Jeremiah 28:1

¶ And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, [and] in the fifth month, [that] Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which [was] of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,

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},

That same year, at the beginning of the reign of Tzidkiyahu king of Y'hudah, in the fifth month of the fourth year, Hananyah the son of 'Azur the prophet, from Giv'on, spoke to me in ADONAI's house in front of the cohanim and all the people, saying,

In the fifth month of that same year, the fourth year, near the beginning of the reign of King Zedekiah of Judah, the prophet Hananiah son of Azzur, who was from Gibeon, said to me in the house of the LORD in the presence of the priests and all the people:

And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azzur, the prophet, who was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of Jehovah, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,

Commentary on Jeremiah 28:1 (KJV)

Jeremiah 28:1 introduces a pivotal moment in the prophetic ministry of Jeremiah, setting the stage for a dramatic clash between true and false prophecy. This verse meticulously dates the encounter, placing it in the "fourth year, and in the fifth month" of King Zedekiah's reign in Judah. This historical precision is crucial, as it grounds the subsequent events firmly within the volatile period leading up to the final destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon.

Context

The period described in this verse is one of intense political and spiritual turmoil for the Kingdom of Judah. King Zedekiah, installed by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon as a vassal, was constantly pressured by various factions: those advocating rebellion against Babylon and those, like Jeremiah, urging submission as God's judgment. Jeremiah had consistently prophesied a long period of Babylonian dominance and exile for Judah, specifically a seventy-year captivity (Jeremiah 25:11-12, Jeremiah 29:10). Against this backdrop, Hananiah, identified as "the son of Azur the prophet, which was of Gibeon," emerges to challenge Jeremiah's message directly. The confrontation takes place publicly "in the house of the LORD" (the Temple in Jerusalem), before priests and people, underscoring the spiritual and public significance of the impending prophetic dispute.

Key Themes

  • The Clash of Prophecy: True vs. False: This verse immediately brings into focus the central conflict of the chapter: the struggle to discern God's authentic word from human deception. Hananiah's sudden appearance and bold pronouncement challenge Jeremiah's established, yet unpopular, message.
  • Historical Precision: The specific dating ("the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah... in the fourth year, and in the fifth month") highlights the divine control over history and the specific timeline of God's judgments and promises. It also emphasizes the immediate relevance and urgency of the prophetic messages being delivered.
  • Public Declaration: The setting "in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and of all the people" signifies that this was no private dispute but a public spiritual test. The Temple was the heart of Israelite worship and national identity, making it the ideal stage for such a critical confrontation concerning the nation's future.

Linguistic Insights

The term "prophet" (Hebrew: nabi) refers to one who speaks on behalf of another, specifically one who speaks for God. In this context, the crucial question is whether Hananiah truly spoke for God or merely expressed his own desires or the popular sentiment of the time. The "house of the LORD" refers to the Temple in Jerusalem, the central place of worship and divine revelation for the Israelites, giving the location of this encounter profound religious weight.

Related Scriptures

This verse sets the stage for a dramatic confrontation between Jeremiah, the true prophet of God, and Hananiah, a self-proclaimed prophet, regarding the duration of Judah's Babylonian captivity. The detailed date serves to ground the narrative in specific historical reality, emphasizing the contrast with Hananiah's immediate, false prophecy of liberation. The subsequent verses in Jeremiah 28:2-4 reveal Hananiah's specific false message, while Jeremiah 28:15-17 describes the divine judgment upon Hananiah for his deception. This entire episode serves as a powerful illustration of the warnings against false prophets found throughout scripture.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 28:1 reminds us of the ongoing challenge to discern truth from falsehood, especially when comforting lies are presented. In an age of conflicting messages, it is vital to test all claims against the unchanging Word of God. This verse encourages believers to remain vigilant and discerning, trusting in God's revealed truth even when it is unpopular or difficult, rather than being swayed by those who promise immediate relief from troubles without acknowledging God's sovereign plan. It underscores the importance of seeking out and adhering to genuine spiritual authority rooted in divine revelation.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jeremiah 27:1

    ¶ In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,

  • Joshua 9:3

    ¶ And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,

  • Jeremiah 23:28

    The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What [is] the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD.

  • Isaiah 9:15

    The ancient and honourable, he [is] the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he [is] the tail.

  • Jeremiah 28:11

    And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years. And the prophet Jeremiah went his way.

  • Jeremiah 27:12

    ¶ I spake also to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live.

  • Jeremiah 36:12

    Then he went down into the king's house, into the scribe's chamber: and, lo, all the princes sat there, [even] Elishama the scribe, and Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, and Elnathan the son of Achbor, and Gemariah the son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the princes.

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