Bible Strands
Jeremiah 42:4
“I have heard you,” replied Jeremiah the prophet. “I will surely pray to the LORD your God as you request, and I will tell you everything that the LORD answers. I will not withhold a word from you.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jeremiah the prophet speaks to the remnant of Judahites who fled to Mizpah and requested his intercession. He responds to their petition for divine direction regarding their immediate future.
The words — The verb שָׁמַ֔עְתִּי (sha.Ma'.ti) translates literally as "I have heard," confirming Jeremiah’s reception of their request. His declaration הִנְ/נִ֧י מִתְפַּלֵּ֛ל (hi./Ni mit.pa.Lel) means "here I am [about to] pray," marking his immediate commitment to intercede.
The thread — This pattern of prophetic intercession and transparent reporting appears when Moses promises to pray for the removal of the swarms of flies (Exodus 8:29). It parallels Eli’s demand for unhidden divine messages (1 Samuel 3:17) and Samuel’s vow to continue interceding for the people (1 Samuel 12:23).
Why it lands — The text requires readers to recognize that faithful mediation demands both prompt obedience to intercessory requests and complete transparency in reporting divine responses. It places the burden of trust on the prophet while reserving the authority of the answer solely for God.
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
King James Version
Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard you; behold, I 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.
Cross-references
- Exodus 8:29 “As soon as I leave you,” Moses said, “I will pray to the LORD, so that tomorrow the swarms of flies will depart from Pharaoh and his officials and his people. But Pharaoh must not act deceitfully again by refusing to let the people go and sacrifice to the LORD.”
- 1 Samuel 3:17 “What was the message He gave you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide it from me. May God punish you, and ever so severely, if you hide from me anything He said to you.”
- 1 Samuel 12:23 As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you. And I will continue to teach you the good and right way.
- Psalms 40:10 I have not covered up Your righteousness in my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and salvation; I have not concealed Your loving devotion and faithfulness from the great assembly.
- Jeremiah 23:28 Let the prophet who has a dream retell it, but let him who has My word speak it truthfully. For what is straw compared to grain?” declares the LORD.
- Acts 20:20 I did not shrink back from declaring anything that was helpful to you as I taught you publicly and from house to house,
- Acts 20:27 For I did not shrink back from declaring to you the whole will of God.
- 1 Kings 22:14 But Micaiah said, “As surely as the LORD lives, I will speak whatever the LORD tells me.”
- 2 Chronicles 18:13 But Micaiah said, “As surely as the LORD lives, I will speak whatever my God tells me.”
- Ezekiel 2:7 But speak My words to them, whether they listen or refuse to listen, for they are rebellious.