent refusal to listen |
| Jer 42:20-22 | "For you acted deceitfully in your hearts when you sent me to the LORD... But you have not obeyed..." | Immediate context, reveals their hypocrisy |
| Zech 7:11-12 | "But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear..." | Stubborn rejection of God's law |
| Isa 30:1-2 | "Woe to the rebellious children... who carry out a plan, but not mine..." | Seeking human solutions, ignoring God's plan |
| Heb 3:7-8 | "...Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness..." | Warning against hardened hearts |
| Heb 2:1-3 | "...how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation... declared by the Lord..." | Grave warning for neglecting divine truth |
| Matt 7:26 | "And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man..." | Hearing without doing |
| Jas 1:22 | "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." | Emphasizes action upon hearing God's word |
| Ezek 3:17-19 | "Son of man, I have made thee a watchman... therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning..." | Prophet's role and duty to warn |
| Ezek 33:7 | "So thou, son of man, I have made thee a watchman for the house of Israel..." | God appointing prophets as watchmen |
| Jer 1:9 | "Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, 'Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.'" | Divine source of prophetic message |
| 2 Pet 1:21 | "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved..." | Inspiration and divine origin of prophecy |
| Amos 3:7 | "Surely the Lord GOD does nothing unless He reveals His secret counsel to His servants the prophets." | God's chosen method of revealing His will |
| Acts 20:26-27 | "...I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God." | Apostle's faithfulness in declaring warning |
| Isa 29:13 | "...this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far..." | Lip service, heart far from God |
| Ezek 33:31 | "...they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they will not do them..." | Pretense of listening, lack of obedience |
| Psa 78:36-37 | "...they flattered him with their mouth... For their heart was not right with him, neither were they steadfast..." | False devotion, disloyal heart |
| Matt 15:7-9 | "You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying... teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." | Jesus condemns hypocrisy, false worship |
| 1 Sam 15:22 | "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings... as in obeying the voice of the LORD?" | Obedience valued above ritual |
| Luke 6:46 | "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" | Empty profession without deeds |
| John 15:22 | "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin." | No excuse after clear declaration |
Jeremiah 42 verses
Jeremiah 42 19 meaning
Jeremiah 42:19 functions as a direct and emphatic statement from Jeremiah, delivered on behalf of the LORD. It means that the people, who had sought divine counsel, were now unequivocally made aware of God's command. They knew Jeremiah had given them an explicit warning against going to Egypt. This statement sets the stage for their impending disobedience, underscoring their full culpability because they could not claim ignorance of God's clear word spoken through His prophet.
Jeremiah 42 19 Context
Jeremiah 42:19 is part of a critical exchange after the destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon (586 BCE). The remnant of Judah, led by Johanan, seeks guidance from Jeremiah regarding their future. Gedaliah, the Babylonian-appointed governor, had been assassinated, creating fear of Babylonian reprisal. The people approached Jeremiah with a desperate plea to inquire of the LORD on their behalf, promising unequivocally to obey whatever God commanded, whether good or evil (Jer 42:5-6). Jeremiah faithfully inquired and delivered the LORD's clear word: stay in the land of Judah, and God would protect and build them up (Jer 42:10-12). Conversely, going to Egypt would result in their destruction by sword, famine, and plague (Jer 42:15-17). Verse 19 serves as Jeremiah's concluding reminder, emphasizing that he has unequivocally declared God's message "this day," setting the stage for the revelation of their insincerity in the verses that follow (Jer 42:20-22). The historical setting is one of chaos, fear, and a recurring temptation for Israel to seek refuge in Egypt, a path consistently warned against by prophets.
Jeremiah 42 19 Word analysis
- כִּי (ki): Hebrew for "For" or "Because." Here, it introduces an explanatory statement, adding emphasis to the fact that their knowledge is undeniable.
- אַתֶּם (ʾattem): Hebrew for "you (plural) yourselves." This pronoun is emphatic, directly addressing the people and highlighting their personal, collective awareness.
- יְדַעְתֶּם (yəḏaʿtem): Hebrew verb, meaning "you (plural) have known," "you understand," or "you are aware." Derived from the root ידע (yadaʿ), which denotes an experiential, deep understanding, not just superficial intellectual knowledge.
- כִּי (ki): Hebrew for "that." Introduces the direct object clause—the content of what they knew.
- הַעִידֹתִי (haʿiyḏotiy): Hebrew verb, meaning "I have warned," "I have testified," or "I have declared." From the root ע-ו-ד (ʿud) in the Hiphil stem, indicating a formal, public declaration or admonition, often with legal overtones. It signifies Jeremiah's fulfillment of his prophetic duty as a watchman.
- בָכֶם (baḵem): Hebrew preposition בְּ (be) combined with the plural suffix 'you', meaning "among you," "to you," or "against you." Here, "among you" implies a public, open declaration heard by all present.
- הַיּוֹם (hayyom): Hebrew for "this day." Emphasizes the immediacy and recency of the declaration. The warning was given plainly, unequivocally, and cannot be later disputed due to misunderstanding or time's passage.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- כִּֽי־אַתֶּם יְדַעְתֶּם (ki-ʾattem yəḏaʿtem) – "For you yourselves know": This phrase carries significant weight. It implies the people's complete culpability. Their "knowing" is not presented as potential future knowledge but as a present, undeniable fact. It undercuts any possible excuse of ignorance.
- כִּ֣י הַעִידֹתִי בָכֶם (ki haʿiyḏotiy baḵem) – "that I have warned among you": Jeremiah's action is depicted as a formal, legally binding testimony. He fulfilled his role as God's witness, publicly declaring the divine word. The warning was openly given, not secretly.
- הַיּוֹם (hayyom) – "this day": This short phrase seals the truth of the declaration. It ensures there is no time lapse for denial, no ambiguity about when the divine word was communicated. It highlights the freshness and clarity of God's revealed will at that precise moment.
Jeremiah 42 19 Bonus section
The emphatic phrasing in Jeremiah 42:19 foreshadows the people's rejection of God's word and their ultimate path to Egypt. This serves as a literary device to underscore the gravity of their forthcoming sin of hypocrisy and disobedience (Jer 42:20-22). The consistent divine warning against seeking refuge in Egypt (Isa 30:1-7; Hos 7:11-12) places their proposed action firmly in a long tradition of Israel's unfaithfulness. Jeremiah's declaration also aligns with the broader biblical principle that God's people are accountable for the truth they hear, particularly when delivered by His authorized spokesmen. This specific event marks a definitive break, solidifying the guilt of the remaining Jewish community in Judah before they, tragically, abandon their land and their God's explicit command.
Jeremiah 42 19 Commentary
Jeremiah 42:19 is a stark declaration emphasizing divine clarity and human responsibility. Jeremiah, as God's faithful messenger, highlights that the people were not simply given information; they were "warned" (הַעִידֹתִי). This term suggests a solemn, formal testimony, often invoked in a legal or covenantal context, implying consequences for ignoring it. The phrase "you yourselves know" stresses their active awareness, preempting any later claim of ignorance or misunderstanding. By adding "this day," Jeremiah underscores the immediacy and unmistakable nature of the divine communication, ensuring their lack of obedience would stem from a deliberate choice rather than a failure of transmission. This verse is poignant as it reveals the tragic irony: the people sought God's will but harbored predetermined intentions to disregard it if it did not align with their own desires. Their solemn oath to obey in Jer 42:5-6 contrasts sharply with their pre-established inclination towards Egypt, soon to be exposed. The prophet is exonerated; the people are left without excuse.