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.

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}.

Then Hananyah, in front of all the people, said, "Thus says ADONAI: 'In just this way will I break off the yoke of N'vukhadnetzar king of Bavel from the necks of all the nations within two years.'" The prophet Yirmeyahu left them;

And in the presence of all the people Hananiah proclaimed, โ€œThis is what the LORD says: โ€˜In this way, within two years I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon off the neck of all the nations.โ€™โ€ At this, Jeremiah the prophet went on his way.

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

Commentary

Jeremiah 28:11 records a pivotal moment in the confrontation between the true prophet Jeremiah and the false prophet Hananiah. In this verse, Hananiah publicly contradicts Jeremiah's message of impending long-term Babylonian servitude, offering a popular but deceptive promise of quick deliverance.

Context

This verse is set during a tumultuous period in Judah's history, around 594 BC, when King Zedekiah reigned. The kingdom was under the heavy influence and dominion of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who had already deported many prominent citizens, including King Jehoiachin, to Babylon. Jeremiah had been prophesying for years that Judah's captivity would be lengthy, specifically seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11), and that the people should submit to Babylon as God's instrument of judgment. To visually emphasize this, Jeremiah had even been commanded to wear a literal wooden yoke (Jeremiah 27:2) as a symbol of the coming servitude. Hananiah's declaration directly opposed this divinely ordained message, claiming the "yoke of Nebuchadnezzar" would be broken from all nations within two years, thereby offering false hope and undermining Jeremiah's difficult truth.

Key Themes

  • True vs. False Prophecy: The central conflict here is the stark contrast between God's authentic word delivered through Jeremiah and the comforting but deceitful message of Hananiah. Hananiah speaks "in the presence of all the people," seeking popular affirmation rather than divine truth, a hallmark of false prophets (Jeremiah 23:16).
  • Divine Sovereignty and Judgment: While Hananiah promises immediate relief, God's plan, as revealed to Jeremiah, involved a period of judgment and submission under Babylon. This highlights God's absolute control over nations and history, even through the actions of pagan kings like Nebuchadnezzar.
  • The Nature of Truth: Jeremiah's reaction, simply "went his way," is significant. It's not an endorsement of Hananiah, but a strategic pause. Jeremiah understood that true prophecy often brings uncomfortable truths and requires patience for divine vindication, unlike the instant gratification offered by false promises. His silence here sets the stage for God's clear rebuttal to Hananiah's lies, which comes later in the chapter.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "yoke of Nebuchadnezzar" is a powerful metaphor for subjugation and servitude. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, a yoke was literally placed on the necks of oxen or captives to signify their burden and submission. Hananiah's promise to "break the yoke" speaks directly to the people's desire for freedom from Babylonian oppression, but it was a premature and unauthorized declaration. The phrase "Thus saith the LORD" (Hebrew: ื›ึนึผื” ืึธืžึทืจ ื™ึฐื”ื•ึธื”, koh amar Yahweh) is a prophetic formula, legitimately used by true prophets, but tragically misused by Hananiah to lend false authority to his message.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 28:11 offers timeless lessons for discerning truth in a world full of conflicting voices. It reminds us that:

  • Discerning Truth Requires Scrutiny: Not every message, even one that claims divine authority or offers comfort, is from God. We must test what we hear against God's revealed Word, just as Deuteronomy 18:22 instructs regarding false prophets.
  • God's Timing is Perfect: Hananiah's "two full years" was a human timeline, contrasting sharply with God's ordained "seventy years." We are often tempted to seek quick fixes or immediate relief, but God's plans unfold according to His sovereign will and perfect timing.
  • Patience in Adversity: Jeremiah's message called for submission and patience through a period of judgment. Sometimes, enduring difficulty is part of God's larger redemptive plan, and resisting it can lead to worse outcomes.

The ultimate vindication of Jeremiah's truth and the exposure of Hananiah's falsehood are detailed later in this chapter, culminating in Hananiah's death (Jeremiah 28:17) as a sign of his false prophecy.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Chronicles 18:22

    Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee.

  • 2 Chronicles 18:23

    Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?

  • Jeremiah 14:14

    Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.

  • Proverbs 14:7

    ยถ Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not [in him] the lips of knowledge.

  • Jeremiah 29:9

    For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD.

  • Jeremiah 27:2

    Thus saith the LORD to me; Make thee bonds and yokes, and put them upon thy neck,

  • Jeremiah 27:12

    ยถ 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.
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