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Jeremiah 28:5
Bible Versions
Then the prophet Jeremiah said unto the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests, and in the presence of all the people that stood in the house of the LORD,
Then the prophet Yirmeyahu said to the prophet Hananyah in front of the cohanim and all the people standing in ADONAI's house -
Then the prophet Jeremiah replied to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of the LORD.
Then the prophet Jeremiah said unto the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests, and in the presence of all the people that stood in the house of Jehovah,
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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, -
Jeremiah 7:2
Stand in the gate of the LORD'S house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all [ye of] Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the LORD. -
Jeremiah 26:2
Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD'S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD'S house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word: -
Jeremiah 19:14
Then came Jeremiah from Tophet, whither the LORD had sent him to prophesy; and he stood in the court of the LORD'S house; and said to all the people,
Jeremiah 28:5 serves as a pivotal moment in the dramatic confrontation between two prophets, Jeremiah and Hananiah. This verse immediately follows Hananiah's audacious declaration that God would break the yoke of Babylon within two years, bringing back the Temple vessels and exiled King Jeconiah (Jeremiah 28:1-4). Jeremiah's response, recorded here, is delivered publicly, underscoring the gravity of the dispute.
Context
The scene is set in the House of the LORD, the Temple in Jerusalem, during the reign of King Zedekiah. Judah was under the oppressive hand of the Babylonian empire, with many already exiled, including King Jeconiah and prominent citizens (2 Kings 24:15). Jeremiah had consistently prophesied of prolonged captivity and submission to Babylon as God's judgment for Judah's sin, often symbolized by an iron or wooden yoke (Jeremiah 27:2). Hananiah, however, offered a popular, comforting message of swift deliverance, directly contradicting Jeremiah's divine word.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word for "prophet" is navi' (נָבִיא), meaning "one who is called" or "one who speaks for another." Both Jeremiah and Hananiah are identified with this title, underscoring the people's dilemma in discerning whose message was truly from the LORD. The contrast between their messages reveals that merely claiming the title of navi' was insufficient; the authenticity rested on whether their words aligned with God's established character and ultimately came to pass.
Significance and Application
Jeremiah 28:5, though brief, is crucial for understanding the larger narrative of prophetic conflict in Judah. It reminds us that spiritual discernment is vital, especially when faced with conflicting messages claiming divine origin. The presence of "priests" and "people" underscores the community's responsibility to weigh truth. In our own time, we are called to test all things and "try the spirits whether they are of God" (1 John 4:1), remembering that a true prophet's words will ultimately come to pass, and their message will align with established biblical truth. The ultimate outcome of this confrontation, with Hananiah's death as prophesied by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 28:15-17), served as a powerful vindication of Jeremiah's authentic ministry.