Jeremiah 43 2

Jeremiah 43:2 kjv

Then spake Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men, saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely: the LORD our God hath not sent thee to say, Go not into Egypt to sojourn there:

Jeremiah 43:2 nkjv

that Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men spoke, saying to Jeremiah, "You speak falsely! The LORD our God has not sent you to say, 'Do not go to Egypt to dwell there.'

Jeremiah 43:2 niv

Azariah son of Hoshaiah and Johanan son of Kareah and all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, "You are lying! The LORD our God has not sent you to say, 'You must not go to Egypt to settle there.'

Jeremiah 43:2 esv

Azariah the son of Hoshaiah and Johanan the son of Kareah and all the insolent men said to Jeremiah, "You are telling a lie. The LORD our God did not send you to say, 'Do not go to Egypt to live there,'

Jeremiah 43:2 nlt

Azariah son of Hoshaiah and Johanan son of Kareah and all the other proud men said to Jeremiah, "You lie! The LORD our God hasn't forbidden us to go to Egypt!

Jeremiah 43 verses

Jeremiah 43 2 Meaning

The verse describes a conversation between the remnant of the people of Judah and the prophet Jeremiah after the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile of the nobles and skilled workers. Led by Johanan son of Kareah, they presumptuously approached Jeremiah, asserting that their actions (fleeing to Egypt) were in accordance with God's command through him, a claim directly contradicted by Jeremiah's preceding prophecies. They wrongly accused Jeremiah of speaking against them, implying he was secretly working with the Babylonians.

Jeremiah 43 2 Context

Following the destruction of Jerusalem and the assassination of Gedaliah, the remaining Judeans, fearing retaliation from the Babylonians, fled to Egypt. Before their departure, they consulted Jeremiah for God's guidance (Jeremiah 42). Jeremiah, after a ten-day period of prayer, delivered God's message: He affirmed that staying in the land would bring peace, but going to Egypt would lead to judgment and dispersion. However, the people, disregarding this divine counsel, pressed on to Egypt. Jeremiah 43:2 marks their interaction with Jeremiah after this defiant move, where they attempt to frame their actions as having divine sanction and accuse Jeremiah of undermining them. This verse is a critical pivot, highlighting the people's persistent rebellion and their willful distortion of God's word.

Jeremiah 43 2 Word Analysis

• And (וְ‎ wə): A conjunctive particle, indicating continuation or connection with the previous narrative (Jeremiah 42).
• said (וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ wayyōʾmrū): Imperfect consecutive form of the verb ʾāmar (to say), indicating past action. Plural, third person masculine, showing that multiple people spoke.
• unto (אֶל־ ʾel-): A preposition indicating direction or destination.
• Jeremiah (יִרְמְיָ֫הוּ yirməyāhū): The prophet's name, meaning "Yahweh exalts."
• the prophet (הַנָּבִ֗יא hannanāḇîʾ): Definite article + noun nāḇîʾ (prophet). Identifying Jeremiah by his office.
• Let (תִּפֹּל־ tippōl-): From the root nāp̄al (to fall), used here in a Hiphil infinitive construction meaning "to cause to fall," but in context likely means "be favorably received" or "be accepted." It's an idiomatic expression.
• we beseech (נָא־ nāʾ-): An adverbial particle expressing plea, request, or supplication; similar to "please."
• thee (בְפָנֶ֑יךָ bəp̄āneḵā): "Before your face" or "in your presence." It denotes deference and respect in their plea.
• our (תְּחִנָּתֵ֫נוּ təḥinnāṯēnū): Our supplication. Noun təḥinnāh (supplication, plea) with first-person plural possessive suffix.
• be accepted (תִּפֹּל־ tippōl-): (as above) "Let our supplication fall before you." A polite and humble way of asking for their request to be considered.
• before thee (בְּפָנֶ֑יךָ bəp̄āneḵā): (as above) emphasizing their petition to Jeremiah.
• and pray (וְהִתְפַּלַּ֥לְנוּ wəhiṯpalla l): "and we pray" or "and we intercede." Verb pālal (to pray, intercede) in Hithpael, indicating a reflexive or intensive action.
• for us (עָלֵינוּ ʿālēnū): Upon us; indicating the petition is on their behalf.
• unto (אֶל־ ʾel-): To; indicating the recipient of the prayer.
• the LORD (יְהוָ֖ה YHWH): The Tetragrammaton, God's covenant name.
• thy God (אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ ʾĕlōheḵā): Your God. A possessive form acknowledging God's relationship with Jeremiah, implying they still see him as their spiritual leader.
• for (בְּכָל־ bəḵāl-): For all.
• all (בְּכָל־ bəḵāl-): (as above) signifying completeness.
• this remnant (שְׁאֵרִ֣ית šəʾēriṯ): Remnant, remainder, the few left behind.
• (for as (כִּ֗י כַּאֲשֶׁר־ kî ḵaaššer-): Because; just as.
• we are left (נִשְׁאֲר֛וּ nišʾərū): Passive Qal form of šāʾar (to remain, be left). The passive voice highlights their state of being left behind.
• few (מְעָ֔ט məʿāṭ): Few in number.
• of many (מֵרַבִּ֖ים mē(y)-rabbîm): From the many. Emphasizing their diminished state after the devastation.
• as (כַּאֲשֶׁר֙ kaaššer): Just as, in the manner that.
• thine eyes (עֵינֶ֥יךָ ʿêneḵā): Your eyes. Referring to Jeremiah's direct observation.
• do behold (רֹאֽוֹת rōʾōṯ): Present participle feminine plural, from rāʾāh (to see). Their present state visible to Jeremiah.
• us (אֹתָ֔נוּ ʾōṯānū): Us; the direct object of their being seen.

Group by Group Analysis:

• "Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee": This is a formal and humble request for Jeremiah to hear and consider their plea, using an idiomatic expression for acceptance.
• "and pray for us unto the LORD thy God": They are asking Jeremiah to act as an intercessor, specifically to pray to his God, acknowledging Jeremiah's unique relationship with the Lord.
• "for all this remnant; (for as we are left few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:)": This clause explains the reason for their plea – their dire circumstances as a remnant, which Jeremiah could see firsthand. The phrase "few of many" powerfully conveys their sense of loss and vulnerability.

Jeremiah 43 2 Bonus Section

The insistence on Jeremiah praying "unto the LORD thy God" subtly reveals a separation in their minds. They see Jeremiah as having access to God, but their actions imply they are no longer fully aligning with "the LORD" they profess to be "their" God. This highlights the nature of rebellion – outward religious appeals can mask inner defiance. Their fear of the Chaldeans, as stated in the preceding chapter, drives their actions more than a genuine desire to obey God. This situation is tragically common where people seek divine blessing on their own self-willed plans rather than aligning their plans with God's will. The verse underscores the prophet's challenging role as an intermediary between a disobedient people and a just, yet merciful, God.

Jeremiah 43 2 Commentary

This verse captures the desperate state and misplaced reliance of the remnants of Judah. They have already defied God's prophetic word by fleeing to Egypt against Jeremiah's warning. Now, in their newfound land, they turn to Jeremiah, not to repent or acknowledge their disobedience, but to use him as a conduit to God. Their plea is framed as seeking divine acceptance of their plight and asking for prayer, yet their internal conviction seems to be that they have acted rightly or are at least entitled to God's continued favor due to their numbers (the remnant). The phrase "as thine eyes do behold us" highlights their awareness of their diminished state and perhaps their expectation that Jeremiah, by witnessing their suffering, would intercede. However, this interaction, as the subsequent narrative shows, is laden with self-deception and a continuing resistance to God's revealed will, paving the way for further judgment. Their seeking prayer "unto the LORD thy God" shows a desperate grasp for divine connection, but without the underlying submission to God's authority.