Jeremiah 42:6 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Jeremiah 42:6 kjv
Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God.
Jeremiah 42:6 nkjv
Whether it is pleasing or displeasing, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God to whom we send you, that it may be well with us when we obey the voice of the LORD our God."
Jeremiah 42:6 niv
Whether it is favorable or unfavorable, we will obey the LORD our God, to whom we are sending you, so that it will go well with us, for we will obey the LORD our God."
Jeremiah 42:6 esv
Whether it is good or bad, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God to whom we are sending you, that it may be well with us when we obey the voice of the LORD our God."
Jeremiah 42:6 nlt
Whether we like it or not, we will obey the LORD our God to whom we are sending you with our plea. For if we obey him, everything will turn out well for us."
Jeremiah 42 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 4:40 | ...that it may go well with you and with your children after you... | Well-being from obedience. |
| Deut 5:29 | Oh that they had such a heart...that it might go well with them! | God's desire for Israel's welfare through obedience. |
| Deut 28:1-14 | If you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God...blessings | Blessings conditioned on obedience. |
| Deut 30:15-20 | I set before you life and death...choose life...love the LORD...obey His voice | Choosing life through obedience. |
| Jos 24:24 | The people said to Joshua, “The LORD our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey.” | Covenant renewal and promise of obedience. |
| 1 Sam 15:22 | Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? | Obedience is preferred over ritual. |
| Ps 95:7-8 | Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts... | Warning against spiritual hardness/disobedience. |
| Ps 119:60 | I hurried and did not delay to keep Your commandments. | Prompt obedience to God's word. |
| Isa 1:19-20 | If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel... | Conditional promises of blessings/curses. |
| Jer 7:9-10 | Will you steal, murder...and come and stand before Me in this house...and say, “We are delivered!”? | Hypocrisy in worship without obedience. |
| Jer 21:2 | "Inquire of the LORD for us, for Nebuchadnezzar...is making war...Perhaps the LORD will deal with us... | Request for divine guidance, similar situation. |
| Jer 40:4 | If it seems good to you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you... | Choice to remain in Judah or go with Gedaliah. |
| Jer 41:17-18 | ...flee to Egypt for fear of the Chaldeans... | The underlying fear and desire to go to Egypt. |
| Jer 42:1-3 | Then all the captains of the forces...came near and said to Jeremiah the prophet, “Please let our plea come before you..." | The people's request for Jeremiah's intercession. |
| Jer 43:2 | "You are telling a lie. The LORD our God has not sent you to say, 'Do not go to Egypt to live there.'" | Rejection of Jeremiah's later prophecy. |
| Zech 7:11-12 | But they refused to pay attention...they made their hearts hard...not to hear the law or the words... | Consequences of refusing to hear God's word. |
| Matt 7:21 | "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom...but the one who does the will of My Father..." | Profession without action is insufficient. |
| Matt 15:8 | "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me...'" | Lip service contrasted with true heart obedience. |
| Jas 1:22 | But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. | Practical obedience beyond just hearing. |
| Heb 3:7-8 | Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts..." | Warning against the consequences of disobedience, echoing Ps 95. |
| 1 Pet 1:14 | As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance... | New Testament call to living obedience. |
| 1 Jn 2:3 | And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. | Obedience as proof of knowing God. |
Jeremiah 42 verses
Jeremiah 42 6 meaning
This verse records the solemn pledge of the remaining leaders of Judah to Jeremiah, declaring their unconditional commitment to obey the word of the LORD their God, whether that word seems favorable or unfavorable to them. Their stated motivation for this absolute obedience is their desire for their own welfare and well-being. This profession of loyalty is made before Jeremiah even seeks God's counsel on their behalf regarding their uncertain future in the land.
Jeremiah 42 6 Context
Jeremiah 42:6 occurs in a critical post-exilic period for the small remnant of Judah remaining in the land after the destruction of Jerusalem and the first wave of Babylonian exile in 586 BC. After Gedaliah, the governor appointed by Babylon, was assassinated, the remaining Jewish people, led by Johanan and other captains, feared retribution from Babylon. Their primary thought was to flee to Egypt for safety. However, they approach Jeremiah, asking him to pray to the LORD their God and seek divine guidance regarding their path. This verse is their solemn, but ultimately hollow, pledge to obey God's word, whatever it might be, before Jeremiah has even sought that word from God. Their desire for their own safety heavily influenced their request, setting the stage for their later rejection of God's counsel.
Jeremiah 42 6 Word analysis
- "Whether it be good, or whether it be evil,": This phrase (טוֹב וְאִם-רָע – tov v’im-ra') doesn't primarily refer to moral good or evil in the abstract. Instead, it signifies whether the command of God seems favorable (easy, beneficial, pleasant, secure) or unfavorable (hard, detrimental, dangerous, unsettling) from a human perspective. It's a statement of professed unconditional submission to God's directive, regardless of its immediate perceived impact on their personal situation. It echoes covenant choices, but ironically sets up their later failure.
- "we will obey": The Hebrew verb is שָׁמַע (shama'), meaning "to hear, to listen, to understand, and most importantly, to obey." In biblical Hebrew, to "hear" God's voice implies a commitment to "do" what is heard. It’s an active hearing that leads to compliance. This word is central to covenant theology, where hearing and doing God's word defines Israel's relationship with Him.
- "the voice of the LORD our God": קוֹל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ (qol Yahweh Eloheinu). "Voice" (qol) here denotes an authoritative command, revelation, or utterance directly from God. "LORD" (יְהוָה – Yahweh) refers to God's personal covenant name, emphasizing His unique relationship with Israel. "Our God" (אֱלֹהֵינוּ – Eloheinu) underscores their claim of covenantal belonging and loyalty. They acknowledge Him as their ultimate authority.
- "to whom we send thee,": (אֲשֶׁר אָֽנוּ שֹׁלְחִים אֹתְךָ – asher anu shol'ḥim ot'kha). This phrase establishes Jeremiah's role as their designated intermediary and messenger to God. They initiated this seeking, highlighting their apparent sincerity in desiring a divine word.
- "that it may be well with us,": (לְמַעַן טוֹב לָנוּ – lema'an tov lanu). This phrase reveals their ultimate, deeply human motivation for seeking God's will: their own welfare, safety, and prosperity. It links back to the conditional blessings promised in the Deuteronomic covenant, where obedience brings tov (good, well-being).
- "when we obey the voice of the LORD our God.": (כִּי נִשְׁמַע בְּקוֹל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ – ki nishma' b'qol Yahweh Eloheinu). This final clause reiterates and reinforces their commitment, explicitly tying their hoped-for well-being to their professed obedience to God's authoritative word. It sets a clear condition for their prosperity, which they claim to understand and accept.
Jeremiah 42 6 Bonus section
The strong parallel between the stated intent of this remnant and the testing of Israel throughout its history is evident. They outwardly committed to the ideal of obedience found in passages like Deuteronomy, but when the divine word went against their fears and preconceived notions, their commitment fractured. This highlights a critical distinction between a superficial verbal agreement to obey and a deep-seated, trusting heart-obedience that follows God's word regardless of immediate comfort or perceived danger. Their "that it may be well with us" indicates a self-centered motivation that, while understandable, proved insufficient to overcome their fear when put to the test. Their request for Jeremiah to intercede also carried an implied condition: that God would affirm their own desired course of action, revealing a pre-determined outcome in their hearts.
Jeremiah 42 6 Commentary
Jeremiah 42:6 presents a profound statement of intended covenant loyalty from the remnant of Judah. Their declaration of absolute obedience, "whether it be good, or whether it be evil," reflects an understanding of the unconditional nature required for genuine submission to God's will. However, this verse serves as a crucial point of tragic irony in the narrative, as their subsequent actions unequivocally contradict their solemn promise. Despite explicitly seeking God's guidance through Jeremiah and promising full obedience for the sake of their well-being, their pre-existing fear of Babylon and their strong desire to flee to Egypt ultimately override their pledged commitment. This verse encapsulates the timeless human struggle: to genuinely seek God's will, not for what we want Him to say, but with a truly open and submissive heart ready to embrace whatever He says, trusting that His commands, even when seemingly "evil" (unfavorable), ultimately lead to true "good" for those who obey.