Jeremiah 42:20

For you have deceived yourselves by sending me to the LORD your God, saying, ‘Pray to the LORD our God on our behalf, and as for all that the LORD our God says, tell it to us and we will do it.’

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jeremiah addresses the remnant of Judah immediately after warning them not to flee to Egypt. The leaders respond by quoting their own previous request to him.

The words — הִתְעֵיתֶם (hitʿeitem) means "you caused to err," paired with שְׁלַחְתֶּם (shalachtem) "you sent." Jeremiah charges them with self-deception for commissioning his intercession while planning to ignore the result.

The thread — The pattern of claiming obedience while disobeying God’s direct command recurs in Jeremiah 42:21 and parallels the unrepentant defiance seen in Numbers 16:38.

Why it lands — The text records the leaders repeating their demand for prayer and promised obedience before Jeremiah delivers God’s warning. It demands honest acknowledgment of a heart that seeks divine guidance only to reject the revealed will.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

כִּ֣יkifor הִתְעֵיתֶם֮hit.'e.teimyou caused to err בְּנַפְשֽׁוֹתֵיכֶם֒be./naf.sho.tei./Khem<in>/ selves/ your כִּֽי־ki-for אַתֶּ֞ם'a.Temyou שְׁלַחְתֶּ֣םshe.lach.Temyou sent אֹתִ֗י'o.T/i<obj.>/ me אֶל־'el-to יְהוָ֤הYah.wehYahweh אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֙'e.lo.hei./KhemGod/ your לֵאמֹ֔רle./Mor<to>/ saying הִתְפַּלֵּ֣לhit.pa.Lelpray בַּעֲדֵ֔נוּba.'a.De./nufor/ us אֶל־'el-to יְהוָ֖הYah.wehYahweh אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ'e.lo.Hei./nuGod/ our וּכְכֹל֩u./khe./Kholand/ according to/ all אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.Sherthat יֹאמַ֜רyo.Marhe will say יְהוָ֧הYah.wehYahweh אֱלֹהֵ֛ינוּ'e.lo.Hei./nuGod/ our כֵּ֥ןkenso הַגֶּד־ha.ged-tellלָ֖נוּLa./nuto <the>/ usוְעָשִֽׂינוּ׃ve./'a.Si.nuand/ we will do [it]

King James Version

For ye 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.

Cross-references

Numbers 16:38 As for the censers of those who sinned at the cost of their own lives, hammer them into sheets to overlay the altar, for these were presented before the LORD, and so have become holy. They will serve as a sign to the Israelites.”
Psalms 18:44 When they hear me, they obey me; foreigners cower before me.
Psalms 65:3 When iniquities prevail against me, You atone for our transgressions.
Jeremiah 3:10 Yet in spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to Me with all her heart, but only in pretense,” declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 17:10 I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.
Jeremiah 42:2 Jeremiah the prophet and said, “May our petition come before you; pray to the LORD your God on behalf of this entire remnant. For few of us remain of the many, as you can see with your own eyes.
Ezekiel 14:3 “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I consult with them in any way?
Ezekiel 33:31 So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain.
Matthew 22:15 Then the Pharisees went out and conspired to trap Jesus in His words.
Matthew 22:35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested Him with a question: