Jeremiah 42 2

Jeremiah 42:2 kjv

And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:)

Jeremiah 42:2 nkjv

and said to Jeremiah the prophet, "Please, let our petition be acceptable to you, and pray for us to the LORD your God, for all this remnant (since we are left but a few of many, as you can see),

Jeremiah 42:2 niv

Jeremiah the prophet and said to him, "Please hear our petition and pray to the LORD your God for this entire remnant. For as you now see, though we were once many, now only a few are left.

Jeremiah 42:2 esv

and said to Jeremiah the prophet, "Let our plea for mercy come before you, and pray to the LORD your God for us, for all this remnant ? because we are left with but a few, as your eyes see us ?

Jeremiah 42:2 nlt

Jeremiah the prophet. They said, "Please pray to the LORD your God for us. As you can see, we are only a tiny remnant compared to what we were before.

Jeremiah 42 verses

Jeremiah 42 2 meaning

Jeremiah 42:2 captures the earnest plea of the Jewish remnant, led by Johanan, to Jeremiah the prophet. They acknowledge his unique access to God and humbly request him to intercede on their behalf. Their primary concern is to discern God's will regarding their future direction after the recent destruction and instability, explicitly highlighting their drastically diminished numbers and dire situation as a motive for divine mercy.

Jeremiah 42 2 Context

Jeremiah 42:2 is situated in the tumultuous aftermath of Jerusalem's fall to Babylon in 586 BCE. Most of the population had been exiled, and Nebuchadnezzar appointed Gedaliah as governor over the few remaining Judahites. However, Gedaliah was soon assassinated by Ishmael. Johanan son of Kareah and other military commanders, along with a significant portion of the Jewish remnant, fled from Ishmael. Fearing swift and severe Babylonian retaliation for Gedaliah's death, and perhaps seeking more stable ground amidst the desolation, they were inclined to flee to Egypt. Yet, before making this critical decision, they collectively approach Jeremiah the prophet. This verse captures their initial plea, an apparent act of seeking divine guidance for their future. The subsequent chapters reveal their true intentions and the tragic consequences of their eventual disobedience.

Jeremiah 42 2 Word analysis

• and said: Implies a collective voice. This request came from Johanan and all the commanders of the forces, and all the people, from the least to the greatest (Jer 42:1). This indicates a unified, widely supported, urgent plea.
• unto Jeremiah the prophet: Clearly identifies the recipient of their plea. Jeremiah's long-established prophetic ministry and direct connection to YHWH made him the natural—and only legitimate—intermediary in such a crisis. They acknowledged his authoritative spiritual office.
• Let, we beseech thee, (נָא נָא / na na): The repetition of na is an emphatic particle of entreaty or request, intensifying the plea. It means "please, please" or "I earnestly beg you." It conveys urgency, humility, and profound earnestness from the petitioners.
• our supplication (תְּחִנָּה / tehinnah): A prayer for favor, an act of seeking grace or mercy from a superior. It implies recognition of their need and a humble appeal to someone in a position of authority or influence (Jeremiah in this case, for God's favor).
• be accepted before thee (תִּפֹּל לְפָנֶיךָ / tipol lefanekha): Literally, "fall before your face." This idiom means to be received favorably, to be listened to, or to gain acceptance. It suggests that their plea is earnest and deserves careful consideration, not to be dismissed.
• and pray for us (וְהִתְפַּלֵּל בַּעֲדֵנוּ / wehitpallel ba'adenu): The root palal refers to interceding, mediating, or praying. They are asking Jeremiah to act as an intercessor, a spokesperson between them and God, a core function of an Old Testament prophet.
• unto the LORD thy God (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ / YHWH Eloheyka): They refer to YHWH, the covenant God of Israel. Significantly, they emphasize "thy God," recognizing Jeremiah's unique and personal relationship with the divine, implying a greater likelihood that his prayers would be heard and answered. They want Jeremiah's God to become their guiding God through Jeremiah.
• even for all this remnant (עַל־כָּל־הַשְּׁאֵרִית הַזֹּאת / 'al kol ha-she'erit ha-zot): This phrase pinpoints the identity of the petitioners: the surviving fragment of the Jewish people in Judah, those who were not taken into exile. The concept of the "remnant" is crucial in biblical theology, often implying both judgment and future hope. Here, they use it to underscore their fragile existence.
• (for we are left but a few of many (כִּי נִשְׁאַרְנוּ מְעַט מֵרַבִּים / ki nish'arnu me'at merabbim): They articulate the grim reality of their reduced numbers. This statement appeals to pathos, acknowledging the scale of the national catastrophe and the severe depletion of the population. They explicitly refer to themselves as a mere fraction of what they once were.
• as thine eyes do behold us:) (כַּאֲשֶׁר עֵינֶיךָ רֹאוֹת אֹתָנוּ / ka'asher einekha ro'ot otanu): This serves as a rhetorical device, an appeal to Jeremiah's direct observation and empathy. It underscores the undeniable and visible reality of their suffering and decimated state, confirming the veracity of their plea based on shared experience.

Jeremiah 42 2 Bonus section

The scene described in Jeremiah 42:2 and the subsequent interaction mirrors the broader human tendency to consult God or spiritual authorities primarily to confirm pre-existing decisions or desired outcomes, rather than truly seeking transformative guidance. This phenomenon, often driven by fear, comfort, or worldly security, often leads to an inner conflict when the divine counsel runs counter to personal inclination. The petitioners are in a critical state of discernment, but their discernment is tainted by their immediate emotional responses to geopolitical threat and personal safety. The phrase "the LORD thy God" used by them could imply both respect for Jeremiah's closeness to God, but also subtly distances God from themselves, viewing Him more as Jeremiah's God than their own. This can indicate a lack of true covenantal relationship despite their verbal appeal.

Jeremiah 42 2 Commentary

Jeremiah 42:2 unveils a poignant yet ultimately tragic moment in Israel's history. The remnant, in a state of extreme vulnerability and fear, makes an outwardly pious and humble appeal to God's prophet. Their use of emphatic pleading ("we beseech thee"), their recognition of Jeremiah's special relationship with YHWH ("thy God"), and their self-identification as a severely reduced "remnant" all underscore the dire circumstances and their perceived desperation for divine guidance. They skillfully present their plight, appealing to Jeremiah's visual witness of their devastation, which would naturally evoke compassion.

However, despite this seemingly earnest request, a subtle irony underlies their petition. While they explicitly ask Jeremiah to pray "unto the LORD thy God" to show them "the way in which we should walk" (v.3), the narrative quickly reveals their hearts are not genuinely committed to full obedience. Their "supplication" is genuine in its emotional intensity and desire for a better future, but the underlying motivation is not necessarily to submit to God's will if it contradicts their already preferred course of action (fleeing to Egypt). This scene therefore sets the stage for a critical theological and ethical confrontation between seeking God for affirmation versus seeking God for genuine direction and submission. It highlights the recurring theme in Jeremiah: a people who, in crisis, pay lip service to God's authority while planning to follow their own wisdom and comfort, regardless of the divine decree. This hypocrisy is tragically exposed in their subsequent actions when Jeremiah's message explicitly warns against going to Egypt.