Jeremiah 42:5 kjv
Then they said to Jeremiah, The LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us.
Jeremiah 42:5 nkjv
So they said to Jeremiah, "Let the LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not do according to everything which the LORD your God sends us by you.
Jeremiah 42:5 niv
Then they said to Jeremiah, "May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with everything the LORD your God sends you to tell us.
Jeremiah 42:5 esv
Then they said to Jeremiah, "May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act according to all the word with which the LORD your God sends you to us.
Jeremiah 42:5 nlt
Then they said to Jeremiah, "May the LORD your God be a faithful witness against us if we refuse to obey whatever he tells us to do!
Jeremiah 42 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 38:16 | But Jeremiah said, "The LORD lives... Your soul's desire, nor your own ransom. | Jeremiah 38:16 |
| Jeremiah 42:20 | and say to them, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel... | Jeremiah 42:20 |
| Deuteronomy 18:19 | and whoever does not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name... | Deuteronomy 18:19 |
| Isaiah 55:8 | For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways... | Isaiah 55:8 |
| Proverbs 3:5 | Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. | Proverbs 3:5 |
| Psalm 37:4 | Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. | Psalm 37:4 |
| Matthew 7:7 | "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. | Matthew 7:7 |
| John 14:13 | Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. | John 14:13 |
| 1 John 5:14 | And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. | 1 John 5:14 |
| Romans 8:28 | We know that all things work together for good to those who love God... | Romans 8:28 |
| Exodus 3:14 | God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" | Exodus 3:14 |
| Jeremiah 29:11 | For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. | Jeremiah 29:11 |
| 2 Chronicles 20:20 | and when they had turned from their course, some went down to the ships. and some went into the ships. | 2 Chronicles 20:20 |
| Psalm 81:10 | I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, that I may fill it. | Psalm 81:10 |
| Ezekiel 14:3 | "Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart and have fixed the stumbling block of their iniquity before their faces. Should I then be consulted by them? | Ezekiel 14:3 |
| Matthew 18:19 | Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. | Matthew 18:19 |
| James 1:5 | If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. | James 1:5 |
| Jeremiah 33:3 | Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great things, and difficult things, which you do not know. | Jeremiah 33:3 |
| Joshua 24:15 | And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve... | Joshua 24:15 |
| 1 Kings 18:21 | And Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you go limping between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him... | 1 Kings 18:21 |
Jeremiah 42 verses
Jeremiah 42 5 Meaning
This verse instructs Jeremiah to ask the remnant of Judah a direct question: what do they want the LORD God of Israel to do for them? It emphasizes that God will answer according to their desire, signifying their agency and the consequences of their choices.
Jeremiah 42 5 Context
Following the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of many Judeans to Babylon, a small remnant remained in the land. These survivors, fearing the wrath of the Babylonians after assassinating Gedaliah, the governor appointed by Nebuchadnezzar, pressured Jeremiah to seek God's will regarding their future. Jeremiah had been faithfully delivering God's messages, which often involved warnings and pronouncements of judgment. Now, faced with this plea for divine guidance from those who had previously disregarded or resisted God's word, God, through Jeremiah, presents them with a solemn inquiry about their desires for His action on their behalf.
Jeremiah 42 5 Word Analysis
- So ( Hebrew: וְעַתָּה - v'atah) - "And now"; signifies a transition to a new command or phase in the dialogue.
- Ask ( Hebrew: שְׁאַל - she'al) - imperative form of the verb "to ask"; a direct command.
- all ( Hebrew: כָּל - kol) - encompassing every person.
- this ( Hebrew: הַזֶּה - hazzeh) - referring to the entire people present.
- people ( Hebrew: עַם - 'am) - refers to the remnant of Judah, a community.
- of ( Hebrew: מִן - min) - indicates origin or relation.
- Judah ( Hebrew: יְהוּדָה - Yehudah) - the remaining inhabitants of the southern kingdom.
- What ( Hebrew: מָה - mah) - interrogative pronoun, seeking specification.
- is ( implied ) - the verb "to be" is often implied in Hebrew.
- the ( Hebrew: אֶת - et) - direct object marker, indicating what is to be sought.
- desire ( Hebrew: מִקְוֶה - miqveh) - expectation, hope, or desire. This word can also refer to a place of gathering or hope.
- of ( Hebrew: שֶׁל - shel) - possessive.
- your ( Hebrew: לָכֶם - lakem) - plural possessive pronoun.
- soul ( Hebrew: נֶפֶשׁ - nephesh) - life, person, spirit, will, or mind. It refers to the inner self.
- to ( Hebrew: אֶל - 'el) - preposition indicating direction or destination.
- do ( Hebrew: עָשָׂה - 'asah) - to do, make, perform.
- LORD ( Hebrew: יְהוָה - Yehovah) - the personal covenant name of God.
- for ( Hebrew: לְ - l) - preposition indicating purpose or benefit.
- you ( Hebrew: אֶתְכֶם - etkem) - plural object pronoun.
- all ( Hebrew: כָּל - kol) - reinforcing completeness.
- your ( Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר - asher) - relative pronoun; "that which".
- it ( implied ) - referring to the Lord's actions.
- may ( Hebrew: יַעֲשֶׂה - ya'aseh) - jussive mood of the verb "to do", expressing God's intended action.
- be ( implied ) - existence.
- done ( Hebrew: יַעֲשֶׂה - ya'aseh) - the Lord doing it.
Group analysis:
- "Ask all this people... What is the desire of your soul?" - This phrase emphasizes seeking the collective will or desire of the remnant. It highlights that their input is being sought.
- "That the LORD your God may do whatever you desire." - This powerful statement underscores God's willingness to act according to their expressed desires, placing a heavy responsibility on them to articulate their genuine need.
Jeremiah 42 5 Bonus Section
This verse is a demonstration of divine sovereignty meeting human responsibility. God holds all power, but He graciously allows His people to express their will, a reflection of the covenant relationship where God desires a willing people. The wording implies that God is sovereignly enabling them to voice their requests, thus placing the burden of choice and expression upon them. It is also a prelude to their eventual misguided desire for Egypt (Jeremiah 42:13-22), highlighting the danger of misinterpreting God's willingness to hear. The answer they give (which follows in subsequent verses) will reveal their trust, or lack thereof, in the God who saved them from Egypt and led them through the wilderness. This is similar to God's dealings with Israel at the Red Sea and in the wilderness, where their expressed desires (manna, quail) led to either blessing or further testing.
Jeremiah 42 5 Commentary
God, through Jeremiah, demands introspection from the remaining people of Judah. He presents them with an ultimatum disguised as a question: they must articulate what they truly desire from Him. This isn't an open-ended invitation for any wish, but a profound test of their allegiance and understanding of His covenant. God's willingness to "do whatever you desire" is conditional on His covenantal relationship and is filtered through His sovereign will and justice. The people's expressed desire will reveal whether they seek safety, prosperity, or God's presence and restoration, a crucial indicator of their hearts' posture.
- Practical Usage Example: A congregation must discern their true desire when seeking God's direction for a church project; is it merely for growth or for God's glory? An individual facing a life decision must ask what they genuinely desire from God – comfort, or to honor Him through hardship?