Jeremiah 28:1-10

1 One day in late summer of that same year—the fourth year of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah—Hananiah son of Azzur, a prophet from Gibeon, addressed me publicly in the Temple while all the priests and people listened. He said,

2 “This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will remove the yoke of the king of Babylon from your necks.

3 Within two years I will bring back all the Temple treasures that King Nebuchadnezzar carried off to Babylon.

4 And I will bring back Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all the other captives that were taken to Babylon. I will surely break the yoke that the king of Babylon has put on your necks. I, the LORD, have spoken!’”

5 Jeremiah responded to Hananiah as they stood in front of all the priests and people at the Temple.

6 He said, “Amen! May your prophecies come true! I hope the LORD does everything you say. I hope he does bring back from Babylon the treasures of this Temple and all the captives.

7 But listen now to the solemn words I speak to you in the presence of all these people.

8 The ancient prophets who preceded you and me spoke against many nations, always warning of war, disaster, and disease.

9 So a prophet who predicts peace must show he is right. Only when his predictions come true can we know that he is really from the LORD .”

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

Jeremiah 28:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 28

Thus chapter relates a false prophecy of Hananiah, who broke off the yoke from Jeremiah; but in return the people are threatened with an iron yoke, and he with death; which came to pass. The time, place, and substance of his prophecy, are in Jer 28:1-4; Jeremiah's answer to it, Jer 28:5-9; Hananiah breaks Jeremiah's yoke, and explains the meaning of it to the people, Jer 28:10,11; Jeremiah prophesies that iron yokes should be given instead of wooden ones, Jer 28:12-14; and foretells the death of the false prophet, Jer 28:15-17.

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew In the fifth month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. The fifth month in the fourth year of Zedekiah’s reign occurred within the months of August and September 593 Also see note on 1:3 .
• [b]. Hebrew Jeconiah, a variant spelling of Jehoiachin.