Jeremiah 42:20 - For you have dealt deceitfully against your own souls; for you sent me to Yahweh your God, saying, ‘Pray for us to Yahweh our God; and according to all that Yahweh our God says, so declare to us, and we will do it.’
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What does "Jeremiah 42:20" mean?
This verse, Jeremiah 42:20, is a sharp rebuke from the prophet Jeremiah to the remnant of Judah who remained in the land after the Babylonian conquest. It highlights their hypocrisy and ultimately, the reason for the tragic consequences that would follow. Let's break down the meaning:
"For you have dealt deceitfully against your own souls...": This is the core of the verse. Jeremiah accuses the people of acting deceitfully, not just towards him, but towards their own well-being ("your own souls"). They haven't been honest with themselves about their true intentions.
"...for you sent me to Yahweh your God...": The people had approached Jeremiah seeking guidance from God. They asked him to inquire of Yahweh (God) on their behalf about whether they should stay in Judah or flee to Egypt.
"...saying, ‘Pray for us to Yahweh our God; and according to all that Yahweh our God says, so declare to us, and we will do it.’": This is the specific deceit. They promised to obey whatever God told them through Jeremiah. They created a façade of piety and obedience. They said they wanted God's will and that they would follow it, no matter what.
The Meaning and Implication
The problem, as Jeremiah points out, is that they didn't actually intend to obey God if His answer didn't align with their preconceived desires. They already had their hearts set on going to Egypt, likely because they perceived it as a safer and more prosperous place.
Jeremiah understood this hypocrisy. He knew they were using him to legitimize a decision they had already made. God's answer (through Jeremiah, in chapter 42) was that they should stay in Judah, and that God would protect and bless them there. He warned them of terrible consequences if they went to Egypt.
Verse 42:20 highlights:
The dangers of self-deception: The people were deceiving themselves by pretending to seek God's will while already having a predetermined course of action.
The importance of genuine obedience: It's not enough to say we'll obey God. Our actions must align with our words.
The consequences of rejecting God's guidance: The subsequent chapters show that the people ignored Jeremiah's warning, fled to Egypt, and suffered the very calamities God had foretold.
In essence, Jeremiah is calling them out for their lack of integrity. They pretended to seek God's will, but they only wanted God's approval of their own plans. Their deceit would ultimately lead to their downfall.
Jeremiah 42:20 - For you have dealt deceitfully against your own souls; for you sent me to Yahweh your God, saying, ‘Pray for us to Yahweh our God; and according to all that Yahweh our God says, so declare to us, and we will do it.’
What does "Jeremiah 42:20" mean?
This verse, Jeremiah 42:20, is a sharp rebuke from the prophet Jeremiah to the remnant of Judah who remained in the land after the Babylonian conquest. It highlights their hypocrisy and ultimately, the reason for the tragic consequences that would follow. Let's break down the meaning:
"For you have dealt deceitfully against your own souls...": This is the core of the verse. Jeremiah accuses the people of acting deceitfully, not just towards him, but towards their own well-being ("your own souls"). They haven't been honest with themselves about their true intentions.
"...for you sent me to Yahweh your God...": The people had approached Jeremiah seeking guidance from God. They asked him to inquire of Yahweh (God) on their behalf about whether they should stay in Judah or flee to Egypt.
"...saying, ‘Pray for us to Yahweh our God; and according to all that Yahweh our God says, so declare to us, and we will do it.’": This is the specific deceit. They promised to obey whatever God told them through Jeremiah. They created a façade of piety and obedience. They said they wanted God's will and that they would follow it, no matter what.
The Meaning and Implication
The problem, as Jeremiah points out, is that they didn't actually intend to obey God if His answer didn't align with their preconceived desires. They already had their hearts set on going to Egypt, likely because they perceived it as a safer and more prosperous place.
Jeremiah understood this hypocrisy. He knew they were using him to legitimize a decision they had already made. God's answer (through Jeremiah, in chapter 42) was that they should stay in Judah, and that God would protect and bless them there. He warned them of terrible consequences if they went to Egypt.
Verse 42:20 highlights:
The dangers of self-deception: The people were deceiving themselves by pretending to seek God's will while already having a predetermined course of action.
The importance of genuine obedience: It's not enough to say we'll obey God. Our actions must align with our words.
The consequences of rejecting God's guidance: The subsequent chapters show that the people ignored Jeremiah's warning, fled to Egypt, and suffered the very calamities God had foretold.
In essence, Jeremiah is calling them out for their lack of integrity. They pretended to seek God's will, but they only wanted God's approval of their own plans. Their deceit would ultimately lead to their downfall.