Jeremiah 28:16

Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD.

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}.

Therefore, here is what ADONAI says: 'I am about to send you away from the face of the earth - this year you will die, because you have preached rebellion against ADONAI.'"

Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. You will die this year because you have preached rebellion against the LORD.’”

Therefore thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will send thee away from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast spoken rebellion against Jehovah.

Context of Jeremiah 28:16

Jeremiah 28:16 is a powerful declaration of divine judgment against Hananiah, a false prophet who directly contradicted the word of the Lord delivered through Jeremiah. The setting is Jerusalem during the reign of King Zedekiah, a turbulent period marked by the looming threat of Babylonian dominance and the initial stages of exile. Jeremiah had been prophesying a long captivity under Babylon, urging the people to submit to God's will and the Babylonian yoke, as seen in Jeremiah 27. Hananiah, however, offered a popular, optimistic, but ultimately false message of peace and a swift end to the Babylonian oppression, even going so far as to perform the dramatic act of breaking the wooden yoke Jeremiah wore as a symbol, recorded in Jeremiah 28:10. This verse marks God's swift and decisive response to Hananiah's deception.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment on False Prophecy: The verse clearly illustrates God's intolerance for those who speak falsely in His name. Hananiah's death sentence is a direct consequence of his presumption and deceit.
  • The Severity of Rebellion: Hananiah's offense is explicitly stated as "teaching rebellion against the LORD." This was not merely a mistaken prophecy, but an active defiance of God's revealed will, leading the people away from obedience.
  • Validation of True Prophecy: God's immediate and public judgment on Hananiah served to vindicate Jeremiah as His authentic messenger and to confirm the truth of Jeremiah's unpopular message.
  • God's Sovereignty Over History: Despite human attempts to deny or alter His plans, God's decree regarding the Babylonian captivity and the subsequent return was immutable, and He would ensure His word prevailed.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "cast thee from off the face of the earth" emphasizes a complete and utter removal, signifying a comprehensive judgment. The Hebrew word for "rebellion" here is mered (מֶרֶד), which denotes active revolt, mutiny, or defection. It's a strong term that highlights the grave nature of Hananiah's sin: he wasn't just mistaken; he was actively inciting opposition to God's established plan and authority.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 28:16 serves as a timeless warning and a crucial lesson for believers today. It underscores the vital importance of spiritual discernment in an age filled with diverse voices and teachings. We are called to:

  • Test All Teachings: Not every message, even if it sounds comforting or appears spiritual, comes from God. We must compare all teachings against the clear truth of Scripture, just as God provided the test of a true prophet in Deuteronomy.
  • Recognize the Danger of False Hope: Hananiah offered a message that appealed to the people's desires for immediate relief, but it led them further from God's truth and delayed their repentance. We must be wary of messages that promise peace without addressing sin or challenging us to obedience.
  • Understand Divine Accountability: This verse reminds us that those who mislead others, especially in spiritual matters, face severe accountability before God.
  • Embrace Uncomfortable Truths: Sometimes, God's will is challenging or requires sacrifice. True faith involves trusting and obeying God even when His path is difficult or unpopular, rather than seeking out messages that merely affirm our desires.
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 29:32

    Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed: he shall not have a man to dwell among this people; neither shall he behold the good that I will do for my people, saith the LORD; because he hath taught rebellion against the LORD.
  • Genesis 7:4

    For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.
  • Exodus 32:12

    Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.
  • Jeremiah 20:6

    And thou, Pashur, and all that dwell in thine house shall go into captivity: and thou shalt come to Babylon, and there thou shalt die, and shalt be buried there, thou, and all thy friends, to whom thou hast prophesied lies.
  • 1 Kings 13:34

    And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut [it] off, and to destroy [it] from off the face of the earth.
  • Deuteronomy 6:15

    (For the LORD thy God [is] a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.
  • Numbers 14:37

    Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD.

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