Jeremiah 28

King James Version

Full text for Jeremiah Chapter 28

1¶ 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,

2Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.

3Within 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:

4And 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.

5Then 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,

6Even 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.

7Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of all the people;

8The 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.

9The 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 him.

10¶ Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah's neck, and brake it.

11And 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.

12Then 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,

13Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron.

14For 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 also.

15Then 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.

16Therefore 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.

17So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Hananiah, a prophet, publicly declared that the Lord would break Babylon's yoke within two years, returning the Temple vessels and captives. Jeremiah initially wished for this peaceful prophecy to be true but cautioned about discerning true prophets. Later, the Lord revealed to Jeremiah that Hananiah's prophecy was false, and instead of a broken wooden yoke, an iron yoke of Babylonian servitude was decreed. Jeremiah then prophesied Hananiah's death for speaking a lie, which occurred that same year.

Medium Summary

In the fourth year of King Zedekiah's reign, Hananiah the prophet proclaimed in the Temple that the Lord would break the yoke of Babylon within two years, restoring the Temple vessels and the exiled King Jeconiah and captives. Jeremiah, present at this pronouncement, expressed a hope that such a prophecy of peace would come to pass, yet he reminded the assembly that a prophet of peace is only confirmed when their words are fulfilled. Hananiah then dramatically broke a wooden yoke from Jeremiah's neck, symbolizing the imminent end of Babylonian subjugation. However, the Lord subsequently revealed to Jeremiah that Hananiah's act was deceitful. God declared that He had placed an unbreakable iron yoke upon the nations, compelling them to serve Nebuchadnezzar. Jeremiah confronted Hananiah, asserting that the Lord had not sent him and that he was leading the people astray with a lie. For this rebellion, Jeremiah prophesied Hananiah's death within the year, a prophecy fulfilled in the seventh month.

Long Summary

Jeremiah 28 opens in the fourth year of King Zedekiah's reign, where Hananiah, a prophet from Gibeon, publicly delivered a message in the Temple before priests and people. Hananiah declared that the Lord of hosts would break the yoke of the king of Babylon within two full years. He further prophesied the return of all the sacred vessels taken from the Lord's house by Nebuchadnezzar, along with King Jeconiah and all the captives of Judah. Prophet Jeremiah was present and, in response, expressed an "Amen," wishing that the Lord would indeed perform Hananiah's words concerning the return of the vessels and captives. However, Jeremiah immediately followed this with a cautionary statement, reminding Hananiah and the people that ancient prophets had often prophesied war, evil, and pestilence against many nations. He explained that a prophet who prophesies peace is only truly known to be sent by the Lord when their word actually comes to pass. Following this exchange, Hananiah dramatically took a wooden yoke from Jeremiah's neck and broke it, declaring that just so would the Lord break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar from all nations within two years. Jeremiah then departed. Subsequently, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, instructing him to tell Hananiah that while he had broken yokes of wood, yokes of iron would be made in their place. The Lord affirmed that He had indeed placed an iron yoke upon the neck of all these nations, compelling them to serve Nebuchadnezzar, and they would serve him. Jeremiah then directly confronted Hananiah, stating unequivocally that the Lord had not sent him and that he was causing the people to trust in a lie. For this act of teaching rebellion against the Lord, Jeremiah prophesied that Hananiah would die within that same year. True to Jeremiah's word, Hananiah the prophet died in the seventh month of that very year, confirming Jeremiah's prophetic authority and the falsity of Hananiah's message.

Core Concepts

  • False ProphecyHananiah's declaration of an imminent end to Babylonian captivity and the return of exiles and Temple vessels is presented as a lie not sent by the Lord. This highlights the danger of prophets speaking peace when God has decreed judgment.
  • The Yoke of BabylonThis symbol represents the servitude and subjugation of Judah and other nations under Nebuchadnezzar. Hananiah's breaking of a wooden yoke symbolizes a false hope of liberation, while God's decree of an "iron yoke" signifies an unyielding and divinely ordained servitude.
  • Discerning True ProphetsJeremiah's initial response to Hananiah emphasizes that a prophet of peace is only validated by the fulfillment of their prophecy. This principle serves as a crucial test for distinguishing between true and false prophetic messages.
  • Divine Judgment and SovereigntyThe Lord's declaration of an "iron yoke" upon nations to serve Nebuchadnezzar demonstrates His absolute control over world events and His use of foreign powers as instruments of His judgment, contrary to Hananiah's message of immediate deliverance.
  • Consequences of FalsehoodHananiah's death within the year, as prophesied by Jeremiah, serves as a swift and severe consequence for speaking a lie in the Lord's name and teaching rebellion. This underscores the gravity of misrepresenting God's word.
  • Rebellion Against the LordHananiah's prophecy is explicitly labeled as "rebellion against the LORD" by Jeremiah. This indicates that speaking a message contrary to God's revealed will, especially when it gives false hope, is seen as an act of defiance against divine authority.