Bible Strands
Jeremiah 43:2
Azariah son of Hoshaiah, Johanan son of Kareah, and all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, “You are lying! The LORD our God has not sent you to say, ‘You must not go to Egypt to reside there.’
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Azariah son of Hoshaiah, Johanan son of Kareah, and a group of arrogant men speak directly to Jeremiah immediately after he finishes delivering the LORD’s command not to enter Egypt. The confrontation occurs in the wake of his completed prophetic declaration.
The words — The Hebrew וַ/יֹּ֨אמֶר (va/i.Yo.mer) literally means “and he said,” signaling the immediate shift to their rebuttal. The word כָּל (khol) translates as “all,” underscoring the collective scope of the group’s denial.
The thread — The text records their accusation that Jeremiah is lying and that Baruch is inciting him, which aligns with the pattern of prophetic rejection in 2 Chronicles 36:13 and the warning against pride in Proverbs 16:5. The call to trust the spoken word rather than human strategy parallels the faith requirement in Isaiah 7:9.
Why it lands — The passage first states that the leaders explicitly deny Jeremiah’s divine commission before noting their claim that Baruch is manipulating him. It requires the reader to test prophetic claims against the consistency of God’s prior word and to reject authority that prioritizes human survival over divine instruction.
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 spake Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men, saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely: the Lord our God hath not sent thee to say, Go not into Egypt to sojourn there:
Cross-references
- 2 Chronicles 36:13 He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. But Zedekiah stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD, the God of Israel.
- Isaiah 7:9 The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. If you do not stand firm in your faith, then you will not stand at all.’”
- Proverbs 16:5 Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured that he will not go unpunished.
- Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
- Jeremiah 5:12 They have lied about the LORD and said: “He will not do anything; harm will not come to us; we will not see sword or famine.
- Jeremiah 13:15 Listen and give heed. Do not be arrogant, for the LORD has spoken.
- Jeremiah 40:8 they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah son of the Maacathite—they and their men.
- Jeremiah 42:1 Then all the commanders of the forces, along with Johanan son of Kareah, Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest, approached
- Jeremiah 43:1 When Jeremiah had finished telling all the people all the words of the LORD their God—everything that the LORD had sent him to say—
- Habakkuk 2:4 Look at the proud one; his soul is not upright—but the righteous will live by faith—