Bible Strands

Jeremiah 42:22

Now therefore, know for sure that by sword and famine and plague you will die in the place where you desire to go to reside.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God speaks through Jeremiah to the remaining Judahites who have just requested guidance on fleeing to Egypt after Jerusalem's fall. He delivers this declaration immediately after they acknowledge hearing His warning but refuse to obey it.

The words — וְ/עַתָּה (ve./'a.Tah) means "and therefore," marking a forced conclusion. תֵּֽדְע֔וּ (te.de.'U) translates literally as "you will know," stressing the unavoidable certainty of the coming events.

The thread — This exact warning repeats in Jeremiah 42:17, where God specifies that anyone who resolves to live in Egypt will die by sword, famine, and plague. The outcome mirrors Hosea 9:6, which describes the exiles being gathered by Egypt and buried in Memphis rather than escaping judgment.

Why it lands — The text requires readers to accept divine warning over personal destination. It demands that obedience to God's explicit command outweighs the desire to control one's own circumstances.

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

וְעַתָּה֙ve./'a.Tahand/ thereforeיָדֹ֣עַya.Do.a'assuredly <know>תֵּֽדְע֔וּte.de.'Uyou will knowכִּ֗יKithatבַּחֶ֛רֶבba./Che.revby the/ swordבָּרָעָ֥בba./ra.'Avby <the>/ famineוּבַדֶּ֖בֶרu./va./De.verand/ by <the>/ pestilenceתָּמ֑וּתוּta.Mu.tuyou will dieבַּמָּקוֹם֙ba./ma.kOmin the/ placeאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sherwhereחֲפַצְתֶּ֔םcha.fatz.Temyou desireלָב֖וֹאla./Vo'to/ goלָג֥וּרla./Gurto/ sojournשָֽׁם׃ סShamthere

King James Version

Now therefore know certainly that ye shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, in the place whither ye desire to go and to sojourn.

Cross-references