Jeremiah 43:1-7 · Bible study
Jeremiah 43:1-7 Commentary: Rejecting God's Word After Promising Obedience
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
After solemnly vowing to obey whatever God said, the remnant of Judah accuses Jeremiah of lying and heads to Egypt.
Research Summary
- Meaning: When God's word contradicts our desires, pride leads to outright rejection of his messenger and his command.
- Key words: proud (H2086, zedim, arrogant, insolent); falsehood (H8267, sheqer, lie, deception); inciting (H5496, sut, to instigate, entice).
- Main debate: Were the people driven primarily by fear of Babylon or by stubborn pride? Commentators emphasize pride, but fear factors into their reasoning.
- Theological theme: The danger of conditional obedience, claiming to follow God while retaining the final say.
- Best use: A cautionary sermon or study on the nature of spiritual rebellion and the importance of submitting to God's word even when it is hard.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
1When Jeremiah had finished telling all the people all the words of the LORD their God—everything that the LORD had sent him to say—
2Azariah son of Hoshaiah, Johanan son of Kareah, and all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, “You are lying! The LORD our God has not sent you to say, ‘You must not go to Egypt to reside there.’
3Rather, Baruch son of Neriah is inciting you against us to deliver us into the hands of the Chaldeans, so that they may put us to death or exile us to Babylon!”
4So Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces disobeyed the command of the LORD to stay in the land of Judah.
5Instead, Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces took the whole remnant of Judah, those who had returned to the land of Judah from all the nations to which they had been scattered,
6the men, the women, the children, the king’s daughters, and everyone whom Nebuzaradan captain of the guard had allowed to remain with Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, as well as Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch son of Neriah.
7So they entered the land of Egypt because they did not obey the voice of the LORD, and they went as far as Tahpanhes.
WEB World English Bible 2000
1When Jeremiah had finished speaking to all the people all the words of Yahweh their God, with which Yahweh their God had sent him to them, even all these words,
2then Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men spoke, saying to Jeremiah, “You speak falsely. Yahweh our God has not sent you to say, ‘You shall not go into Egypt to live there;’
3but Baruch the son of Neriah has turned you against us, to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they may put us to death or carry us away captive to Babylon.”
4So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, didn’t obey Yahweh’s voice, to dwell in the land of Judah.
5But Johanan the son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces took all the remnant of Judah, who had returned from all the nations where they had been driven, to live in the land of Judah—
6the men, the women, the children, the king’s daughters, and every person who Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan; and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Neriah.
7They came into the land of Egypt, for they didn’t obey Yahweh’s voice; and they came to Tahpanhes.
KJV King James Version 1769
1And it came to pass, that when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking unto all the people all the words of the Lord their God, for which the Lord their God had sent him to them, even all these words,
2Then spake Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men, saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely: the Lord our God hath not sent thee to say, Go not into Egypt to sojourn there:
3But Baruch the son of Neriah setteth thee on against us, for to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they might put us to death, and carry us away captives into Babylon.
4So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, obeyed not the voice of the Lord, to dwell in the land of Judah.
5But Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, took all the remnant of Judah, that were returned from all nations, whither they had been driven, to dwell in the land of Judah;
6Even men, and women, and children, and the king’s daughters, and every person that Nebuzar–adan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Neriah.
7So they came into the land of Egypt: for they obeyed not the voice of the Lord: thus came they even to Tahpanhes.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
1And it came to pass that, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking unto all the people all the words of Jehovah their God, wherewith Jehovah their God had sent him to them, even all these words,
2then spake Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men, saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely: Jehovah our God hath not sent thee to say, Ye shall not go into Egypt to sojourn there;
3but Baruch the son of Neriah setteth thee on against us, to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they may put us to death, and carry us away captive to Babylon.
4So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, obeyed not the voice of Jehovah, to dwell in the land of Judah.
5But Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, took all the remnant of Judah, that were returned from all the nations whither they had been driven, to sojourn in the land of Judah;
6the men, and the women, and the children, and the king’s daughters, and every person that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan; and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Neriah.
7And they came into the land of Egypt; for they obeyed not the voice of Jehovah: and they came unto Tahpanhes.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
1And it cometh to pass, when Jeremiah doth finish to speak unto all the people all the words of Jehovah their God, with which Jehovah their God hath sent him unto them--all these words--
2that Azariah son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan son of Kareah, and all the proud men, speak unto Jeremiah, saying, `Falsehood thou art speaking; Jehovah our God hath not sent thee to say, Do not enter Egypt to sojourn there;
3for Baruch son of Neriah is moving thee against us, in order to give us up into the hand of the Chaldeans, to put us to death, and to remove us to Babylon.'
4And Johanan son of Kareah, and all the heads of the forces, and all the people, have not hearkened to the voice of Jehovah, to dwell in the land of Judah;
5and Johanan son of Kareah, and all the heads of the forces, take all the remnant of Judah who have turned from all the nations whither they were driven to sojourn in the land of Judah,
6the men, and the women, and the infant, and the daughters of the king, and every person that Nebuzar-Adan, chief of the executioners, had left with Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch son of Neriah,
7and they enter the land of Egypt, for they have not hearkened to the voice of Jehovah, and they enter unto Tahpanhes.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
1And it came to pass, when Jeremiah had ended speaking unto all the people all the words of Jehovah their God, with which Jehovah their God had sent him to them — all these words,
2— then spoke Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men, saying to Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely: Jehovah our God hath not sent thee to say, Go not into Egypt to sojourn there;
3but Baruch the son of Nerijah is setting thee on against us, to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they may put us to death, and carry us away captives into Babylon.
4So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, hearkened not unto the voice of Jehovah to abide in the land of Judah;
5but Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, took all the remnant of Judah, that were returned from all nations whither they had been driven, to sojourn in the land of Judah;
6men, and women, and children, and the king's daughters, and every person that Nebuzar-adan the captain of the body-guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Nerijah;
7and they came into the land of Egypt: for they hearkened not unto the voice of Jehovah. And they came as far as Tahpanhes.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
1And it came to pass, that when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking to the people all the words of the Lord their God, for which the Lord their God had sent him to them, all these words:
2Azarias the son of Osaias, and Johanan the son of Caree, and all the proud men, made answer, saying to Jeremiah: Thou tellest a lie: the Lord our God hath not sent thee, saying: Go not into Egypt, to dwell there.
3But Baruch the son of Nerias setteth thee on against us, to deliver us into the hands of the Chaldeans, to kill us, and to cause us to be carried away captives to Babylon.
4So Johanan the son of Caree, and all the captains of the soldiers, and all the people, obeyed not the voice of the Lord, to remain in the land of Juda.
5But Johanan the son of Caree, and all the captains of the soldiers took all the remnant of Juda, that were returned out of all nations, to which they had before been scattered, to dwell in the land of Juda:
6Men, and women, and children, and the king's daughters, and every soul, which Nabuzardan the general had left with Godolias the son of Ahicam the son of Saphan, and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Nerias.
7And they went into the land of Egypt, for they obeyed not the voice of the Lord: and they came as far as Taphnis.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Jeremiah 43:1
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that the people's rejection of Jeremiah's prophecy was a deliberate act of defiance rooted in pride. Calvin calls their behavior 'monstrous stupidity,' noting they had found Jeremiah faithful for many years yet still refused to submit. Matthew Henry observes that they 'deny it to be a message from God' because it crossed their plans. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown connects their attitude directly to pride: 'pride is the parent of disobedience and contempt of God.' Gill points out they had no real grounds for accusation, so they resorted to flat denial and blamed Baruch as a conspirator. The passage shows that the same people who solemnly swore to obey (Jeremiah 42:5-6) immediately turned on God's messenger when the answer did not suit them. This was not ignorance but willful rebellion. The commentators highlight the stark contrast between their spoken promise and their immediate disobedience, revealing a heart that wanted God's endorsement, not God's direction.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Pride and obstinacy: The text calls the leaders 'proud men' (v.2) and repeats their refusal to obey. Calvin and Matthew Henry emphasize this as the primary motive.
- Fear of Babylonian retaliation: The historical context (Gedaliah's murder, fear of reprisal) and the captains' desire to escape to Egypt suggest fear played a role, as noted by Barnes and Ellicott.
- Political miscalculation: Keil and Delitzsch argue they misjudged the situation, believing Egypt could protect them, and were unwilling to trust God's promise of safety in a devastated land.
What is clear: All traditions agree that the people disobeyed God's explicit command delivered through Jeremiah and that their decision led them into judgment, not safety.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Reason for rejecting the prophecy | Pride and self-will drove the leaders to refuse Jeremiah's message. | Some commentators emphasize fear of Babylonian reprisal as a contributing factor; others see pure arrogance as the root. |
| Role of Baruch | Baruch was a faithful scribe and companion of Jeremiah, wrongly accused of treason. | Some early Jewish traditions view Baruch as a prophet in his own right; others see him merely as a secretary. The accusation of incitement is universally rejected. |
| Coercion in the migration | The leaders forcibly took the remnant, including Jeremiah and Baruch, to Egypt. | Whether the 'all the people' (v.4) were willing participants or mostly forced is debated. Barnes suggests many were unwilling agents; the text emphasizes the leaders' action. |
| Significance of Tahpanhes | Tahpanhes was a frontier city in Lower Egypt, near Pelusium, a logical first stop for refugees. | Clarke and others identify it with Daphne Pelusiaca; some associate it with the later tradition of Jeremiah's martyrdom, though this is not universally accepted. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This passage sits in the chaotic months after Babylon's destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC. The Babylonian governor Gedaliah had been assassinated (Jeremiah 41), and the remaining Judeans feared reprisal from Nebuchadnezzar. A group of military captains, led by Johanan and Azariah, gathered the remnant and asked Jeremiah to seek God's will about fleeing to Egypt (Jeremiah 42:1-3). They swore to obey whatever God said (Jeremiah 42:5-6). But when the answer came, stay in the land and trust God, they refused.
The leaders belonged to the party that had long opposed Jeremiah's counsel (Barnes). They had seen his warnings fulfilled, yet pride kept them from submitting. The Hebrew term for 'proud men' (hazedim, H2086) carries a sense of insolent arrogance. Ellicott notes that Egypt still appeared as a refuge: its fertile Nile delta offered food and security after the famine of the siege. But Jeremiah had consistently warned against alliances with Egypt (Jeremiah 2:36; 37:7). Tahpanhes, their destination, was a frontier city on the Tanitic branch of the Nile, likely modern Tell Defenneh. Clarke records a tradition that here the prophet Jeremiah was stoned to death by these same rebels.
The language of verses 5-6 emphasizes the scope of the forced migration: 'the men, the women, the children, the king's daughters, and every person', no one was left. Even Jeremiah and Baruch were taken against their will. The refrain 'they did not obey the voice of the Lord' (v.4, v.7) frames the entire episode as a tragic act of self-willed ruin.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Jeremiah 43:1-7. The Hebrew text is stable across the major manuscripts, and the English translations differ only in style, not in substantive meaning. The main interpretive questions arise from the narrative itself, not from textual uncertainty.
Reception History
Christian readers have long seen this passage as a warning against the consequences of rejecting prophetic authority. The early church emphasized the tragedy of those who had experienced God's faithfulness yet still refused to obey. A tradition preserved by Jerome and noted by Clarke claims that in Tahpanhes the rebellious Jews stoned Jeremiah to death. This belief, while not historically certain, colored later readings: the prophet who had interceded for his people sealed his witness with blood. In the Reformation, commentators like Calvin and Matthew Henry used the passage to illustrate the deceitfulness of the human heart, which can swear loyalty to God while clinging to its own plans. Jewish interpretation has focused on the stubbornness of the remnant and the missed opportunity for restoration in the land.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The promise that was never meant. The people swore to obey God's word (Jeremiah 42:5-6), but their hearts were already set on Egypt. Their request for guidance was a test, not an act of faith.
- The accusation that exposes the heart. When Jeremiah delivered God's answer, they called him a liar and blamed Baruch. Pride cannot accept an answer that denies its own plans.
- The march that sealed their fate. They dragged everyone to Egypt, including the prophet. Disobedience rarely stays private, it pulls others down with it.
Five-point outline
- Jeremiah completes his message (v.1).
- The proud men accuse him of falsehood (v.2).
- They blame Baruch for conspiracy (v.3).
- The leaders force the whole remnant to leave for Egypt (vv.4-6).
- They arrive at Tahpanhes, still unwilling to obey (v.7).
Illustration hooks
- A married couple asks a counselor for advice but rejects it when it means changing their own behavior. They wanted validation, not direction.
- A sports team promises to follow the coach's game plan, then ignores it in the final quarter because they think their own instincts are better.
- A group of investors asks a financial expert whether to invest in a risky scheme, but when the expert says no, they accuse him of being in league with competitors.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why did the people reject Jeremiah after he had been proven right over and over?
- Could the remnant really have survived if they had stayed in Judah?
- How could they force Jeremiah and Baruch to go with them? Was that not kidnapping?
Leading a Discussion
These verses show how easily a promise to obey can be broken when God's word crosses our preferences. The people of Judah had asked for divine guidance and vowed to follow it. But when the answer came, they refused. This passage invites us to examine our own hearts: Do we truly seek God's will, or do we seek his approval for plans we have already made?
Discussion questions
- Read Jeremiah 42:5-6. What did the people promise, and what does that reveal about their initial attitude?
- What changed between their promise in chapter 42 and their response in chapter 43? Why did they accuse Jeremiah of lying?
- The text calls them 'the proud men' (v.2). How does pride shape their rejection of God's word?
- Why do they single out Baruch as the one who 'incites' Jeremiah (v.3)? What does this blame-shifting accomplish?
- Verse 4 says the leaders and 'all the people' did not obey. Do you think everyone was equally defiant, or were some coerced? What does the text suggest?
- How does the repetition of 'they did not obey the voice of the Lord' (vv.4,7) function in the story? What is the author emphasizing?
- Think of a time when you asked for godly advice but resisted the answer. What helped you eventually submit, or what made it harder?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Exodus 24:3 | Moses came and told the people all Yahweh’s words, and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice, and said, “All the words which Yahweh has spoken will we do.” |
| I Samuel 8:10 | Samuel told all Yahweh’s words to the people who asked him for a king. |
| Jeremiah 1:7 | But Yahweh said to me, “Don’t say, ‘I am a child;’ for you must go to whomever I send you, and you must say whatever I command you. |
| Jeremiah 1:17 | “You therefore put your belt on your waist, arise, and say to them all that I command you. Don’t be dismayed at them, lest I dismay you before them. |
| Jeremiah 26:2 | “Yahweh says: ‘Stand in the court of Yahweh’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah which come to worship in Yahweh’s house, all the words that I command you to speak to them. Don’t omit a word. |
| Jeremiah 26:8 | When Jeremiah had finished speaking all that Yahweh had commanded him to speak to all the people, the priests and the prophets and all the people seized him, saying, “You shall surely die! |
| Jeremiah 42:3 | that Yahweh your God may show us the way in which we should walk, and the things that we should do.” |
| Jeremiah 42:5 | Then they said to Jeremiah, “May Yahweh be a true and faithful witness among us, if we don’t do according to all the word with which Yahweh your God sends you to tell us. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
7 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke draws attention to the striking image of Nebuchadnezzar putting on Egypt like a shepherd spreads a garment over himself. This noble picture emphasizes how easily God transfers a mighty kingdom, even one that rivals Babylon, when the time for its fall arrives.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin observes that the people never sincerely sought God's will; they had already resolved to flee to Egypt. When Jeremiah's warning contradicted their desire, they refused to obey and instead blamed Baruch for stirring up the prophet. Their obstinacy reveals a heart set on its own way, not on truly hearing from God.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill stresses that pride was the root of the people's rebellion: they considered themselves too wise to accept God's word through Jeremiah. To avoid obeying, they falsely accused Baruch of manipulating the prophet, then dismissed the entire message as a lie. Their stubborn self-regard led them to reject the Lord's command and force Jeremiah to accompany them into Egypt.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB points out the astonishing fickleness of these people: they had just acknowledged Jeremiah's long-proven trustworthiness, yet now they accuse him of lying. He traces this to pride, which he calls the parent of disobedience, and to the deceitfulness of the unregenerate human heart.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch identifies Jezaniah, not Azariah, as the actual chief speaker who led the opposition against Jeremiah. They also argue that the people taken to Egypt formed a single group, rejecting scholarly attempts to divide them into separate classes.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry draws a striking parallel between these people and the builders of Babel: they were so set on their own plan that nothing could stop them. They insisted on going to Egypt despite God's clear command, denying Jeremiah's message was from God and accusing him of being manipulated by Baruch.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that Tahpanhes was, at the time, the residence of Egypt's king. This detail clarifies the location's significance as a royal seat rather than a minor border town.