Jeremiah 42 5

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 verses

Jeremiah 42 5 meaning

Jeremiah 42:5 records the solemn oath made by Johanan and other leaders of the remaining people in Judah to Jeremiah the prophet. They invoke Yahweh, the covenant God, as their "true and faithful witness" (L'ed 'Emet v'Ne'eman), calling for divine judgment upon themselves if they do not strictly and completely obey "everything" that the Lord "your God" instructs Jeremiah to tell them. This declaration signals a profound commitment on their part to abide by the divine word, framed by a self-imposed curse for any failure to comply.

Jeremiah 42 5 Context

This verse occurs after the fall of Jerusalem (587/586 BC) and the assassination of Gedaliah, the governor appointed by Babylon. The remaining Jewish populace in Judah, including prominent military leaders like Johanan, fears reprisal from the Babylonians and contemplates fleeing to Egypt for safety. Despite their underlying inclination to go to Egypt, they approach Jeremiah, whom they believe to be a true prophet, seeking a word from God. Their fervent oath in this verse is their initial declaration of willingness to obey, intended to persuade Jeremiah and perhaps themselves, before Jeremiah has even consulted God on their behalf. This sets the stage for a critical test of their sincerity and faithfulness to God's revealed will, especially given their desperate situation and natural human fear.

Jeremiah 42 5 Word analysis

• Then they said (וַיֹּאמְרוּ - vayyō’mərû): Indicates a collective and formal declaration, originating from Johanan and the military officers mentioned in v.1, suggesting a unified position and intent.
• to Jeremiah (אֶל-יִרְמְיָהוּ - ’el-yirməyāhû): Specifies the prophet as the direct recipient of their appeal and oath, underscoring his role as God's appointed messenger.
• May the Lord (וַיֹּאמְרוּ יְהוָה - vayyō’mərû Yahweh): Invoking the personal covenantal name of God (YHWH), highlighting the gravity and religious significance of their vow. This is the supreme authority they are appealing to.
• be a true (יִהְיֶה לָּנוּ לְעֵד אֱמֶת - yihyeh lānû lə‘êd ’ĕmet): Hebrew word ’ĕmet (אֱמֶת) means "truth," "faithfulness," or "firmness." It emphasizes the unchangeable and absolute veracity of God as the ultimate arbiter, implying He knows all hidden things.
• and faithful (וְנֶאֱמָן - wənɛ'ĕmān): Derived from the root ’āman (אמן), meaning "to be firm, trustworthy, or reliable." It reinforces the quality of ’ĕmet, emphasizing God's unwavering character as a witness who cannot be deceived or mistaken.
• witness (לְעֵד - lə‘êd): A legal or covenantal term for someone who attests to the truth of an event or agreement. By calling God as witness, they subject themselves to divine scrutiny and potential judgment.
• against us (בָּנוּ - bānû): Crucial detail, denoting a self-imprecation or conditional curse. They are asking God to act against them if they break their word, binding themselves under divine judgment if they prove disobedient. This adds immense weight to their oath.
• if we do not act strictly (אִם־לֹא כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר - ’im-lō’ kəḵōl ’ăšer): A strong conditional phrase (lit., "if not in all that...") signifying absolute commitment. The "if not" with a negative implies a positive affirmation to definitely obey.
• in accordance with everything (כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר - kəḵōl ’ăšer): Signifies comprehensive and unconditional obedience. There is no room for selective adherence or partial compliance. They promise to obey "all" of it.
• the Lord your God (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - Yahweh ’Ĕlōheyḵā): "The Lord your God." The use of "your God" rather than "our God" can be significant. It could highlight Jeremiah's special relationship as God's prophet, but some scholars suggest it might also subtly indicate their slight psychological distance from a full covenantal ownership of God, hinting at their underlying hesitation or lack of true commitment.
• sends us to tell you (יִשְׁלָח אֹתָנוּ אֵלֶיךָ - yišlaḥ ’ōtānû ’êleyḵā): Clarifies that the message will be from God, relayed through Jeremiah. They acknowledge Jeremiah as the authoritative channel for God's divine word to them.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "May the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us": This phrase functions as a solemn oath formula. In ancient Near Eastern covenants and treaties, calling a deity as a witness added an ultimate, divine sanction, signifying that the one swearing was subjecting themselves to divine punishment if the oath was broken. The specific choice of "true and faithful" underscores God's perfect integrity and His inescapable judgment.
• "if we do not act strictly in accordance with everything": This conditional clause defines the precise nature and extent of their commitment. It emphasizes their proclaimed intent for comprehensive, absolute, and unreserved obedience, allowing no loopholes or exceptions.
• "the Lord your God sends us to tell you": This clarifies the source and authority of the message. It is a divine message, mediated through the prophet Jeremiah. Their acknowledgment of God as "your God" (Jeremiah's God) could reflect their awareness of Jeremiah's prophetic calling or, less charitably, a subtle distancing from taking full personal covenantal responsibility for God's directives themselves.

Jeremiah 42 5 Bonus section

This verse establishes a rhetorical trap for the remnant. Their absolute language and solemn oath create a very high bar for their own actions. In an ancient context, breaking such a divinely witnessed oath was an extremely grave offense, often inviting specific divine curses. The use of "against us" (בָּנוּ - bānû) directly ties the consequence of disobedience to their own bodies and lives, reflecting a common element in self-imprecatory oaths of the time. This powerful invocation of God's justice highlights not only their immediate desperation for a word from God but also foreshadows the profound consequences when their actions fail to align with their declared intentions.

Jeremiah 42 5 Commentary

Jeremiah 42:5 captures a moment of declared spiritual earnestness by the Jewish remnant. Facing uncertainty, they make a profoundly religious vow, invoking Yahweh as the ultimate guarantor of their obedience. Their call for God to be a "true and faithful witness against us" implies a self-curse for potential disobedience, highlighting the extreme seriousness they seemingly attach to their promise. This act suggests a desire to genuinely seek God's will and follow it without deviation, reflecting a momentary clarity about their dependence on divine guidance. However, viewed through the lens of subsequent chapters, this declaration stands in stark contrast to their actual conduct, revealing a tragic gap between their solemn oath and their inherent fear and stubborn desire to pursue their own chosen path to Egypt, despite divine warning. The verse is therefore a critical point of dramatic irony, exposing the human propensity for outward profession while inwardly harboring different intentions or succumbing to fear.