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Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Jeremiah 42:1–6. His two-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
We have reason to wonder how Jeremiah the prophet escaped the sword of Ishmael; it seems he did escape, and it was not the first time that the Lord hid him. It is strange also that in these violent turns he was not consulted before now, and his advice asked and taken. But it should seem as if they knew not that a prophet was among them. Though this people were as brands plucked out of the fire, yet have they not returned to the Lord. This people has a revolting and a rebellious heart; and contempt of God and his providence, God and his prophets, is still the sin that most easily besets them. But now at length, to serve a turn, Jeremiah is sought out, and all the captains, Johanan himself not excepted, with all the people from the least to the greatest, make him a visit; they came near (Jer 42:1), which intimates that hitherto they had kept at a distance from the prophet and had been shy of him. Now here,
I.They desire him by prayer to ask direction from God what they should do in the present critical juncture, Jer 42:2, Jer 42:3. They express themselves wonderfully well.
1.With great respect to the prophet. Though he was poor and low, and under their command, yet they apply to him with humility and submissiveness, as petitioners for his assistance, which yet they intimate their own unworthiness of: Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee. They compliment him thus in hopes to persuade him to say as they would have him say.
2.With a great opinion of his interest in heaven: "Pray for us, who know not how to pray for ourselves. Pray to the Lord thy God, for we are unworthy to call him ours, nor have we reason to expect any favour from him." 3. With a great sense of their need of divine direction. They speak of themselves as objects of compassion: "We are but a remnant, but a few of many; how easily will such a remnant be swallowed up, and yet it is a pity that it should. Thy eyes see what distress we are in, what a plunge we are at; if thou canst do any thing, help us." 4. With desire of divine direction: "Let the Lord thy God take this ruin into his thoughts and under his hand, and show us the way wherein we may walk and may expect to have his presence with us, and the thing that we may do, the course we may take for our own safety." Note, In every difficult doubtful case our eye must be up to God for direction. They then might expect to be directed by a spirit of prophecy, which has now ceased; but we may still in faith pray to be guided by a spirit of wisdom in our hearts and the hints of Providence.
II.Jeremiah faithfully promises them to pray for direction for them, and, whatever message God should send to them by him, he would deliver it to them just as he received it without adding, altering, or diminishing, Jer 42:4. Ministers may hence learn,
1.Conscientiously to pray for those who desire their prayers: I will pray for you according to your words. Though they had slighted him, yet, like Samuel when he was slighted, he will not sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for them, Sa1 12:23.
2.Conscientiously to advise those who desire their advice as near as they can to the mind of God, not keeping back any thing that is profitable for them, whether it be pleasing or no, but to declare to them the whole counsel of God, that they may approve themselves true to their trust.
III.They fairly promise that they will be governed by the will of God, as soon as they know what it is (Jer 42:5, Jer 42:6), and they had the impudence to appeal to God concerning their sincerity herein, though at the same time they dissembled: "The Lord be a true and faithful witness between us; do thou in the fear of God tell us truly what his mind is and then we will in the fear of God comply with it, and for this the Lord the Judge be Judge between us." Note, Those that expect to have the benefit of good ministers' prayers must conscientiously hearken to their preaching and be governed by it, as far as it agrees with the mind of God. Nothing could be better than this was: Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the Lord our God, that it may be well with us.
1.They now call God their God, for Jeremiah had encouraged them to call him so (Jer 42:4): I will pray to the Lord your God. He is ours, and therefore we will obey his voice. Our relation to God strongly obliges us to obedience.
2.They promise to obey his voice because they sent the prophet to him to consult him. Note, We do not truly desire to know the mind of God if we do not fully resolve to comply with it when we do know it.
3.It is an implicit universal obedience that they here promise. They will do what God appoints them to do, whether it be good or whether it be evil: "Though it may seem evil to us, yet we will believe that if God command it it is certainly good, and we must not dispute it, but do it. Whatever God commands, whether it be easy or difficult, agreeable to our inclinations or contrary to them, whether it be cheap or costly, fashionable or unfashionable, whether we get or lose by it in our worldly interests, if it be our duty, we will do it." 4. It is upon a very good consideration that they promise this, a reasonable and powerful one, that it may be well with us, which intimates a conviction that they could not expect it should be well with them upon any other terms.
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Summary
Jeremiah 42:5 records a solemn and seemingly earnest oath made by the remnant of Judah to the prophet Jeremiah. Facing profound uncertainty and fear after the fall of Jerusalem and the assassination of Gedaliah, this desperate group sought divine guidance regarding their future. In this pivotal moment, they invoked the LORD Himself as a "true and faithful witness" to their professed sincerity, declaring their unwavering commitment to obey every single directive God would send through Jeremiah, no matter the instruction. This declaration sets the stage for a crucial test of their faith and obedience, revealing the profound chasm between their verbal pledge and their eventual actions.
Context
Literary Context
This verse is strategically placed immediately after the people's urgent plea to Jeremiah for divine counsel. Following the devastating assassination of Gedaliah, the Babylonian-appointed governor, as detailed in Jeremiah 41, the remaining Judahites, led by Johanan, found themselves in a precarious position. They had rescued captives from Ishmael and were gathered near Bethlehem, contemplating a desperate flight to Egypt. Jeremiah 42:1-3 vividly describes their earnest entreaty to Jeremiah: "Please let our petition be accepted before you, and pray for us to the LORD your God... that the LORD your God may show us the way in which we should walk and the thing that we should do." Jeremiah 42:5 is their emphatic, self-imprecatory response to his agreement, a powerful declaration of their absolute intent to obey whatever God would reveal. This solemn oath, however, serves as a dramatic foil to their ultimate disobedience, tragically fulfilled in Jeremiah 43:1-7, highlighting a profound failure of covenant faithfulness.
Historical & Cultural Context
The historical backdrop is the immediate and chaotic aftermath of the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC, which had left a small, traumatized remnant in the land. Gedaliah's assassination plunged this already vulnerable community into further instability and existential fear. Their primary concern was survival and security, leading them to consider fleeing to Egypt—a traditional place of refuge, but also a land associated with bondage and idolatry for Israel. In the ancient Near East, solemn oaths invoking a deity were not mere words but binding agreements, often accompanied by implicit or explicit imprecations (curses) if broken. By calling the LORD as a "true and faithful witness," the people were placing their promise under the highest possible divine scrutiny. This cultural practice underscores the immense weight and seriousness they outwardly attributed to their pledge, acknowledging God's omniscience and His role in upholding covenant faithfulness and justice.
Key Themes
Jeremiah 42:5 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Jeremiah. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates the theme of Divine Guidance vs. Human Will. While the people outwardly sought God's direction, their underlying desire was to validate their preconceived plan to flee to Egypt, rather than genuinely submit to God's perfect, and often counter-intuitive, will. This tension between human inclination and divine command is a recurring motif throughout Jeremiah, demonstrating humanity's persistent tendency to seek divine blessing on self-chosen paths, as seen in Jeremiah 7:23-24. Secondly, the verse emphasizes the Seriousness of Oaths and Covenants with God. By invoking the LORD as a witness, they elevated their promise to an unbreakable covenant, yet their subsequent disobedience reveals the profound spiritual disconnect between their words and their hearts. Finally, it serves as a stark foreshadowing of the Peril of Disobedience, a central message of the book. The people's failure to adhere to their solemn vow, despite God's clear and detailed instruction through Jeremiah (as elaborated in Jeremiah 42:9-22), stands as a powerful cautionary tale about the devastating consequences of rejecting divine counsel and the ultimate futility of relying on human wisdom over God's revealed truth.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This primitive root means "to say" with great latitude, encompassing speaking, commanding, declaring, and even intending. In this context, it signifies the deliberate and formal utterance of the people's oath to Jeremiah. The use of this verb highlights that their promise was not an offhand remark but a conscious and vocal declaration, intended to convey utmost seriousness and commitment.
This is the sacred, covenantal name of God, often translated as "Jehovah" or "the Lord." It signifies "the self-Existent One" or "the Eternal." By invoking YHWH, the people appealed to the God of Israel's covenant, the one who is faithful to His promises and demands faithfulness from His people. Their use of this specific name underscored the profound theological weight and binding nature of their oath, placing it directly under the authority and scrutiny of the covenant God.
Derived from the root H539 ('âman'), meaning "to be firm, faithful, trustworthy," this word denotes stability, certainty, and trustworthiness. When describing God as a "true witness," it underscores His unwavering character and the absolute reliability of His testimony. Unlike human witnesses who may err or deceive, God's witness is always accurate and unchangeable, making their appeal to Him incredibly weighty and acknowledging His inherent veracity.
This primitive root implies firmness, support, and reliability. In the context of a "faithful witness," it speaks to God's unwavering commitment to His own character and His covenant. He is not only a witness who sees, but one who is steadfast and true to His word, upholding justice and righteousness. Their appeal to His faithfulness was a profound recognition of His immutable nature, even as they themselves would prove unfaithful to their own pledge.
This term refers to someone who testifies or confirms. When applied to the LORD, it emphasizes His absolute knowledge, integrity, and omnipresence. He is the ultimate observer who sees all actions, hears all words, and knows the innermost intentions of the heart. Their invocation of Him as a "witness" signifies their acknowledgment that their oath was made before the highest authority, implying that He would hold them accountable for their promise and its fulfillment.
This highly versatile word means "word," "matter," or "thing." In this context, "all things" refers to the entirety of the divine message or instruction that Jeremiah would convey. It encompasses every detail, every command, and every directive, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of their professed obedience. It was not just a partial or conditional commitment, but a pledge to obey the "whole word" of the LORD, without reservation or exception.
Verse Breakdown
"Then they said to Jeremiah"
This opening clause immediately establishes the direct interaction between the traumatized remnant of Judah and the prophet. It highlights their initiative in seeking divine counsel through God's appointed messenger, underscoring the perceived seriousness of their inquiry and their reliance on Jeremiah's intercessory role. This sets the stage for their solemn declaration.
"The LORD be a true and faithful witness between us"
This is the core of their solemn oath, a powerful invocation of God's character. By calling upon Yahweh (H3068), the covenant name of God, as a "true" (H571, 'emeth') and "faithful" (H539, 'âman') "witness" (H5707, ‘êd'), the people are essentially asking God to confirm the sincerity of their pledge and to hold them accountable. It signifies that their promise is not merely between themselves and Jeremiah, but a sacred vow made directly before God, who is inherently trustworthy and will ensure justice if their words are not matched by their actions. This appeal to God's truthfulness and faithfulness elevates the gravity of their commitment to the highest possible level.
"if we do not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us"
This clause specifies the content and scope of their oath, framing it as a conditional self-imprecation. It implies, "May the LORD hold us accountable and punish us if we fail to obey completely." The phrase "all things" (H1697, dâbâr') emphasizes the comprehensive nature of their promised obedience—they would follow every single instruction, every "word" or "matter," that God would reveal through Jeremiah. The inclusion of "the LORD thy God shall send thee to us" reaffirms their recognition of Jeremiah as God's legitimate messenger, whose words carry divine authority, indicating their understanding that his message would be nothing less than the direct word of God.
Literary Devices
Jeremiah 42:5 employs several significant literary devices that enrich its meaning and foreshadow its tragic outcome. Oath-taking is central, as the people formally invoke God as a witness to their promise, a common and profoundly serious practice in ancient Near Eastern covenants designed to ensure solemnity and accountability. This act itself is a performative utterance, where the very saying of the words ("The LORD be a true and faithful witness") constitutes the action of establishing a binding agreement, rather than merely describing one. There is also a powerful element of Irony present, as the reader, familiar with the subsequent narrative, knows that the people will utterly fail to uphold this very oath. Their fervent declaration of absolute obedience stands in stark contrast to their eventual rebellion (Jeremiah 43), creating a dramatic tension that highlights their hypocrisy and the tragic consequences of their actions. The use of "true and faithful witness" also serves as a form of Anthropomorphism, attributing human qualities (witnessing, faithfulness, accountability) to God, making His role in the oath relatable and emphasizing His active involvement in human affairs and His commitment to justice and truth.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Jeremiah 42:5 profoundly illustrates the human tendency to seek divine validation for preconceived plans rather than genuine submission to God's will. The people's solemn oath, invoking God's character as "true and faithful," underscores the high value placed on divine integrity and accountability in ancient Israelite thought. However, their subsequent disobedience reveals a fundamental theological tension: the gap between professed faith and practical obedience. God is indeed a witness to all human intentions and actions, and His truthfulness means He will hold His people accountable for their vows and their responses to His revealed word. This passage serves as a powerful reminder that true faith is demonstrated not merely by seeking guidance, but by humbly and completely obeying it, even when it challenges personal desires or perceived safety. It highlights the divine expectation of wholehearted obedience as the true measure of covenant faithfulness.
Reflection and Application
Jeremiah 42:5 challenges us to deeply examine the sincerity of our prayers and the depth of our commitment to God's will. It's often easy to ask God for direction, especially when we face uncertainty, fear, or significant life decisions. However, are we truly prepared to accept and obey His answer, even if it contradicts our preferred path, seems counter-intuitive, or demands a sacrifice we'd rather avoid? This verse serves as a stark reminder that God is indeed a "true and faithful witness" to our every word and, more importantly, to the deepest intentions of our hearts. Our vows and promises made before Him are not taken lightly; they are sacred commitments. True faith is not merely about seeking divine affirmation for our own plans, but about cultivating a heart posture of radical surrender, trusting that God's way is always best, even when it leads us into uncomfortable, challenging, or seemingly dangerous situations. The ultimate test of our devotion is not in the asking, but in the humble, complete, and persistent doing of His revealed will.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why did the people ask Jeremiah for God's will if they weren't going to obey it?
The text suggests a complex interplay of genuine fear, a desire for divine guidance, and an underlying self-interest that ultimately prioritized their own perceived safety over God's clear command. They were genuinely afraid of Babylonian reprisal and sought a divine "stamp of approval" for their preferred course of action (fleeing to Egypt). While they outwardly professed absolute obedience in Jeremiah 42:5, their hearts were not fully surrendered to God's sovereignty. They wanted God's blessing on their plan, not necessarily God's plan itself. This is a common human failing, where people seek divine counsel but only accept it if it aligns with their preconceived notions or comforts. Their subsequent rejection of God's clear directive, as detailed in Jeremiah 43:2-3, reveals the true intentions of their hearts, exposing their hypocrisy.
What does it mean for the LORD to be a "true and faithful witness"?
For the LORD to be a "true and faithful witness" (from Hebrew H571, 'emeth' for "true," H539, 'âman' for "faithful," and H5707, ‘êd' for "witness") means that God Himself is invoked as the ultimate guarantor of the oath's sincerity and the future accountability of those making it. "True" (H571) emphasizes His unwavering reality, integrity, and adherence to fact. "Faithful" (H539) highlights His steadfastness, reliability, and commitment to His word and covenant. As a witness, God sees all, knows the heart's true intentions, and will ensure that justice is served if the oath is broken. It elevates the promise from a mere human agreement to a sacred covenant made directly before the omniscient and righteous Creator, implying severe consequences for disobedience and a divine assurance of judgment for those who break their vows.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Jeremiah 42:5, with its poignant display of human promise and subsequent failure, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate need for a perfect covenant keeper and a truly faithful witness. The people's inability to uphold their solemn oath, despite invoking the "true and faithful" LORD, highlights the pervasive sinfulness of humanity and our inherent inability to perfectly obey God's commands. This broken promise points forward to Jesus Christ, who is the embodiment of perfect obedience and the ultimate "faithful witness" (Revelation 1:5). Unlike the remnant of Judah, who sought their own way, Christ perfectly submitted to the Father's will, even to the point of death on the cross (Philippians 2:8). He is the one in whom all God's promises are "Yes" and "Amen" (2 Corinthians 1:20), demonstrating unwavering faithfulness where humanity consistently fails. Furthermore, the very concept of God as a "witness" finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who perfectly reveals the Father (John 14:9) and testifies to the truth of God's kingdom (John 18:37). Through His atoning sacrifice, Christ provides the means for humanity to enter into a new covenant, not based on our flawed promises, but on His perfect obedience and the indwelling Holy Spirit, enabling us to truly "do according to all things" that the Lord sends us (Hebrews 8:6-13).