Jeremiah 28:8

8 The prophets that have been before me and before thee of old prophesied both against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of evil, and of pestilence.

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 therefore the prophet Jeremiah said, Amen: the LORD do so: the LORD confirm thy words with which thou hast prophesied that the vessels of the LORD’s house and all those that are carried away captive are to be returned from Babylon unto this place.

7 Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears and in the ears of all the people,

8 The prophets that have been before me and before thee of old prophesied both against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of evil, and of pestilence.

9 The prophet which prophesied of peace, when the word of the prophet should come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD has truly sent him.

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