📖 Jeremiah — Chapter 42 (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 42:1 Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and RJezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest, came near,
Jeremiah 42:2 And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, TLet, we beseech thee, our supplication Rbe 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:)
Jeremiah 42:3 That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do.
Jeremiah 42:4 Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard you; behold, RI will pray unto the LORD your God according to your words; and it shall come to pass, that whatsoever thing the LORD shall answer you, I will declare it unto you; I will keep nothing back from you.
Jeremiah 42:5 Then they said to Jeremiah, RThe LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us.
Jeremiah 42:6 Whether Rit be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God.
Jeremiah 42:7 And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 42:8 Then called he RJohanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces which were with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest,
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;
Jeremiah 42:10 If ye will still Rabide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up: for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you.
Jeremiah 42:11 Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the LORD: Rfor I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand.
Jeremiah 42:12 And I will shew mercies unto you, that he may have mercy upon you, and cause you to return to your own land.
Jeremiah 42:13 But if ye say, We will not dwell in this land, neither obey the voice of the LORD your God,
Jeremiah 42:14 Saying, No; but Rwe will go into the land of Egypt, where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor have hunger of bread; and there will we dwell:
Jeremiah 42:15 And now therefore hear the word of the LORD, ye remnant of Judah; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; If ye wholly set your faces to enter into Egypt, and go to sojourn there;
Jeremiah 42:16 Then it shall come to pass, Rthat the sword, which ye feared, shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine, whereof ye were afraid, Tshall follow close after you there in Egypt; and there ye shall die.
Jeremiah 42:17 TSo shall it be with all the men that set their faces to go into Egypt to sojourn there; Rthey shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: and none of them shall remain or escape from the evil that I will bring upon them.
Jeremiah 42:18 For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; RAs mine anger and my fury hath been poured forth upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem; so shall my fury be poured forth upon you, when ye shall enter into Egypt: and ye shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach; and ye shall see this place no more.
Jeremiah 42:19 The LORD hath said concerning you, O ye remnant of Judah; Go ye not into Egypt: Rknow certainly that I have Tadmonished you this day.
Jeremiah 42:20 RFor Tye dissembled in your hearts, when ye sent me unto the LORD your God, saying, Pray for us unto the LORD our God; and according unto all that the LORD our God shall say, so declare unto us, and we will do it.
Jeremiah 42:21 And now RI have this day declared it to you; but ye have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God, nor any thing for the which he hath sent me unto you.
Jeremiah 42:22 Now therefore Rknow certainly that ye shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, in the place whither ye desire Tto go and to sojourn.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Jeremiah 42:1–8 — The remnant asks for guidance and promises obedience
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Leaders and people ask Jeremiah to pray for the way they should walk. He promises to withhold nothing, and they pledge to obey whether the answer seems good or bad; the word comes after ten days.
Key Truth: Ask for guidance with a willingness to follow it.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “Then called he Johanan the ____ of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces which …” (Jeremiah 42:8)
Find it in Jeremiah 42:8 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “… they said to Jeremiah, The LORD be a true and ____ witness between us, if we do not even according to …” (Jeremiah 42:5)
Find it in Jeremiah 42:5 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “____ all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son …” (Jeremiah 42:1)
Find it in Jeremiah 42:1 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Jeremiah 42:9–15 — Remaining in Judah is the commanded way
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The Lord promises building and mercy if the people stay, telling them not to fear Babylon’s king. Their desire to avoid war and hunger by going to Egypt is directly confronted.
Key Truth: Let God’s instruction challenge a fear-driven plan.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “And ____ unto them, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, …” (Jeremiah 42:9)
Find it in Jeremiah 42:9 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “… I will shew mercies unto you, that he may have ____ upon you, and cause you to return to your own …” (Jeremiah 42:12)
Find it in Jeremiah 42:12 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “… land of Egypt, where we shall see no war, nor ____ the sound of the trumpet, nor have hunger of bread; …” (Jeremiah 42:14)
Find it in Jeremiah 42:14 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Jeremiah 42:16–22 — The desired refuge will not remove the danger
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The announced sword and famine will follow them into Egypt. Jeremiah exposes the mismatch between their request for prayer and their refusal to do what they said they would obey.
Key Truth: Do not ask for counsel merely to confirm a decision already made.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “____ it shall come to pass, that the sword, which ye …” (Jeremiah 42:16)
Find it in Jeremiah 42:16 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “The ____ hath said concerning you, O ye remnant of Judah; Go …” (Jeremiah 42:19)
Find it in Jeremiah 42:19 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “Now therefore ____ certainly that ye shall die by the sword, by the …” (Jeremiah 42:22)
Find it in Jeremiah 42:22 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Jeremiah 29:13 — Seeking the Lord is joined to seeking with the whole heart.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
Are you seeking direction or only approval for a settled plan?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. What commitment does Jeremiah make when asked for guidance?
2. What scope does the people’s pledge of obedience claim?
3. What is promised if the remnant stays in the land?
4. How does the warning challenge Egypt’s promised safety?
5. What inconsistency does Jeremiah expose in their request?
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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