Jeremiah 28 - Meaning, Themes & Application

" And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying, "

" Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. "

Jeremiah 28:2 repeats a message claiming God has broken Babylon’s control over His people. In context, it exposes a false promise of quick relief. It …

" Within two full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of the LORD'S house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried them to Babylon: "

Jeremiah 28:3 records a false prophet promising that God would quickly undo the destruction of the temple and return its stolen items in two years. …

" And I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, saith the LORD: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon. "

" Then the prophet Jeremiah said unto the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests, and in the presence of all the people that stood in the house of the LORD, "

" Even the prophet Jeremiah said, Amen: the LORD do so: the LORD perform thy words which thou hast prophesied, to bring again the vessels of the LORD'S house, and all that is carried away captive, from Babylon into this place. "

Jeremiah 28:6 means Jeremiah genuinely hoped the good prediction of quick rescue and return from Babylon would come true, even though he doubted it. He …

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

Jeremiah 28:7 means Jeremiah is asking the people to really listen to God’s message, even when it’s unpopular. He challenges them to hear truth, not …

" 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 means Jeremiah reminds the people that true prophets often warned of coming trouble—war, disaster, and disease—instead of just saying what people wanted to …

" The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent "

Jeremiah 28:9 means real spiritual messages are proven true over time. A prophet claiming “good things are coming” is only truly from God if what …

" Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah's neck, and brake "

Jeremiah 28:10 shows a false prophet, Hananiah, dramatically breaking the wooden yoke from Jeremiah’s neck to deny God’s warning of hardship. It means some people …

" And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years. And the prophet Jeremiah went his way. "

" Then the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the prophet, after that Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying, "

Jeremiah 28:12 shows God correcting a lie. After Hananiah broke Jeremiah’s wooden yoke to “prove” an easy future, God speaks again to Jeremiah. The message: …

" Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron. "

Jeremiah 28:13 means that by rejecting God’s hard but necessary warning, the people chose an even heavier burden. Hananiah broke the wooden yoke, symbolizing easy …

" For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him: and I have given him the beasts of the field "

" Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie. "

Jeremiah 28:15 means God exposes Hananiah as a false prophet who spoke comforting words God never gave. It warns us not to believe every positive …

" Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD. "

" So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month. "