Worthy.Bible » STRONG » Jeremiah » Chapter 28 » Verse 1-17

Jeremiah 28:1-17 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 And it came to pass the same year, H8141 in the beginning H7225 of the reign H4467 of Zedekiah H6667 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 in the fourth H7243 year, H8141 and in the fifth H2549 month, H2320 that Hananiah H2608 the son H1121 of Azur H5809 the prophet, H5030 which was of Gibeon, H1391 spake H559 unto me in the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 in the presence H5869 of the priests H3548 and of all the people, H5971 saying, H559

2 Thus speaketh H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 the God H430 of Israel, H3478 saying, H559 I have broken H7665 the yoke H5923 of the king H4428 of Babylon. H894

3 Within two full H3117 years H8141 will I bring again H7725 into this place H4725 all the vessels H3627 of the LORD'S H3068 house, H1004 that Nebuchadnezzar H5019 king H4428 of Babylon H894 took away H3947 from this place, H4725 and carried H935 them to Babylon: H894

4 And I will bring again H7725 to this place H4725 Jeconiah H3204 the son H1121 of Jehoiakim H3079 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 with all the captives H1546 of Judah, H3063 that went H935 into Babylon, H894 saith H5002 the LORD: H3068 for I will break H7665 the yoke H5923 of the king H4428 of Babylon. H894

5 Then the prophet H5030 Jeremiah H3414 said H559 unto the prophet H5030 Hananiah H2608 in the presence H5869 of the priests, H3548 and in the presence H5869 of all the people H5971 that stood H5975 in the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068

6 Even the prophet H5030 Jeremiah H3414 said, H559 Amen: H543 the LORD H3068 do H6213 so: the LORD H3068 perform H6965 thy words H1697 which thou hast prophesied, H5012 to bring again H7725 the vessels H3627 of the LORD'S H3068 house, H1004 and all that is carried away captive, H1473 from Babylon H894 into this place. H4725

7 Nevertheless hear H8085 thou now this word H1697 that I speak H1696 in thine ears, H241 and in the ears H241 of all the people; H5971

8 The prophets H5030 that have been before H6440 me and before H6440 thee of old H5769 prophesied H5012 both against many H7227 countries, H776 and against great H1419 kingdoms, H4467 of war, H4421 and of evil, H7451 and of pestilence. H1698

9 The prophet H5030 which prophesieth H5012 of peace, H7965 when the word H1697 of the prophet H5030 shall come to pass, H935 then H227 shall the prophet H5030 be known, H3045 that the LORD H3068 hath truly H571 sent H7971 him.

10 Then Hananiah H2608 the prophet H5030 took H3947 the yoke H4133 from off the prophet H5030 Jeremiah's H3414 neck, H6677 and brake H7665 it.

11 And Hananiah H2608 spake H559 in the presence H5869 of all the people, H5971 saying, H559 Thus saith H559 the LORD; H3068 Even so will I break H7665 the yoke H5923 of Nebuchadnezzar H5019 king H4428 of Babylon H894 from the neck H6677 of all nations H1471 within the space of two full H3117 years. H8141 And the prophet H5030 Jeremiah H3414 went H3212 his way. H1870

12 Then the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 came unto Jeremiah H3414 the prophet, after H310 that Hananiah H2608 the prophet H5030 had broken H7665 the yoke H4133 from off the neck H6677 of the prophet H5030 Jeremiah, H3414 saying, H559

13 Go H1980 and tell H559 Hananiah, H2608 saying, H559 Thus saith H559 the LORD; H3068 Thou hast broken H7665 the yokes H4133 of wood; H6086 but thou shalt make H6213 for them yokes H4133 of iron. H1270

14 For thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 the God H430 of Israel; H3478 I have put H5414 a yoke H5923 of iron H1270 upon the neck H6677 of all these nations, H1471 that they may serve H5647 Nebuchadnezzar H5019 king H4428 of Babylon; H894 and they shall serve H5647 him: and I have given H5414 him the beasts H2416 of the field H7704 also.

15 Then said H559 the prophet H5030 Jeremiah H3414 unto Hananiah H2608 the prophet, H5030 Hear H8085 now, Hananiah; H2608 The LORD H3068 hath not sent H7971 thee; but thou makest this people H5971 to trust H982 in a lie. H8267

16 Therefore thus saith H559 the LORD; H3068 Behold, I will cast H7971 thee from off the face H6440 of the earth: H127 this year H8141 thou shalt die, H4191 because thou hast taught H1696 rebellion H5627 against the LORD. H3068

17 So Hananiah H2608 the prophet H5030 died H4191 the same year H8141 in the seventh H7637 month. H2320

Commentary on Jeremiah 28 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 28

Jer 28:1-17. Prophecies Immediately Following Those in the Twenty-seventh Chapter. Hananiah Breaks the Yokes to Signify that Nebuchadnezzar's Yoke Shall Be Broken. Jeremiah Foretells that Yokes of Iron Are to Succeed Those of Wood, and that Hananiah Shall Die.

1. in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah—The Jews often divided any period into two halves, the beginning and the end. As Zedekiah reigned eleven years, the fourth year would be called the beginning of his reign, especially as during the first three years affairs were in such a disturbed state that he had little power or dignity, being a tributary; but in the fourth year he became strong in power.

Hananiah—Another of this name was one of the three godly youths who braved Nebuchadnezzar's wrath in the fear of God (Da 1:6, 7; 3:12). Probably a near relation, for Azariah is associated with him; as Azur with the Hananiah here. The godly and ungodly are often in the same family (Eze 18:14-20).

Gibeon—one of the cities of the priests, to which order he must have belonged.

2. broken the yoke—I have determined to break: referring to Jeremiah's prophecy (Jer 27:12).

3. two full years—literally, "years of days." So "a month of days," that is, all its days complete (Ge 29:14, Margin; Ge 41:1). It was marvellous presumption to speak so definitely without having any divine revelation.

4. bring again … Jeconiah—not necessarily implying that Hananiah wished Zedekiah to be superseded by Jeconiah. The main point intended was that the restoration from Babylon should be complete. But, doubtless, the false prophet foretold Jeconiah's return (2Ki 24:12-15), to ingratiate himself with the populace, with whom Jeconiah was a favorite (see on Jer 22:24).

5. the prophet Jeremiah—the epithet, "the prophet," is prefixed to "Jeremiah" throughout this chapter, to correspond to the same epithet before "Hananiah"; except in Jer 28:12, where "the prophet" has been inserted in English Version. The rival claims of the true and the false prophet are thus put in the more prominent contrast.

6. Amen—Jeremiah prays for the people, though constrained to prophesy against them (1Ki 1:36). The event was the appointed test between contradictory predictions (De 18:21, 22). "Would that what you say were true!" I prefer the safety of my country even to my own estimation. The prophets had no pleasure in announcing God's judgment, but did so as a matter of stern duty, not thereby divesting themselves of their natural feelings of sorrow for their country's woe. Compare Ex 32:32; Ro 9:3, as instances of how God's servants, intent only on the glory of God and the salvation of the country, forgot self and uttered wishes in a state of feeling transported out of themselves. So Jeremiah wished not to diminish aught from the word of God, though as a Jew he uttered the wish for his people [Calvin].

8. prophets … before me—Hosea, Joel, Amos, and others.

evil—a few manuscripts, read "famine," which is more usually associated with the specification of war and pestilence (Jer 15:2; 18:21; 27:8, 13). But evil here includes all the calamities flowing from war, not merely famine, but also desolation, &c. Evil, being the more difficult reading, is less likely to be the interpolated one than famine, which probably originated in copying the parallel passages.

9. peace—Hananiah had given no warning as to the need of conversion, but had foretold prosperity unconditionally. Jeremiah does not say that all are true prophets who foretell truths in any instance (which De 13:1, 2, disproves); but asserts only the converse, namely, that whoever, as Hananiah, predicts what the event does not confirm, is a false prophet. There are two tests of prophets: (1) The event, De 18:22. (2) The word of God, Isa 8:20.

10. the yoke—(Jer 27:2). Impious audacity to break what God had appointed as a solemn pledge of the fulfilment of His word. Hence Jeremiah deigns no reply (Jer 28:11; Mt 7:6).

11. neck of all nations—opposed to Jer 27:7.

13. Thou hast broken … wood … thou shalt make … iron—Not here, "Thou hast broken … wood," and "I will make … iron" (compare Jer 28:16). The same false prophets who, by urging the Jews to rebel, had caused them to throw off the then comparatively easy yoke of Babylon, thereby brought on them a more severe yoke imposed by that city. "Yokes of iron," alluding to De 28:48. It is better to take up a light cross in our way, than to pull a heavier on our own heads. We may escape destroying providences by submitting to humbling providences. So, spiritually, contrast the "easy yoke" of Christ with the "yoke of bondage" of the law (Ac 15:10; Ga 5:1).

14. I have put—Though Hananiah and those like him were secondary instruments in bringing the iron yoke on Judea, God was the great First Cause (Jer 27:4-7).

15. makest … trust in a lie—(Jer 29:31; Eze 13:22).

16. this year … die—The prediction was uttered in the fifth month (Jer 28:1); Hananiah's death took place in the seventh month, that is, within two months after the prediction, answering with awful significance to the two years in which Hananiah had foretold that the yoke imposed by Babylon would end.

rebellion—opposition to God's plain direction, that all should submit to Babylon (Jer 29:32).