Jeremiah 43 7

Jeremiah 43:7 kjv

So they came into the land of Egypt: for they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: thus came they even to Tahpanhes.

Jeremiah 43:7 nkjv

So they went to the land of Egypt, for they did not obey the voice of the LORD. And they went as far as Tahpanhes.

Jeremiah 43:7 niv

So they entered Egypt in disobedience to the LORD and went as far as Tahpanhes.

Jeremiah 43:7 esv

And they came into the land of Egypt, for they did not obey the voice of the LORD. And they arrived at Tahpanhes.

Jeremiah 43:7 nlt

The people refused to obey the voice of the LORD and went to Egypt, going as far as the city of Tahpanhes.

Jeremiah 43 verses

Jeremiah 43 7 Meaning

Jeremiah 43:7 speaks of the people of Judah taking Jeremiah and his scribe, Baruch, to Egypt, contrary to God's command given through Jeremiah. It highlights their disobedience and a turning away from the LORD. The verse emphasizes their movement into Egypt, specifically Tahpanhes, with the specific purpose of fulfilling their own desires rather than God's will.

Jeremiah 43 7 Context

Following the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, the remaining people of Judah were left in a state of despair. Despite the prophet Jeremiah's pronouncements of impending judgment and his counsel to remain in the land and submit to Babylon, a remnant decided to flee to Egypt. Jeremiah 43:7 records their movement to Tahpanhes, a significant Egyptian border city, carrying Jeremiah and Baruch with them against their will. This action represents a complete rejection of God's direct word through Jeremiah and a misplaced hope in Egypt for security, which God had repeatedly warned against. Historically, alliances with Egypt were often seen as undermining God's covenant and were a source of prophetic denunciation.

Jeremiah 43 7 Word Analysis

• And (וְ , ve): A common conjunction, connecting the actions and signifying a continuation of events.
• all (כֹּל , kol): Emphasizes the totality of the people involved in this rebellious movement.
• the remnant (הַשָּׁאֵר , haššā'ēr): Refers to those left after the Babylonian conquest, signifying a group that should have learned from past judgments but chose otherwise.
• of the people (עַם , ʿam): The collective body of the people of Judah.
• of Judah (יְהוּדָה , Yĕhûḏâ): Identifies the specific nation to which these people belonged.
• even (כִּי , kî): Often translated as "for" or "because," here it explains the reason or intent behind their actions, possibly indicating certainty or inevitability.
• went (בָּאוּ , bā'û): "Came" or "entered," indicating their movement into Egypt.
• all (כָּל , kōl): Again emphasizes the entirety of this group.
• the people (הָעָם , hāʿām): The same collective body.
• of Judah (לִפְנֵי , lĕp̱nê): "To the face of" or "in the presence of," suggesting their arrival in Egypt.
• to the land (הָאָרֶץ , hā'āreṣ): Denotes the geographical location of Egypt.
• of Egypt (מִצְרַיִם , Miṣrayim): The nation they migrated to, which historically represented a place of both refuge and spiritual compromise for Israel.
• namely (כִּי , kî): Here signifies an introduction or specification of where they went.
• Tahpanhes (טַחְפַּנְחֵס , Taḥp̱aḥnḥēs): A specific, fortified city in the Nile Delta of Egypt, known for its Greek mercenary garrisons and as a strategic location, suggesting their intent to settle in a place that was historically a stronghold for foreign influence.
• to sojourn (לָגוּר , lāgûr): "To dwell as a stranger" or "to reside," indicating a deliberate settlement rather than a temporary visit.

Group of Words Analysis:

• "all the remnant of the people of Judah": This phrase underscores that even the survivors, those who remained after the destruction, failed to heed God's prophetic warnings. Their persistence in disobedience amplifies the severity of their actions.
• "went into the land of Egypt to sojourn": This signifies a collective decision to abandon the land God had given them and seek refuge and their own way of life in Egypt, a nation God had often judged and warned against. The "sojourn" implies an intention to live there, not just temporarily escape.
• "even Tahpanhes": Specifying Tahpanhes points to a particular location known for its Egyptian strongholds and potential foreign entanglements, reinforcing the idea that they sought security through worldly alliances rather than divine trust.

Jeremiah 43 7 Bonus Section

The city of Tahpanhes is significant as it is identified in historical records and archaeology as a key strategic border fortress. In Egypt's 26th Dynasty (the era Jeremiah prophesied in), Psamtik I established Tahpanhes as a base for Greek mercenaries to defend against incursions from the east, indicating the "safety" they sought was deeply entwined with foreign military might, the very thing God warned against. The Greek term for Egypt (Aegyptus) also derives from Egyptian, and in biblical context, Egypt often symbolizes opposition to God or worldly security that fails. Jeremiah's presence with them against his will underscores the burden he carried as a prophet, compelled to follow and witness the nation's continued disobedience, even to the point of exile to a place God had destined for judgment.

Jeremiah 43 7 Commentary

The people's migration to Egypt in Jeremiah 43:7 is a profound act of defiance against God's prophetic word. Having survived the devastation of Jerusalem, they should have been humbled and seeking God's direction. Instead, they placed their faith in the perceived security of Egypt, a nation known for its instability and idolatry. Their insistence on taking Jeremiah and Baruch shows their attempt to control the narrative and ensure that prophetic voices align with their decisions, even if those decisions contradict God's revealed will. This action reiterates a recurring pattern of Israelite history: seeking refuge and alliances in foreign powers, ultimately leading to further judgment. The verse starkly contrasts God's faithfulness and prophetic warnings with the people's unfaithfulness and their determination to follow their own perceived best interests, demonstrating a deep-seated spiritual blindness.