Jeremiah 42:6

6 "Whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, we will 1listen to the voice of the LORD our God to whom we are sending you, so that it may go 2well with us when we listen to the voice of the LORD our God."

Jeremiah 42:6 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 42:6

Whether [it be] good, or whether [it be] evil
Not morally good, or evil; for nothing but what is good, and not evil, in this sense, can come from God; but whether pleasantly or profitably good or evil; whether agreeable or disagreeable, pleasing or displeasing, advantageous or not; whether it seemed to them good or evil, be it what it would in their opinion and esteem: we will obey the voice of the Lord our God, to whom we send thee;
this was well spoken, had they been sincere in it; and had they implored and depended on the grace of God to have enabled them to obey; but they spoke not in the uprightness of their hearts; and, did they, it was with too much confidence of their own strength, and the power of their free will: that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the Lord our
God;
they spoke as if they knew their own interest; for so it was, that it was well or ill with those people, as they obeyed or disobeyed the voice of the Lord; and yet they acted not according to it; and, what was worse still, did not intend it. What a wretched scene of hypocrisy is here!

Jeremiah 42:6 In-Context

4 Then Jeremiah the prophet said to them, "I have heard you. Behold, I am going to pray to the LORD your God in accordance with your words; and I will tell you the whole message which the LORD will answer you. I will not keep back a word from you."
5 Then they said to Jeremiah, "May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with the whole message with which the LORD your God will send you to us.
6 "Whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, we will listen to the voice of the LORD our God to whom we are sending you, so that it may go well with us when we listen to the voice of the LORD our God."
7 Now at the end of ten days the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah.
8 Then he called for Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces that were with him, and for all the people both small and great,

Cross References 2

  • 1. Exodus 24:7; Deuteronomy 5:27; Joshua 24:24
  • 2. Deuteronomy 5:29, 33; Deuteronomy 6:3; Jeremiah 7:23

Footnotes 2

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