Jeremiah 42:19

Translation
King James Version
The LORD hath said concerning you, O ye remnant of Judah; Go ye not into Egypt: know certainly that I have admonished you this day.
Ask
KJV (with Strong's)
The LORD H3068 hath said H1696 concerning you, O ye remnant H7611 of Judah H3063; Go H935 ye not into Egypt H4714: know H3045 certainly H3045 that I have admonished H5749 you this day H3117.
Ask
Complete Jewish Bible
"ADONAI has spoken concerning you, remnant of Y'hudah! Don't go to Egypt! You know for a fact that I have given you fair warning today.
Ask
Berean Standard Bible
The LORD has told you, O remnant of Judah, ‘Do not go to Egypt.’ Know for sure that I have warned you today!
Ask
American Standard Version
Jehovah hath spoken concerning you, O remnant of Judah, Go ye not into Egypt: know certainly that I have testified unto you this day.
Ask
World English Bible Messianic
The LORD has spoken concerning you, remnant of Judah, Don’t you go into Egypt: know certainly that I have testified to you this day.
Ask
Geneva Bible (1599)
O ye remnant of Iudah, the Lord hath said concerning you, Goe not into Egypt: knowe certeinely that I haue admonished you this day.
Ask
Young's Literal Translation
`Jehovah hath spoken against you, O remnant of Judah, do not enter Egypt: know certainly that I have testified against you to-day;
Ask
See also
Deuteronomy 17:16Nehemiah 9:26Nehemiah 9:29Nehemiah 9:30Isaiah 30:1Isaiah 30:71 Thessalonians 4:6
See on the biblical-era map
Israelite Refugees in Egypt
Israelite Refugees in Egypt View full PDF

Map © Biblica Open Bible Maps · CC BY-SA 4.0

In the KJVVerse 19,995 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Jeremiah 42:19 presents a direct and unequivocal divine command from the LORD to the surviving Jewish remnant in Judah. Having sought prophetic counsel from Jeremiah regarding their desperate situation and their inclination to seek refuge in Egypt, this verse delivers God's absolute prohibition against such a move. It powerfully asserts God's sovereign authority, His precise guidance for His people, and the profound solemnity of His warning, underscoring that they have received a clear and certain admonition concerning this pivotal decision.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Jeremiah 42:19 is strategically placed within a critical narrative section of the book, spanning Jeremiah 40-44. Following the devastating destruction of Jerusalem and its temple in 586 BCE and the subsequent assassination of Gedaliah, the Babylonian-appointed governor of Judah (events detailed in Jeremiah 40-41), the remaining Jewish population was consumed by fear of further Babylonian retribution. In their profound desperation, they turned to the prophet Jeremiah, earnestly requesting him to intercede with God on their behalf and solemnly promising absolute obedience to whatever the LORD commanded, as explicitly recorded in Jeremiah 42:5-6. After a ten-day period during which Jeremiah diligently sought God's word, this verse marks the commencement of God's clear, albeit challenging, response. It distinctly forbids their desired flight to Egypt and initiates the revelation of the severe consequences that would follow disobedience, consequences further elaborated in Jeremiah 42:15-18.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: The historical backdrop for Jeremiah 42:19 is the immediate, chaotic aftermath of the Babylonian conquest, with the majority of Judah's populace already exiled. Those who remained constituted a "remnant" living in a land laid waste and under foreign dominion. Egypt, a formidable neighboring power and a long-standing geopolitical rival of Mesopotamia, had historically served as a traditional sanctuary for those fleeing political instability in Judah, a pattern evident throughout Israelite history. Culturally, Egypt was synonymous with polytheism and idolatry, standing in stark contrast to the monotheistic worship of Yahweh. The people's fervent desire to flee to Egypt was rooted in a deeply human and understandable fear for their lives and security, as they sought what they perceived as a safe haven and a means of self-preservation. However, this choice also represented a potential regression to the very pagan influences from which God had miraculously liberated their ancestors, as recounted in the foundational narrative of the Exodus. Furthermore, it evinced a profound lack of trust in God's covenant faithfulness and His ability to protect them within the land He had promised.
  • Key Themes: This verse serves as a powerful conduit for several overarching themes central to the book of Jeremiah and the broader prophetic corpus. A primary tension explored is that between Divine Direction vs. Human Prudence, where God's explicit command directly opposes the remnant's logical, fear-driven inclination to seek security in a foreign land. This highlights the paramount theme of The Importance of Obedience to God's revealed word, even when that word challenges human reasoning, comfort, or perceived safety. The emphatic declaration, "know certainly that I have admonished you this day," underscores the gravity of God's directive and the inescapable accountability of His people to His revealed will, emphasizing that God's word is not a mere suggestion but a binding and authoritative command. Moreover, the passage implicitly speaks to the critical theme of Trust in God's Protection versus reliance on worldly powers. Remaining in Judah, despite the apparent dangers, would have been a profound demonstration of their faith in the LORD's covenant faithfulness and His sovereign ability to preserve them in the land He had given them, standing in sharp contrast to the temptation to seek refuge in a land historically associated with idolatry and the bitter memory of bondage, as vividly depicted in the early chapters of Exodus.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • said (Hebrew, dâbar', H1696): This primitive root, while perhaps properly meaning "to arrange," is primarily used figuratively to mean "to speak." When applied to the LORD, as it is here, it denotes a formal, authoritative declaration, a divine decree that carries the weight of absolute truth and certainty. It signifies a word that shapes reality and demands a response, emphasizing that the instruction comes directly from God with all His inherent authority and truth.
  • know certainly (Hebrew, yâdaʻ', H3045): This term is emphatically repeated in the Hebrew text through an infinitive absolute construction, conveying the sense of "knowing, you shall know" or "you shall surely know." It implies not merely intellectual apprehension but a deep, experiential understanding, a recognition with absolute conviction. It is a divine call to acknowledge the undeniable clarity and certainty of God's message, highlighting the remnant's full accountability to this revealed truth.
  • admonished (Hebrew, ʻûwd', H5749): This root means "to duplicate or repeat," and by implication, "to protest" or "testify (as by reiteration)." In this context, it signifies a solemn warning or a formal testimony. God is not simply offering advice but is solemnly testifying to the truth and gravity of His command, serving as a binding instruction and a clear declaration of the consequences of disobedience. It underscores God's earnest desire for His people to fully grasp the seriousness of their choice.

Verse Breakdown

  • "The LORD hath said concerning you, O ye remnant of Judah;": This opening clause unequivocally establishes the divine origin and supreme authority of the message. "The LORD" (Yahweh, H3068) invokes God's covenant name, underscoring His unchanging faithfulness, power, and personal relationship with His people. The phrase "hath said concerning you" emphasizes that this is a direct, personal, and specific communication addressed to the surviving group, the "remnant of Judah" (H7611, H3063). This is not a general principle but a precise, timely directive for their immediate, desperate situation, highlighting God's active and intimate involvement in the affairs of His people, even in their broken and vulnerable state.
  • "Go ye not into Egypt:": This is the core, unambiguous command of the verse. It is a negative imperative, a clear and absolute prohibition against their intended course of action. This instruction directly contradicts their human logic, their fear-driven desire for safety, and their preconceived plans. It represents a profound test of their faith and obedience, demanding that they trust God's revealed word over their own perceived security measures. The specificity of "Egypt" (H4714) emphasizes the forbidden destination, a place historically and theologically associated with bondage, idolatry, and a rejection of God's redemptive path for Israel.
  • "know certainly that I have admonished you this day.": This concluding phrase powerfully reinforces the gravity, clarity, and finality of the divine communication. "Know certainly" (H3045, repeated for emphatic force in the Hebrew) demands absolute recognition, comprehension, and acceptance of the warning. "Admonished" (H5749) conveys the sense of a solemn, binding testimony or a formal, weighty warning, not a casual suggestion. "This day" (H3117) signifies the immediacy, present relevance, and unalterable nature of the declaration, leaving no room for misinterpretation, evasion, or future claims of ignorance. It places full responsibility for their subsequent actions squarely and undeniably on the remnant.

Literary Devices

Jeremiah 42:19 masterfully employs several potent literary devices to convey its urgent and authoritative message. The most prominent is Direct Address, as the LORD speaks intimately yet authoritatively "concerning you, O ye remnant of Judah," creating a personal and demanding tone that compels attention and response. This is immediately followed by a clear and absolute Divine Command ("Go ye not into Egypt"), which is unequivocal and leaves no room for negotiation, thereby highlighting God's supreme sovereignty and the binding nature of His word. The phrase "know certainly" utilizes Repetition (in the original Hebrew, an infinitive absolute construction of the verb "to know") to create an emphatic declaration, underscoring the undeniable clarity and gravity of the warning. There is also an element of Irony present within the broader narrative context: the remnant explicitly sought God's counsel and promised unwavering obedience, yet God's answer directly challenges their deeply held, fear-driven plans, revealing the inherent tension between professed faith and practical trust. Ultimately, the verse functions as a profound Solemn Admonition, a formal and weighty warning that carries the full authority, wisdom, and protective love of God, aiming to safeguard His people from self-inflicted disaster.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Jeremiah 42:19 profoundly illustrates God's character as a sovereign, omniscient, and loving Father who actively guides, warns, and protects His children. His command, though appearing counter-intuitive to human fear and logic, originates from His perfect knowledge of what is truly best for His people and His unwavering desire to preserve their covenant relationship. It underscores the profound theological truth that genuine security and flourishing are found not in human strategies, worldly refuges, or self-preservation efforts, but in faithful, radical obedience to God's revealed will. Disregarding such a clear divine warning is not merely an act of disobedience but a profound rejection of God's providential care, His wisdom, and His love, inevitably leading towards self-inflicted harm. God's warnings are always given for our ultimate good, protection, and the preservation of our relationship with Him.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Jeremiah 42:19 offers timeless and profound lessons for believers navigating the complexities and uncertainties of contemporary life. Like the remnant of Judah, we frequently encounter daunting circumstances, and in our fear or desire for comfort, we are tempted to rely on our own understanding, worldly solutions, or perceived "safe havens" rather than trusting God's often counter-intuitive or challenging guidance. This verse serves as a powerful call to cultivate a deep and unwavering trust in God's perfect wisdom, even when His path seems difficult, dangerous, or contrary to our natural inclinations. It compels us to remember that true security, lasting peace, and genuine flourishing are found in radical, unwavering obedience to His word, not in human ingenuity, the fleeting promises of the world, or the illusion of self-sufficiency. Furthermore, it reminds us of the profound seriousness and loving intent of God's warnings, which are always given out of His perfect love and for our ultimate protection and good. To disregard them is to invite unintended and often painful consequences, whereas faithful adherence to His commands, even when accompanied by fear, demonstrates authentic faith and opens the door to His divine provision, peace, and blessing.

Questions for Reflection

  • What "Egypts" or perceived safe havens am I tempted to flee to when faced with fear, uncertainty, or discomfort, rather than trusting God's specific guidance?
  • In what areas of my life am I currently prioritizing "human prudence" or worldly logic over "divine direction," and what steps can I take to cultivate deeper obedience to God's potentially challenging commands?
  • How seriously do I truly take God's warnings and admonitions in Scripture, and what practical steps can I implement to ensure I am not consciously or unconsciously disregarding them in my daily decisions and long-term plans?

FAQ

Why were the remnant of Judah so determined to go to Egypt despite God's clear warning?

Answer: The remnant's determination to go to Egypt, despite God's explicit prohibition, stemmed primarily from intense fear and a deep-seated desire for immediate, tangible security. Following the assassination of Gedaliah, the Babylonian-appointed governor (as described in Jeremiah 41), they feared further and severe Babylonian reprisal. Egypt, being a powerful nation and a traditional refuge for those fleeing turmoil in Judah, seemed like the most logical and safest option from a purely human perspective. They likely believed that staying in Judah, a land devastated and under direct Babylonian control, was too dangerous. Their decision was driven by a profound lack of faith in God's ability or willingness to protect them within their own land, prioritizing perceived physical safety over divine command. This highlights a common human tendency to trust in visible, worldly solutions and human reasoning rather than invisible divine providence, even after explicitly seeking God's counsel and promising obedience.

What happened to the remnant who disobeyed God's command and went to Egypt?

Answer: The book of Jeremiah unequivocally states that the remnant ultimately disobeyed God's command and indeed went to Egypt, compelling Jeremiah himself to accompany them against his will (as detailed in Jeremiah 43:5-7). God's solemn warnings about the consequences of this disobedience, initially given in Jeremiah 42:15-18 and powerfully reiterated in Jeremiah 44, proved tragically true. They did not find the safety or security they desperately sought in Egypt. Instead, God declared that the very sword, famine, and plague they feared in Judah would relentlessly pursue them to Egypt, and they would ultimately perish there. Furthermore, they continued in their idolatrous practices in Egypt, incurring God's intensified wrath. The narrative serves as a stark and sobering example of the severe and inevitable consequences of choosing human wisdom, fear, and self-reliance over divine revelation and faithful obedience.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Jeremiah 42:19, with its profound emphasis on divine command, the challenging call to obedience despite overwhelming fear, and the solemn warning against choosing worldly refuge over God's appointed path, finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While the remnant of Judah tragically failed to obey God's clear voice, Jesus perfectly embodied radical and unwavering obedience, declaring, "I always do what pleases him" (John 8:29). He is the true and faithful "remnant" who perfectly trusted God, even when that trust led Him to the agony of the cross, rather than seeking escape or worldly security. The "Egypt" that the remnant was warned against can be understood as a powerful metaphor for any human system, worldly solution, or self-devised refuge we turn to for salvation, security, or peace apart from God. In Christ, we find our ultimate and unshakeable refuge and safety; He is the "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29), delivering us from the bondage of sin and death, which are infinitely greater threats than any earthly army or political upheaval. The solemn warning to "know certainly that I have admonished you" is profoundly fulfilled in Christ's own teachings, where He calls for absolute commitment and warns against building one's life on anything other than His authoritative words (Matthew 7:24-27). Through the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit empowers believers to obey God's commands, enabling us to walk in the path of trust and obedience that the Old Testament remnant failed to maintain, finding our true home, identity, and security not in a geographical location or a worldly system, but eternally "in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3-14).

Copy as

Commentary on Jeremiah 42 verses 7–22

I. II. Main points1. 2. Sub-points

We have here the answer which Jeremiah was sent to deliver to those who employed him to ask counsel of God.

I. It did not come immediately, not till ten days after, Jer 42:7. They were thus long held in suspense, perhaps, to punish them for their hypocrisy or to show that Jeremiah did not speak of himself, nor what he would, for he could not speak when he would, but must wait for instructions. However, it teaches us to continue waiting upon God for direction in our way. The vision is for an appointed time, and at the end it shall speak.

II. When it did come he delivered it publicly, both to the captains and to all the people, from the meanest to those in the highest station; he delivered it fully and faithfully as he received it, as he had promised that he would keep nothing back from them. If Jeremiah had been to direct them by his own prudence, perhaps he could not have told what to advise them to, the case was so difficult; but what he has to advise is what the Lord the God of Israel saith, to whom they had sent him, and therefore they were bound in honour and duty to observe it. And this he tells them,

1.That it is the will of God that they should stay where they are, and his promise that, if they do so, it shall undoubtedly be well with them he would have them still to abide in this land, Jer 42:10. Their brethren were forced out of it into captivity, and this was their affliction; let those therefore count it a mercy that they may stay in it and a duty to stay in it. Let those whose lot is in Canaan never quit it while they can keep it. It would have been enough to oblige them if God had only said, "I charge you upon your allegiance to abide still in the land;" but he rather persuades them to it as a friend than commands it as a prince. (1.) He expresses a very tender concern for them in their present calamitous condition: It repenteth me of the evil that I have done unto you. Though they had shown small sign of their repenting of their sins, yet God, as one grieved for the misery of Israel (Jdg 10:16), begins to repent of the judgments he had brought upon them for their sins. Not that he changed his mind, but he was very ready to change his way and to return in mercy to them. God's time to repent himself concerning his servants is when he sees that, as here, their strength is gone, and there is none shut up or left, Deu 32:36. (2.) He answers the argument they had against abiding in this land. They feared the king of Babylon (Jer 41:18), lest he should come and avenge the death of Gedaliah upon them, though they were no way accessory to it, nay, had witnessed against it. The surmise was foreign and unreasonable; but, if there had been any ground for it, enough is here said to remove it (Jer 42:11): "Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, though he is a man of great might and little mercy, and a very arbitrary prince, whose will is a law, and therefore you are afraid he will upon this pretence, though without colour of reason, take advantage against you; be not afraid of him, for that fear will bring a snare: fear not him, for I am with you; and, if God be for you to save you, who can be against you to hurt you?" Thus has God provided to obviate and silence even the causeless fears of his people, which discourage them in the way of their duty; there is enough in the promises to encourage them. (3.) He assures them that if they will still abide in this land they shall not only be safe from the king of Babylon, but be made happy by the King of kings: "I will build you and plant you; you shall take root again, and be the new foundation of another state, a phoenix-kingdom, rising out of the ashes of the last." It is added (Jer 42:12), I will show mercies unto you. Note, In all our comforts we may read God's mercies. God will show them mercy in this, that not only the king of Babylon shall not destroy them, but he shall have mercy upon them and help to settle them. Note, Whatever kindness men do us we must attribute it to God's kindness. He makes those whom he pities to be pitied even by those who carried them captives, Psa 106:46. "The king of Babylon, having now the disposal of the country, shall cause you to return it to your own land, shall settle you again in your own habitations and put you in possession of the lands that formerly belonged to you." Note, God has made that our duty which is really our privilege, and our obedience will be its own recompence. "Abide in this land, and it shall be your own land again and you shall continue in it. Do not quit it now that you stand so fair for the enjoyment of it again. Be no so unwise as to forsake your own mercies for lying vanities."

2.That as they tender the favour of God and their own happiness they must by no means think of going into Egypt, not thither of all places, not to that land out of which God had delivered their fathers and which he had so often warned them not to make alliance with nor to put confidence in. Observe here, (1.) The sin they are supposed to be guilty of (and to him that knew their hearts it was more than a supposition): "You begin to say, We will not dwell in this land (Jer 42:13); we will never think that we can be safe in it, no, not though God himself undertake our protection. We will not continue in it, no, not in obedience to the voice of the Lord our God. He may say what he please, but we will do what we please. We will go into the land of Egypt, and there will we dwell, whether God give us leave and go along with us or no," Jer 42:14. It is supposed that their hearts were upon it: "If you wholly set your faces to enter into Egypt, and are obstinately resolved that you will go and sojourn there, though God oppose you in it both by his word and by his providence, then take what follows." Now the reason they go upon in this resolution is that "in Egypt we shall see no war, nor have hunger of bread,; as we have had for a long time in this land," Jer 42:14. Note, It is folly to quit our place, especially to quit the holy land, because we meet with trouble in it; but greater folly to think by changing our place to escape the judgments of God, and that evil which pursues sinners in every way of disobedience, and which there is no escaping but by returning to our allegiance. (2.) The sentence passed upon them for this sin, if they will persist in it. It is pronounced in God's name (Jer 42:15): "Hear the word of the Lord, you remnant of Judah, who think that because you are a remnant you must be spared of course (Jer 42:2) and indulged in your own humour." [1.] Did the sword and famine frighten them? Those very judgments shall pursue them into Egypt, shall overtake them, and overcome them there (Jer 42:16, Jer 42:17): "You think, because war and famine have long been raging in this land, that they are entailed upon it; whereas, if you trust in God, he can make even this land a land of peace to you; you think they are confined to it, and, if you can get clear of this land, you shall get out of the reach of them, but God will send them after you wherever you go." Note, the evils we think to escape by sin we certainly and inevitably run ourselves upon. The men that go to Egypt in contradiction to God's will, to escape the sword and famine, shall die in Egypt by sword and famine. We may apply it to the common calamities of human life; those that are impatient of them, and think to avoid them by changing their place, will find that they are deceived and that they do not at all better themselves. The grievances common to men will meet them wherever they go. All our removes in this world are but from one wilderness to another; still we are where we were. [2.] Did the desolations of Jerusalem frighten them? Were they willing to get as far as they could from them? They shall meet with the second part of them too in Egypt (Jer 42:18): As my anger and fury have been poured out here upon Jerusalem, so they shall be poured out upon you in Egypt. Note, Those that have by sin made God their enemy will find him a consuming fire wherever they go. And then you shall be an execration and an astonishment. The Hebrews were of old an abomination to the Egyptians (Gen 43:32), and now they shall be made more so than ever. When God's professing people mingle with infidels, and make their court to them, they lose their dignity and make themselves a reproach.

3.That God knew their hypocrisy in their enquiries of him, and that when they asked what he would have them to do they were resolved to take their own way; and therefore the sentence which was before pronounced conditionally is made absolute. Having set before them good and evil, the blessing and the curse, in the close he makes application of what he had said. And here, (1.) He solemnly protests that he had faithfully delivered his message, Jer 42:19. The conclusion of the whole matter is, "Go not down into Egypt; you disobey the command of God if you do, and what I have said to you will be a witness against you; for know certainly that, whether you will hear or whether you will forbear, I have plainly admonished you; you cannot now plead ignorance of the mind of God." (2.) He charges them with base dissimulation in the application they made to him for divine direction (Jer 42:20): "You dissembled in your hearts; you professed one thing and intended another, promising what you never meant to perform." You have used deceit against your soul (so the margin reads it); for those that think to put a cheat upon God will prove in the end to have put a damning cheat upon themselves. (3.) He is already aware that they are determined to go contrary to the command of God; probably they discovered it in their countenance and secret mutterings already, before he had finished his discourse. However, he spoke from him who knew their hearts: "You have not obeyed the voice of the Lord your God; you have not a disposition to obey it." Thus Moses, in the close of his farewell sermon, had told them (Deu 31:27, Deu 31:29), I know thy rebellion and thy stiff neck, and that you will corrupt yourselves. Admire the patience of God, that he is pleased to speak to those who, he knows, will not regard him, and deal with those who, he knows, will deal very treacherously, Isa 48:8. (4.) He therefore reads them their doom, ratifying what he had said before: Know certainly that you shall die by the sword, Jer 42:22. God's threatenings may be vilified, but cannot be nullified, by the unbelief of man. Famine and pestilence shall pursue these sinners; for there is no place privileged from divine arrests, nor can any malefactors go out of God's jurisdiction. You shall die in the place whither you desire to go. Note, We know not what is good for ourselves; and that often proves afflictive, and sometimes fatal, which we are most fond of and have our hearts most set upon.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 7–22. Public domain.
Copy as
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
Copy as

Continue studying Jeremiah 42:19 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.

Read & Compare

Commentaries

Original Language & Research

Sermons, Hymns & Audio

TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.