Jeremiah28
New International Version
1In the fifth month of that same year, the fourth year, early in the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, the prophet Hananiah son of Azzur, who was from Gibeon, said to me in the house of the Lord in the presence of the priests and all the people:
2“This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.
3Within two years I will bring back to this place all the articles of the Lord’s house that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon removed from here and took to Babylon.
4I will also bring back to this place Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim king of Judah and all the other exiles from Judah who went to Babylon,’ declares the Lord, ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’”
5Then the prophet Jeremiah replied to the prophet Hananiah before the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of the Lord.
6He said, “Amen! May the Lord do so! May the Lord fulfill the words you have prophesied by bringing the articles of the Lord’s house and all the exiles back to this place from Babylon.
7Nevertheless, listen to what I have to say in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people:
8From early times the prophets who preceded you and me have prophesied war, disaster and plague against many countries and great kingdoms.
9But the prophet who prophesies peace will be recognized as one truly sent by the Lord only if his prediction comes true.”
10Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah and broke it,
11and he said before all the people, “This is what the Lord says: ‘In the same way I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon off the neck of all the nations within two years.’” At this, the prophet Jeremiah went on his way.
12After the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah:
13“Go and tell Hananiah, ‘This is what the Lord says: You have broken a wooden yoke, but in its place you will get a yoke of iron.
14This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I will put an iron yoke on the necks of all these nations to make them serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and they will serve him. I will even give him control over the wild animals.’”
15Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, “Listen, Hananiah! The Lord has not sent you, yet you have persuaded this nation to trust in lies.
16Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. This very year you are going to die, because you have preached rebellion against the Lord.’”
17In the seventh month of that same year, Hananiah the prophet died.
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).