Jeremiah 42:4 kjv
Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard you; behold, I will pray unto the LORD your God according to your words; and it shall come to pass, that whatsoever thing the LORD shall answer you, I will declare it unto you; I will keep nothing back from you.
Jeremiah 42:4 nkjv
Then Jeremiah the prophet said to them, "I have heard. Indeed, I will pray to the LORD your God according to your words, and it shall be, that whatever the LORD answers you, I will declare it to you. I will keep nothing back from you."
Jeremiah 42:4 niv
"I have heard you," replied Jeremiah the prophet. "I will certainly pray to the LORD your God as you have requested; I will tell you everything the LORD says and will keep nothing back from you."
Jeremiah 42:4 esv
Jeremiah the prophet said to them, "I have heard you. Behold, I will pray to the LORD your God according to your request, and whatever the LORD answers you I will tell you. I will keep nothing back from you."
Jeremiah 42:4 nlt
"All right," Jeremiah replied. "I will pray to the LORD your God, as you have asked, and I will tell you everything he says. I will hide nothing from you."
Jeremiah 42 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 42:4 | "Then Jeremiah said to them, 'I have heard you; behold, I will pray to the LORD your God according to your request, and it shall be that whatever the LORD answers you I will tell you; I will keep nothing back from you.'" | This verse itself is the primary text. |
| Jer 37:2 | "But Jeremiah the prophet did not commit himself to the people who remained in the land of Judah, nor to those who had gone to Egypt. He obeyed the LORD." | Shows Jeremiah's obedience to God over human counsel, mirroring his posture here. |
| 1 Kings 18:36-37 | Elijah prayed, and fire came down. | Elijah, like Jeremiah, acted as a mediator of God's power through prayer. |
| Num 12:6-8 | God speaks directly to Moses as His servant. | Illustrates God's chosen spokesmen for His people. |
| Deut 18:15-18 | God promises to raise up a prophet like Moses. | Establishes the prophetic role and authority, which Jeremiah embodies. |
| 2 Chron 20:14-15 | Jahaziel, a Levite, received a prophecy through the Spirit. | Demonstrates God speaking through individuals for His people's guidance. |
| Ps 119:103 | "How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" | Reflects a sincere desire to hear and receive God's word. |
| Ps 50:15 | "And call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me." | God's promise to hear those who call on Him in times of distress. |
| Isa 30:21 | "Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left." | God's assurance of guiding those who seek His word. |
| Ezek 3:17 | Ezekiel appointed as a watchman. | Similar role of conveying God's message faithfully. |
| Ezek 11:24-25 | The Spirit lifted Ezekiel and brought him back, showing visions of God's dealings. | Shows the prophetic function of revealing God's mind and actions. |
| Zech 7:5-6 | God's response regarding fasting rituals. | God answers through prophetic dialogue about His will. |
| Mal 2:7 | "For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and the people should seek [His] teaching from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts." | Affirms the priestly and prophetic duty to convey God's truth. |
| Matt 18:19 | "Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they should ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven." | Though on prayer of agreement, it emphasizes the power of prayer directed by God. |
| John 14:13-14 | "Whatever you ask in my name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." | Jesus empowers His followers to ask, echoing God's willingness to answer His people. |
| John 16:23-24 | "And in that day you will ask me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name He will give you." | Reiterates the privilege of approaching God and receiving answers through Jesus. |
| Acts 4:24 | "And when they heard it, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said, 'Lord, You are God...'" | Apostles unite in prayer, appealing to God's sovereignty, akin to the remnant's plea. |
| Acts 7:55-56 | "But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God." | Stephen, filled with the Spirit, provides testimony as a precursor to judgment, much like prophets. |
| 1 Peter 4:11 | "Whoever speaks, let him speak as the utterances of God." | Highlights the responsibility of God's spokesmen to accurately convey His words. |
| 1 Cor 1:10 | "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined in the same mind and in the same judgment." | Urges unity in confession and understanding, which is implicitly needed by the remnant. |
Jeremiah 42 verses
Jeremiah 42 4 Meaning
The verse declares that the prophet Jeremiah must pray to the Lord their God for them, acknowledging that even if all Israel should join in this prayer, the Lord would respond to their plea. This highlights the exclusivity of God's listening ear to Israel's supplication and emphasizes the potential for restoration if they genuinely turn to Him in prayer. It sets the stage for God's direct response through Jeremiah, underscoring Jeremiah's role as mediator.
Jeremiah 42 4 Context
Following the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of many Judeans by the Babylonians, a remnant remained in Judah. Gedaliah, the governor appointed by the Babylonians, was assassinated. Fear gripped the remaining populace, who then approached Jeremiah and his scribe Baruch, demanding they inquire of the Lord for them regarding their next steps, whether to flee to Egypt or stay in Judah. This verse occurs within that urgent request and Jeremiah's immediate response, establishing his role as the divinely appointed channel for God's will in their crisis. The broader context is the aftermath of judgment, a period where the people desperately sought divine direction while still struggling with obedience.
Jeremiah 42 4 Word analysis
- "Then": Indicates sequence, connecting this response to the people's preceding request.
- "Jeremiah": The prophet, a key figure and mediator of God's message.
- "said": Communication, verb of speech.
- "to them": The remnant who had survived the devastation and assassination.
- "I": Jeremiah's personal assurance and commitment.
- "have heard": Acknowledges their plea has been received and registered by him.
- "you": Refers to the collective group of leaders and people who approached him.
- "behold": An interjection drawing attention to what follows; emphasizes the certainty of his action.
- "I": Jeremiah, again, emphasizing his direct involvement and authority.
- "will pray": Future action, a commitment to perform the requested task.
- "to the LORD": Direct address to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel.
- "your": Possession, signifying God as their God, though in their time of distress.
- "God": Elohim, the general Hebrew term for God, emphasizing divine power and nature.
- "according to": Conforming to their request; indicates the process of inquiry will be based on their specific questions.
- "your": Belonging to them.
- "request": Their plea, their petition.
- "and it shall be": Certainty of outcome.
- "that": Introduces the consequence or content of the prayer.
- "whatever": Comprehensiveness, nothing excluded.
- "the LORD": Yahweh, emphasizing the divine source of the answer.
- "answers": Response from God.
- "you": To them, the people seeking direction.
- "I": Jeremiah, repeating his role.
- "will tell": Convey the divine message faithfully.
- "you": To them.
- "I will keep nothing back from you": Absolute transparency and fidelity in conveying God's message, without omission or distortion.
- "I have heard you": This implies attentiveness and a receptiveness to their voice, setting the stage for his role as intercessor.
- "I will pray to the LORD your God": This phrase signifies Jeremiah acting as a divinely appointed mediator, conveying their petitions to the Almighty and ensuring their concerns reach Him.
- "whatever the LORD answers you I will tell you; I will keep nothing back from you": This statement emphasizes transparency and faithfulness in relaying God's message, committing to an unfiltered delivery of divine counsel, no matter how difficult or unexpected.
Jeremiah 42 4 Bonus section
The phrase "your God" carries significant theological weight. Even though Israel had faced severe judgment and a remnant was seeking refuge, God still identified Himself as "your God" through Jeremiah. This is an expression of His covenant faithfulness, suggesting that His relationship with His people, though strained by disobedience, was not irrevocably broken from His perspective. Jeremiah’s commitment to share the divine message accurately is a crucial element of prophetic ministry, reflecting the importance of truthfulness in spiritual leadership, as later echoed in the New Testament requirement for elders and ministers to be sound in doctrine (Titus 1:9). The underlying anxiety of the people, clinging to Jeremiah for answers, highlights a persistent human tendency to seek immediate solutions rather than prioritizing fundamental repentance and obedience to God's past commandments.
Jeremiah 42 4 Commentary
Jeremiah's response is pivotal. He validates their plea and commits to the divine process, acting as God's authorized spokesperson. The promise to reveal everything verbatim is a hallmark of prophetic integrity, ensuring the people receive unadulterated divine guidance, though it also carries the weight of responsibility on them to heed the message, whatever it may be. This underscores the direct channel of communication God provided through His prophets.