Hananiah’s False Prophecy

1In the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year and the fifth month, the [false] prophet Hananiah the son of Azzur, who was from Gibeon [one of the priests’ cities], spoke [without godly authority] to me in the house of the LORD in the presence of the priests and all the people, saying: 2“Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. 3Within two years I am going to bring back to this place all the articles of the LORD’S house, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place and carried to Babylon. 4And I will also bring back to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, along with all the exiles from Judah who went to Babylon,’ says the LORD, ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’”

5Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests and all the people who stood in the house of the LORD, 6and the prophet Jeremiah said, “Amen! May the LORD do so; may the LORD confirm and fulfill your words which you have prophesied to bring back the articles of the LORD’S house and all the captives, from Babylon to this place. 7Nevertheless, listen now to this word which I am about to speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people! 8The prophets who were before me and before you from ancient times prophesied against many lands and against great kingdoms, of war and of disaster and of virulent disease. 9But as for the prophet who [on the contrary] prophesies of peace, when that prophet’s word comes to pass, [only] then will it be known that the LORD has truly sent him.”

10Then Hananiah the [false] prophet took the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah and smashed it. 11Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Even so within two full years I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all the nations.’” Then the prophet Jeremiah went his way.

12The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah [some time] after Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying, 13“Go and tell Hananiah, ‘The LORD says this, “You have broken yokes of wood, but you have made in their place bars of iron.” 14For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “I have put the iron yoke [of servitude] on the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they will serve him. And I have even given him the beasts of the field.”’” 15Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, “Listen now, Hananiah, the LORD has not sent you, and you have made this people trust in a lie. 16Therefore thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, I am about to send you away from the face of the earth. This year you will die, because you have spoken and counseled rebellion against the LORD.’”

17So Hananiah the [false] prophet died [two months later], the same year, in the seventh month.