Jeremiah 42:15

And now therefore hear the word of the LORD, ye remnant of Judah; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; If ye wholly set your faces to enter into Egypt, and go to sojourn there;

And now therefore hear {H8085} the word {H1697} of the LORD {H3068}, ye remnant {H7611} of Judah {H3063}; Thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068} of hosts {H6635}, the God {H430} of Israel {H3478}; If ye wholly {H7760} set {H7760} your faces {H6440} to enter {H935} into Egypt {H4714}, and go {H935} to sojourn {H1481} there;

then hear what ADONAI says, remnant of Y'hudah - this is what ADONAI-Tzva'ot, the God of Isra'el, says: 'If you are determined to go to Egypt and stay there,

then hear the word of the LORD, O remnant of Judah! This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you are determined to go to Egypt and reside there,

now therefore hear ye the word of Jehovah, O remnant of Judah: Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, If ye indeed set your faces to enter into Egypt, and go to sojourn there;

Context of Jeremiah 42:15

Jeremiah 42:15 is part of a critical dialogue between the prophet Jeremiah and the desperate remnant of Judah after the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon in 586 BC and the subsequent assassination of Gedaliah, the Babylonian-appointed governor. Faced with fear and uncertainty, this group of survivors, including military leaders like Johanan, approached Jeremiah, asking him to inquire of the LORD on their behalf. They solemnly promised to obey whatever God commanded, whether it was "good, or whether it be evil" (meaning pleasant or difficult). This verse, however, introduces God's direct warning concerning their true intentions, which He already perceived: to flee to Egypt for safety, contrary to His will.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Warning and Consequences of Disobedience: This verse serves as a stark warning, prefacing the dire consequences that await the remnant if they choose to disregard God's explicit instruction. The LORD here presents the hypothetical choice as a firm intention: "If ye wholly set your faces to enter into Egypt." This highlights that God knows their hearts and the path they are inclined to take, even before they fully commit to it.
  • Trust Versus Fear: The core conflict for the remnant is whether to trust in God's promised protection if they remain in the land (Jeremiah 42:10) or to succumb to their fear and seek refuge in Egypt. Their desire to "sojourn there" reflects a human inclination to find security in worldly power rather than divine provision.
  • Sovereignty of God: The title "LORD of hosts, the God of Israel" emphasizes God's absolute authority and power. He is not merely a local deity but the sovereign ruler over all nations and armies. His word, delivered through Jeremiah, is ultimate, and He demands obedience from His people, even in the face of immense pressure.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "LORD of hosts" (Hebrew: Yahweh Sabaoth) signifies God's absolute power and dominion over all creation, including angelic armies and earthly forces. It reinforces the authority behind the warning given in this verse. The idiom "set your faces" implies a determined, resolute, and unwavering intention to pursue a particular course of action, indicating that the remnant's desire to go to Egypt was not a fleeting thought but a deep-seated resolve.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 42:15 offers timeless lessons for believers today. We often face situations where fear or human logic compels us towards a path that seems safer or more practical, yet it may be contrary to God's revealed will. This verse reminds us:

  • The Importance of True Obedience: It's not enough to ask for God's will; we must be truly committed to obeying it, even when it challenges our comfort or perceived safety.
  • God Knows Our Hearts: Even when we outwardly seek guidance, God discerns our true intentions and underlying motives. He addresses the heart of the matter before we fully act.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: Choosing to follow our own path, driven by fear or self-reliance, inevitably leads to negative consequences, as further elaborated in Jeremiah 42:16-17. Trusting in God's protection and provision, even when it seems illogical, is always the wisest course.
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.

  • Deuteronomy 17:16

    But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.

  • Jeremiah 44:12

    And I will take the remnant of Judah, that have set their faces to go into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, and they shall all be consumed, [and] fall in the land of Egypt; they shall [even] be consumed by the sword [and] by the famine: they shall die, from the least even unto the greatest, by the sword and by the famine: and they shall be an execration, [and] an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach.

  • Jeremiah 44:14

    So that none of the remnant of Judah, which are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall escape or remain, that they should return into the land of Judah, to the which they have a desire to return to dwell there: for none shall return but such as shall escape.

  • Jeremiah 42:17

    So shall it be with all the men that set their faces to go into Egypt to sojourn there; they shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: and none of them shall remain or escape from the evil that I will bring upon them.

  • Daniel 11:17

    He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand [on his side], neither be for him.

  • Genesis 31:21

    So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face [toward] the mount Gilead.

  • Luke 9:51

    ¶ And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,

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