Jeremiah28
New American Standard
1Now in the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, in the fifth month, Hananiah the prophet the son of Azzur, who was from Gibeon, spoke to me at the house of the Lord in the sight of the priests and all the people, saying,
2“This is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel says: ‘I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.
3Within two years I am going to bring back to this place all the vessels of the Lord’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took from this place and brought to Babylon.
4I am also going to bring back to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all the exiles of Judah who went to Babylon,’ declares the Lord, ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’”
5Then Jeremiah the prophet spoke to the prophet Hananiah in the sight of the priests and in the sight of all the people who were standing at the house of the Lord,
6and Jeremiah the prophet said, “Amen! May the Lord do so; may the Lord fulfill your words which you have prophesied, to bring back the vessels of the Lord’s house and all the exiles, from Babylon to this place.
7Yet hear now this word which I am going to speak so that you and all the people can hear it!
8The prophets who were before me and before you from ancient times also prophesied against many lands and against great kingdoms regarding war, disaster, and plague.
9As for the prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet comes to pass, then that prophet will be known as one whom the Lord has truly sent.”
10Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet and broke it.
11Hananiah spoke in the sight of all the people, saying, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Even so within two full years I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all the nations.’” Then Jeremiah the prophet went his way.
12Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah after Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet, saying,
13“Go and speak to Hananiah, saying, ‘This is what the Lord says: “You have broken the yokes of wood, but in their place you have made yokes of iron.”
14For this is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel says: “I have put a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations, to serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him. And I have also given him the animals of the field.”’”
15Then Jeremiah the prophet said to Hananiah the prophet, “Listen now, Hananiah: the Lord has not sent you, and you have made this people trust in a lie.
16Therefore, this is what the Lord says: ‘Behold, I am going to remove you from the face of the earth. This year you are going to die, because you spoke falsely against the Lord.’”
17So Hananiah the prophet died in the same year, in the seventh month.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Jeremiah 28.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: A false prophet opposes Jeremiah. (1-9). The false prophet warned of his approaching death. (10-17).
vv1-9
Hananiah spoke a false prophecy. Here is not a word of good counsel urging the Jews to repent and return to God. He promises temporal mercies, in God's name, but makes no mention of the spiritual mercies which God always promised with earthly blessings. This was not the first time Jeremiah had prayed for the people, though he prophesied against them. He appeals to the event, to prove Hananiah's falsehood. The prophet who spake only of peace and prosperity, without adding that they must not by wilful sin stop God's favours, will be proved a false prophet. Those who do not declare the alarming as well as the encouraging parts of God's word, and call men to repentance, and faith, and holiness, tread in the steps of the false prophets. The gospel of Christ encourages men to do works meet for repentance, but gives no encouragement to continue in sin.
vv10-17
Hananiah is sentenced to die, and Jeremiah, when he has received direction from God, boldly tells him so; but not before he received that commission. Those have much to answer for, who tell sinners that they shall have peace, though they harden their hearts in contempt of God's word. The servant of God must be gentle to all men. He must give up even his right, and leave the Lord to plead his cause. Every attempt of ungodly men to make vain the purposes of God, will add to their miseries.
Key Words
שָׁנֶה: a year (as a revolution of time)
רֵאשִׁית: the first, in place, time, order or rank (specifically, a firstfruit)
מַמְלָכָה: dominion, i.e. (abstractly) the estate (rule) or (concretely) the country (realm)
צִדְקִיָּה: Tsidkijah, the name of six Israelites
מֶלֶךְ: a king
יְהוּדָה: Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
חֲמִישִׁי: fifth; also a fifth
חֹדֶשׁ: the new moon; by implication, a month
רְבִיעִי: fourth; also (fractionally) a fourth
חֲנַנְיָה: Chananjah, the name of thirteen Israelites
Cross References
Jeremiah 28God's designated test for validating a prophet's word through the historical fulfillment of their prediction.
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Moses warned of a 'yoke of iron' for disobedience, directly echoed by Jeremiah's iron yokes.
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Directly connects Hananiah's opposition to Jeremiah's recent command to serve Babylon.
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Benaiah's 'Amen' parallels Jeremiah's wish that Hananiah's peaceful prophecy were actually true.
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Confirms God's sovereign gift of both humanity and the beasts of the field to Nebuchadnezzar.
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Parallel condemnation of Shemaiah for causing the people to trust in a lie.
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Parallels the sin of false prophets who strengthen the wicked by promising life falsely.
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Context of the temple vessels taken by Nebuchadnezzar during Jehoiachin's exile.
Zedekiah's symbolic horns of iron parallel Hananiah's physical manipulation of the yoke.
Repeats the exact wording of God giving the beasts of the field to Nebuchadnezzar.
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Shemaiah's judgment of death and lack of offspring mirrors Hananiah's swift execution.
Physical assault of a true prophet by a false prophet (Zedekiah striking Micaiah).