📖 Jeremiah — Chapter 26 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Jeremiah 26:1 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the LORD, saying,
Jeremiah 26:2 Thus saith the LORD; RStand in the court of the LORD’s house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD’s house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:
Jeremiah 26:3 If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.
Jeremiah 26:4 And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, Rwhich I have set before you,
Jeremiah 26:5 To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, Rwhom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened;
Jeremiah 26:6 Then Rwill I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.
Jeremiah 26:7 So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD.
Jeremiah 26:8 Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that Rthe priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die.
Jeremiah 26:9 RWhy hast thou prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.
Jeremiah 26:10 When Rthe princes of Judah heard these things, then they came up from the king’s house unto the house of the LORD, and sat down Tin the entry of the new gate of the LORD’s house.
Jeremiah 26:11 Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, Rsaying, TThis man is worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears.
Jeremiah 26:12 Then spake Jeremiah unto all the princes and to all the people, saying, RThe LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard.
Jeremiah 26:13 Therefore now Ramend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you.
Jeremiah 26:14 RAs for me, behold, I am in your hand: do with me as seemeth good and meet unto you.
Jeremiah 26:15 But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, Rye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the LORD hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears.
Jeremiah 26:16 Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets; This man is not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.
Jeremiah 26:17 RThen rose up certain of the elders of the land, and spake to all the assembly of the people, saying,
Jeremiah 26:18 RMicah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.
Jeremiah 26:19 Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death? Rdid he not fear the LORD, and besought Tthe LORD, and the LORD repented him of the evil which he had pronounced against them? Thus might we procure great evil against our souls.
Jeremiah 26:20 And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjathjearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 26:21 And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, Rthe king sought to put him to death: but when Urijah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt;
Jeremiah 26:22 And Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt, namely, Elnathan the son of RAchbor, and certain men with him into Egypt.
Jeremiah 26:23 And they fetched forth Urijah out of Egypt, and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king; Rwho slew him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the Tcommon people.
Jeremiah 26:24 Nevertheless the hand of RAhikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Jeremiah 26:1–8 — A temple warning provokes a death threat
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Jeremiah must speak every commanded word, hoping the people will turn. The warning that temple and city can become like Shiloh leads priests, prophets, and people to seize him.
Key Truth: Do not suppress needed truth to avoid opposition.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the ____ of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the …” (Jeremiah 26:1)
Find it in Jeremiah 26:1 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “… the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these ____ in the house of the LORD.” (Jeremiah 26:7)
Find it in Jeremiah 26:7 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “Now it ____ to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking …” (Jeremiah 26:8)
Find it in Jeremiah 26:8 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Jeremiah 26:9–16 — The prophet defends his commission
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Officials hear the charge, and Jeremiah calls again for amended ways. He places himself in their hands while warning against innocent blood; the princes and people reject the demand for death.
Key Truth: Hear a warning fairly before condemning its messenger.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “… saying, This man is worthy to die; for he hath ____ against this city, as ye have heard with your ears.” (Jeremiah 26:11)
Find it in Jeremiah 26:11 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “… your God; and the LORD will repent him of the ____ that he hath pronounced against you.” (Jeremiah 26:13)
Find it in Jeremiah 26:13 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “____ said the princes and all the people unto the priests …” (Jeremiah 26:16)
Find it in Jeremiah 26:16 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Jeremiah 26:17–24 — Two prophets and different responses
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Elders recall Micah and Hezekiah’s repentant response. Urijah’s execution contrasts with Jeremiah’s protection through Ahikam, exposing both the danger and the value of defending a threatened witness.
Key Truth: Use influence to protect truthful speech.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “____ rose up certain of the elders of the land, and …” (Jeremiah 26:17)
Find it in Jeremiah 26:17 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “… all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his ____ , the king sought to put him to death: but …” (Jeremiah 26:21)
Find it in Jeremiah 26:21 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “… Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt, namely, Elnathan the ____ of Achbor, and certain men with him into Egypt.” (Jeremiah 26:22)
Find it in Jeremiah 26:22 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Micah 3:12 — This is the earlier warning cited by the elders.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
How can you hear difficult correction without attacking the person who brings it?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. How does Jeremiah’s commission limit selective preaching?
2. What possibility gives purpose to the warning?
3. What responsibility would the killing of Jeremiah bring?
4. How did Hezekiah respond to Micah’s warning?
5. What role does Ahikam play in the chapter’s ending?
Notes
Write what you want to remember, questions to explore, or Scriptures to look up later. Your saved notes are private to your account.
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