What is the meaning of Jeremiah 42:17? So all who resolve to go to Egypt to reside there “ ‘So all who resolve to go to Egypt to reside there…’ ” • The remnant left in Judah after Babylon’s invasion (Jeremiah 40–41) asked Jeremiah to seek God’s direction. He clearly told them, “Do not go to Egypt” (Jeremiah 42:19). • Choosing Egypt was an act of self-reliance and unbelief—“Woe to the rebellious children… who set out to go down to Egypt without consulting Me” (Isaiah 30:1-2). • God had earlier warned His people not to return to Egypt for safety or horses (Deuteronomy 17:16). Ignoring that command exposed a heart that would rather trust political alliances than the Lord’s covenant care. will die by the sword “…will die by the sword…” • The sword represents violent conquest. Babylon would eventually overrun Egypt as well (Jeremiah 46:13-14). • When Israel trusted foreign powers, God often turned those same powers against them (2 Kings 18:21; Jeremiah 37:5-10). • His promise is literal: if Judah flees, Babylon’s sword will still find them (Jeremiah 42:18). and famine “…and famine…” • Famine consistently follows siege and war (Leviticus 26:26; Jeremiah 24:10). • Seeking bread in Egypt recalls Abraham’s lapse in Genesis 12:10 and the later murmuring in Numbers 11:5. God wants His people to depend on Him in the land He assigns, not chase perceived economic security elsewhere. and plague “…and plague.” • Disease often accompanies war-torn, famine-stricken lands (Ezekiel 6:12; 14:19-21). • Plague is a divine tool of judgment that no fortified border can keep out (Psalm 91:3-6). Choosing Egypt would place them under the very curses God listed for covenant disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:21-22). Not one of them will survive or escape “ ‘Not one of them will survive or escape…’ ” • The warning is absolute, leaving no loopholes—just as earlier judgments were total for Jerusalem (Jeremiah 21:9-10). • Contrast with God’s promise of safety if they remained in Judah: “I will build you up and not tear you down” (Jeremiah 42:10-12). Obedience brings preservation; disobedience guarantees loss. the disaster I will bring upon them “…the disaster I will bring upon them.” • The source is unmistakably the Lord: “I will watch over them for harm and not for good” (Jeremiah 44:27). • God’s sovereignty means He can reach His people wherever they run (Amos 9:2-4). The real issue is spiritual allegiance, not geography. summary Jeremiah 42:17 declares that every Judean who stubbornly relocates to Egypt will meet death by sword, famine, and plague, with no survivors. The verse underscores that fleeing God’s will invites comprehensive judgment, while staying in the place of obedience secures His protection. |
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