Jeremiah 28:8

8 There were prophets long before we became prophets, Hananiah. They prophesied that war, hunger, and terrible diseases would come to many countries and great kingdoms.

Jeremiah 28:8 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 28:8

The prophets that have been before me, and before thee of old,
&c.] Such as Isaiah, Hoses, Joel, Amos, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, and others: these prophesied both against many countries and against great kingdoms;
as Egypt, Babylon, Syria, Ethiopia, Moab as Isaiah particularly did: of war, and of evil, and of pestilence;
by evil some think is meant famine, because that usually goes along with the other mentioned, and there being but one letter in which the words for evil and famine differ; and now the prophets that prophesied of these were sent of God, were the true prophets of the Lord; and therefore this ought not to be objected to the prejudice of Jeremiah, that his prophecies were of this sort: yea, if they should not come to pass, yet a man is not to be counted a false prophet, because such things are threatened in case nations do not repent of their sins and reform, which they may do; and then the evils threatened are prevented, as in the case of the Ninevites.

Jeremiah 28:8 In-Context

6 He said, "Amen! Let the Lord really do that! May the Lord make the message you prophesy come true. May he bring back here everything from the Lord's Temple and all the people who were taken as captives to Babylon.

7 "But listen to what I am going to say to you and all the people.

8 There were prophets long before we became prophets, Hananiah. They prophesied that war, hunger, and terrible diseases would come to many countries and great kingdoms.

9 But if a prophet prophesies that we will have peace and that message comes true, he can be recognized as one truly sent by the Lord."

10 Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke off Jeremiah's neck and broke it.