


Jeremiah 28:13
Bible Versions
Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron.
"Go and tell Hananyah that ADONAI:says, 'You have broken the crossbars of wood, but you will make in their place crossbars of iron.
“Go and tell Hananiah that this is what the LORD says: ‘You have broken a yoke of wood, but in its place you have fashioned a yoke of iron.’
Go, and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith Jehovah: Thou hast broken the bars of wood; but thou hast made in their stead bars of iron.
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Jeremiah 27:15
For I have not sent them, saith the LORD, yet they prophesy a lie in my name; that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you. -
Psalms 149:8
To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; -
Lamentations 2:14
Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment.
Context
Jeremiah 28:13 is a pivotal moment in the dramatic confrontation between the true prophet Jeremiah and the false prophet Hananiah. Leading up to this verse, Jeremiah had been commanded by God to wear a literal wooden yoke around his neck, symbolizing the impending Babylonian servitude that God had decreed for Judah and surrounding nations. Hananiah, however, publicly challenged Jeremiah, prophesying a quick end to the Babylonian captivity within two years and dramatically breaking Jeremiah's wooden yoke (Jeremiah 28:1-4). This verse is God's direct, stern response to Hananiah's false prophecy, delivered through Jeremiah.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word for "yoke" here is motah (מוֹטָה), which refers to a wooden bar or pole used for carrying burdens or for harnessing animals. Its use as a metaphor for servitude and oppression is common in the Old Testament. The progression from "wood" to "iron" is highly significant. Wood is breakable, offering a false sense of hope for quick release. Iron, however, is strong and durable, symbolizing an unyielding, unbreakable, and heavier form of servitude, emphasizing the severity and certainty of God's judgment that could not be reversed by human action or false comfort.
Practical Application
Jeremiah 28:13 offers timeless lessons for believers today: