Jeremiah 42:9

And said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto whom ye sent me to present your supplication before him;

And said {H559} unto them, Thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068}, the God {H430} of Israel {H3478}, unto whom ye sent {H7971} me to present {H5307} your supplication {H8467} before {H6440} him;

and said to them, "You sent me to present your request to ADONAI the God of Isra'el. This is what he says:

Jeremiah told them, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your petition:

and said unto them, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, unto whom ye sent me to present your supplication before him:

Jeremiah 42:9 captures the pivotal moment when the prophet Jeremiah begins to deliver God's answer to a desperate plea from the remnant of Judah. This verse emphasizes God's attentiveness to their "supplication" and affirms Jeremiah's role as the divine messenger.

Historical and Cultural Context

Following the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians and the assassination of Gedaliah, the governor appointed by Babylon, a frightened Jewish remnant contemplated fleeing to Egypt. Before making this crucial decision, their leaders, including Johanan, approached Jeremiah, asking him to inquire of the LORD their God on their behalf. They pledged solemnly to obey whatever word the LORD gave them, whether it was "good or bad" (Jeremiah 42:6). After waiting ten days for a divine response, Jeremiah delivers God's direct message, beginning with this verse. It establishes that God heard their request and is now providing His will, setting the stage for a test of their true intentions regarding obedience.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Responsiveness: This verse highlights God's readiness to hear and respond to the prayers of His people. Even in their fear and uncertainty, the "God of Israel" acknowledges their plea.
  • Prophetic Authority: Jeremiah is explicitly affirmed as the conduit for God's message. The phrase "unto whom ye sent me to present your supplication before him" validates Jeremiah's unique position as God's chosen prophet.
  • Seeking God's Will: The people sought divine guidance for their future. This initial interaction demonstrates the importance of bringing one's fears and decisions before the Almighty, even if their ultimate obedience faltered.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "supplication" here is tĕḥinnâ (תְּחִנָּה), which denotes a humble and earnest plea for favor, mercy, or grace. It's more than a mere request; it implies a deep sense of need and dependence on the one being petitioned. This underscores the gravity of the people's situation and their desperate appeal to God through Jeremiah.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 42:9 serves as a powerful reminder of God's attentiveness to our prayers. Like the remnant in Judah, we often face moments of fear, uncertainty, and critical decisions. This verse encourages us to:

  • Bring Our Concerns to God: No matter how dire or personal our circumstances, God is willing to hear our "supplication." As Philippians 4:6 instructs, we should "be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."
  • Seek God's Will Through His Word: Just as Jeremiah delivered God's explicit instructions, believers today are called to seek divine guidance primarily through the study of God's Word and prayer.
  • Commit to Obedience: The people's initial promise to obey, regardless of the answer, is a model for our approach to God's will. True faith is demonstrated not just in asking, but in a readiness to follow, even when God's path differs from our own desires. This foreshadows the challenge the remnant would face in Jeremiah 43:2-7.

Reflection

This verse sets the stage for a crucial divine revelation, emphasizing that God is not distant but actively engaged with the concerns of His people. It underscores the importance of seeking His counsel and the responsibility that comes with receiving His clear instructions.

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.

  • Jeremiah 42:2

    And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, [even] for all this remnant; (for we are left [but] a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:)

  • 2 Kings 19:4

    It may be the LORD thy God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God; and will reprove the words which the LORD thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up [thy] prayer for the remnant that are left.

  • 2 Kings 19:6

    And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say to your master, Thus saith the LORD, Be not afraid of the words which thou hast heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.

  • 2 Kings 19:20

    ¶ Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, [That] which thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard.

  • 2 Kings 19:37

    And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.

  • 2 Kings 22:15

    And she said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me,

  • 2 Kings 22:20

    Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.

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