Jeremiah 42 21

Jeremiah 42:21 kjv

And now I have this day declared it to you; but ye have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God, nor any thing for the which he hath sent me unto you.

Jeremiah 42:21 nkjv

And I have this day declared it to you, but you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God, or anything which He has sent you by me.

Jeremiah 42:21 niv

I have told you today, but you still have not obeyed the LORD your God in all he sent me to tell you.

Jeremiah 42:21 esv

And I have this day declared it to you, but you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God in anything that he sent me to tell you.

Jeremiah 42:21 nlt

And today I have told you exactly what he said, but you will not obey the LORD your God any better now than you have in the past.

Jeremiah 42 verses

Jeremiah 42 21 meaning

Jeremiah 42:21 states that Jeremiah has faithfully delivered God's explicit message to the remnant concerning their future, specifically forbidding them to go to Egypt. The verse highlights God's clear communication through His prophet, yet immediately points out the people's ultimate failure to obey the Lord's instructions, regardless of their prior promise to do so. It underscores their predisposition to disobedience, revealed even before their physical departure, asserting a comprehensive rejection of God's counsel despite their plea for divine guidance.

Jeremiah 42 21 Context

Jeremiah 42 records events immediately following the fall of Jerusalem and the assassination of Gedaliah. A remnant of Judah, fearful of Babylonian retaliation and hoping for security, turned to Jeremiah. They humbly (or so it appeared) requested him to inquire of the LORD on their behalf, promising unequivocally to obey whatever God's will would be, whether to stay in Judah or to migrate to Egypt. After waiting ten days for God's word, Jeremiah delivered the divine message: the Lord explicitly commanded them to remain in the land, promising protection and blessing, and sternly warned against going to Egypt, threatening destruction there. Verse 21 comes at the close of Jeremiah's declaration of God's word, highlighting his complete delivery and immediately exposing the people's disingenuous intentions and impending disobedience before they openly voiced their rejection.

Jeremiah 42 21 Word analysis

• And: This conjunction serves as a direct continuation, linking the preceding comprehensive divine declaration (Jer 42:9-20) to the immediate outcome, which is the people's lack of response.

• I have this day declared it:

  • הִגַּדְתִּי (higadti): (Hebrew) Hiphil perfect of nagad, meaning "to make known," "to declare," "to announce." The perfect tense signifies a completed action with lasting effect. Jeremiah has definitively fulfilled his prophetic duty to convey God's message entirely and clearly.
  • הַיּ֔וֹם (hayyom): (Hebrew) "this day." Emphasizes immediacy and finality. The divine revelation is fresh, clear, and unmistakable. There is no ambiguity or room for future appeals; the time for decision is now.
  • "it": Refers to the full counsel of God detailed in Jeremiah 42:9-20 – the promises of blessing for remaining in Judah and the severe warnings against going to Egypt.

• to you: This direct address reinforces the personal nature of God's message and the prophet's delivery. It was specifically for them, the remnant who sought divine guidance.

• but: This conjunction marks a stark contrast, introducing the reality of the people's response against the backdrop of divine revelation and the prophet's faithfulness.

• you have not obeyed:

  • וְלֹ֤א שְׁמַעְתֶּם֙ (velo sh'matem): (Hebrew) velo ("and not") + Qal perfect of shama ("to hear," "to listen," "to obey"). In Hebrew thought, "to hear" God's word fundamentally implies "to obey" it. Their "not hearing" isn't an inability to perceive sound, but a willful refusal to heed and act upon the divine command. This is a profound spiritual failure.

• the voice of the LORD your God:

  • בְּקוֹל֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֔ם (b'qol Yahweh Eloheykem): (Hebrew) "the voice of Yahweh your God."
  • Yahweh is God's covenant name, signifying His personal relationship with Israel.
  • Eloheykem ("your God") further emphasizes this covenant relationship. Disobeying His voice is a breach of the deepest bond. The source of the instruction is the supreme, covenant-keeping deity whom they claimed to follow.

• in anything:

  • אֵ֤ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁר֙ (et kol-asher): (Hebrew) "all that." This emphasizes the totality of their disobedience. It's not a selective disregard for certain aspects of the message, but a comprehensive rejection of the entire divine instruction.

• that he has sent me to tell you:

  • שְׁלָחַ֙נִי֙ (sh'lachani): (Hebrew) Qal perfect of shalach, "to send." Underscores Jeremiah's divine commission and authority as a true prophet. He is merely God's messenger; to reject his words is to reject God Himself, who sent him.
  • אֲלֵיכֶ֣ם (aleikhem): (Hebrew) "to you." Reiterates the direct, undeniable nature of the communication, leaving no room for misunderstanding regarding the message's recipient.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "I have this day declared it to you, but you have not obeyed": This pairing creates a powerful and tragic tension. God, through Jeremiah, is utterly faithful and clear in His communication. In stark contrast, the people are revealed as disobedient. This highlights divine clarity versus human obstinacy.
  • "the voice of the LORD your God" versus "he has sent me to tell you": These phrases validate the message's authority (from Yahweh, their God) and the messenger's legitimacy (sent by Him). The core issue isn't Jeremiah's credibility, but the people's unwillingness to submit to God's direct command delivered through His authorized representative.

Jeremiah 42 21 Bonus section

• Anticipatory Condemnation: This verse serves as an "anticipatory declaration of guilt." God, knowing the human heart, pronounced their disobedience before they acted, highlighting their predetermined rebellion and confirming that their subsequent rejection of Jeremiah's word (in Jeremiah 43) was not a surprise to Him.
• The Burden of the Prophet: The phrase "I have this day declared it to you" highlights Jeremiah's faithful completion of his arduous prophetic duty. He has cleared his conscience and placed the full responsibility for their choices firmly on the people's shoulders.
• Irony of Request: There's profound irony in the fact that the remnant specifically asked Jeremiah to pray and inquire of the Lord, solemnly swearing they would obey whatever He commanded (Jer 42:2, 5-6). Verse 21 exposes the hypocrisy of this request, revealing that their hearts were never genuinely inclined towards submission. They sought God's "permission" for their desired plan rather than His true direction.

Jeremiah 42 21 Commentary

Jeremiah 42:21 is a somber declaration of the people's deep-seated spiritual rebellion, pronounced by God through Jeremiah even before their open defiance (recorded in Jer 43:2-3). It functions as a divine judgment on their hearts, revealing that their earlier profession of obedience (Jer 42:5-6) was disingenuous. Despite their fervent plea for divine guidance and promise to obey whatever God said, their will was already set against Him. This verse powerfully highlights the biblical concept of active, obedient "hearing" (Hebrew: shama) which they utterly failed to demonstrate. It is a testament to God's omniscience, knowing their intentions before their actions, and underscores the severity of ignoring a clear, immediate, and divinely authorized word, particularly after having specifically solicited it. It foretells their impending judgment by confirming their true spiritual state.