28:3 28:3

Jeremiah 28:4

28:5 28:5

Bible Versions

And I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, saith the LORD: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.
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}.
Also I will bring back here Y'khanyah the son of Y'hoyakim, king of Y'hudah, along with all those from Y'hudah who were taken captive to Bavel,' says ADONAI, 'for I will break the yoke of the king of Bavel.'"
And I will restore to this place Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, along with all the exiles from Judah who went to Babylon,’ declares the LORD, ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’”
and I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went to Babylon, saith Jehovah; for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.

Commentary on Jeremiah 28:4 (KJV)

Jeremiah 28:4 records a pivotal moment in the prophetic ministry of Jeremiah, specifically a declaration made by Hananiah, a false prophet who directly contradicted God's true message. This verse states Hananiah's false promise that God would quickly restore King Jeconiah and all the captives from Babylon, breaking the Babylonian yoke of oppression.

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse is set against the backdrop of Judah's subjugation by the Babylonian Empire. In 597 BC, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had besieged Jerusalem, leading to the first major wave of exiles. Among those deported to Babylon was the young King Jeconiah (also known as Jehoiachin or Coniah), along with many of Judah's elite, craftsmen, and treasures (2 Kings 24:15). King Zedekiah, Jeconiah's uncle, was then placed on the throne as a Babylonian vassal.

During this tense period, various prophets emerged. Jeremiah, the true prophet of the LORD, had been proclaiming a message of submission to Babylon and a lengthy exile of 70 years, emphasizing that this was God's judgment for Judah's sin (Jeremiah 27:11). Hananiah, however, offered a more palatable, but ultimately deceitful, message of immediate relief and restoration, directly challenging Jeremiah's prophetic authority. The "yoke of the king of Babylon" symbolizes the heavy burden of foreign domination and servitude that Judah was experiencing.

Key Themes and Messages

  • True vs. False Prophecy: The core conflict of Jeremiah 28 revolves around the stark contrast between God's true word delivered through Jeremiah and the deceptive words of Hananiah. Hananiah's message in verse 4 offered a false hope of quick deliverance, aligning with what the people wanted to hear rather than God's difficult truth.
  • Divine Sovereignty in Judgment: While Hananiah claimed God would "break the yoke," God's actual plan involved a period of judgment and purification through exile, demonstrating His absolute control over nations and their destinies.
  • The Nature of Hope: Hananiah's prophecy offered an immediate, superficial hope, whereas God's true promise, though delayed, was foundational and truly restorative (Jeremiah 29:10-11).

Linguistic Insights

The term "yoke" (Hebrew: עֹל, 'ol) is a powerful metaphor throughout the Old Testament, representing servitude, burden, or oppression. When Hananiah declares, "I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon," he is promising an end to this heavy servitude. This directly contrasts with Jeremiah's symbolic act of wearing a literal wooden yoke to demonstrate God's will for submission to Babylon (Jeremiah 27:2).

Practical Application

Jeremiah 28:4 serves as a timeless warning about the importance of spiritual discernment. In every age, there are voices that promise easy solutions or immediate relief, often contradicting the harder truths God reveals. This verse challenges us to:

  • Discern Truth from Deception: We must carefully test what we hear against God's established word, rather than simply accepting messages that cater to our desires (1 John 4:1).
  • Embrace God's Timing: God's plans are perfect, even if they involve periods of difficulty or waiting. True hope is found in His unwavering faithfulness, not in immediate gratification.
  • Understand God's Purposes: Sometimes, God uses challenging circumstances as a means of discipline, purification, or to fulfill His larger purposes. Accepting these truths, even when painful, leads to deeper spiritual growth.
Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jeremiah 22:24

    [As] I live, saith the LORD, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck thee thence;

  • 2 Kings 25:27

    And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth [day] of the month, [that] Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison;

  • 2 Kings 25:30

    And his allowance [was] a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life.

  • Jeremiah 24:1

    ¶ The LORD shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs [were] set before the temple of the LORD, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.

  • Jeremiah 28:2

    Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.

  • Jeremiah 22:26

    And I will cast thee out, and thy mother that bare thee, into another country, where ye were not born; and there shall ye die.

  • Jeremiah 22:28

    [Is] this man Coniah a despised broken idol? [is he] a vessel wherein [is] no pleasure? wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into a land which they know not?
 Back

Search Scripture