Jeremiah 28:7-9
Yet hear now this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people. The prophets who preceded you and me from ancient times prophesied war, famine, and pestilence against many countries and great kingdoms. As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes to pass, then it will be known that the LORD has truly sent the prophet.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Jeremiah is about to deliver a harsh prophecy, but he emphasizes that he speaks it "in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people" not just to condemn Hananiah, but to publicly demonstrate that his message, however difficult, comes directly from God, unlike Hananiah’s crowd-pleasing lies. This highlights that true prophecy is not about seeking approval but about faithfully delivering God's word, whether it's comforting or corrective, and that its authority rests on its divine origin, not its popularity.
The prophet Jeremiah is confronting Hananiah, another prophet who has just declared that God will soon bring back all the exiled Israelites and remove the yoke of Babylon. Jeremiah, despite having just affirmed his good will toward his people, must now deliver God's harsh message, addressing both Hananiah directly and the crowd gathered to hear them. This exchange is critical because it pits a false, comforting prophecy against God's true, albeit difficult, word, establishing the standard for discerning a genuine prophet.
God's messengers often carried a heavy burden, balancing personal concern with divine command. How did Jeremiah navigate this difficult path?
Jeremiah faced a choice: echo Hananiah's popular message of immediate peace, or deliver God's challenging word of impending judgment. He chose the latter, demonstrating that true prophecy isn't about what people want to hear, but what God needs them to hear.
A Heart for the People
Jeremiah wasn't some detached observer. He genuinely desired the welfare of his nation. His prophecies of doom stemmed not from malice, but from a deep understanding that judgment was the necessary prelude to healing. He loved his people too much to lie to them.
Unwavering Obedience to God
Despite his personal feelings, Jeremiah's ultimate loyalty was to God's sovereign will. He understood that he was an 'herald of God's vengeance,' commissioned to speak even when the message was unwelcome. This obedience, not human emotion, defined his prophetic ministry.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Jeremiah 28:7-9 is available in the Sola app.
Why did Jeremiah insist his message be heard not just by Hananiah, but by everyone present?
The confrontation between Jeremiah and Hananiah wasn't a private theological debate; it was a public spectacle. By declaring his word 'in the hearing of all the people,' Jeremiah did several crucial things:
Exposing Falsehood
He immediately countered Hananiah's deceitful prophecy. Hananiah had spoken his comforting words in the public space of the Temple, and Jeremiah ensured his correction was delivered with equal visibility. This public declaration aimed to prevent the people from being misled by a flattering, but false, message.
Establishing God's Authority
Jeremiah understood that the people needed to hear the true word of God, not just the pleasantries of a false prophet. This public announcement served to underscore that God's authority, not Hananiah's popular pronouncements, was the ultimate standard. It was a clear demonstration that God alone speaks truth.
Understand the original words
ra'ab · Hebrew Noun
A condition of severe scarcity of food, often used in Scripture as a sign of divine judgment against nations or individuals who have turned away from God.
deber · Hebrew Noun
An infectious, deadly disease. In the Bible, it is frequently cited as a manifestation of divine wrath or judgment upon the disobedient.
shalom · Hebrew Noun
A state of wholeness, well-being, and harmony. While it includes the absence of war, it biblically signifies the fullness of God's blessing and reconciliation.
Jeremiah's bold challenge to Hananiah, the false prophet, happened during a time of intense national crisis and division, when people desperately wanted to hear messages of hope, even if they were not from God. This highlights the constant struggle between comforting lies and challenging truth, especially when facing difficult circumstances.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, conquers Judah and deports some of its citizens, including members of the royal family and educated elite, to Babylon. This event marked the beginning of Judah's subjugation.
597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar again besieges Jerusalem and deports a larger group of Judeans, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel. This further weakened the kingdom.
c. 593 BC— this verse
Hananiah's False Prophecy
In Jerusalem, the false prophet Hananiah, son of Azur, publicly contradicts Jeremiah, prophesying that the Babylonian yoke will be broken within two years and all the exiles will return.
c. 591 BC
Jeremiah's Continued Warnings
Jeremiah continues to deliver God's message of judgment, urging repentance and warning against trusting false prophets. He emphasizes that God's judgment is certain due to the people's persistent sin.
c. 591 BC
Hananiah's Yoke Broken
In a dramatic symbolic act, Jeremiah shows Hananiah that his wooden yoke represents the inescapable burden of Babylonian rule, directly challenging Hananiah's optimistic prophecy.
c. 590 BC
Death of Hananiah
Hananiah dies within the year, fulfilling Jeremiah's prophecy and confirming the devastating consequences of listening to false messages of hope.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar's forces finally destroy Jerusalem, burn the Temple, and deport the remaining population to Babylon, fulfilling the prophecies of judgment. This marked the end of the kingdom of Judah.
This passage speaks to the ultimate test of a true prophet: whether what they say actually comes to pass, mirroring Jeremiah's challenge to Hananiah.
1 Kings 18:21Here, Elijah confronts the people, urging them to choose between following God or Baal, highlighting the critical choice people face when presented with conflicting prophetic messages.
Matthew 7:15Jesus warns about false prophets in sheep's clothing, emphasizing the need to discern truth from deception, much like Jeremiah had to do with Hananiah.
2 Corinthians 11:13This verse speaks of false apostles who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ, illustrating the deceptive nature of those who claim divine authority but serve other ends.
Ezekiel 13:6Ezekiel denounces prophets who concoct visions and make false claims, directly paralleling Hananiah's false prophecy and Jeremiah's role in exposing it.
gillJeremiah 28:7: "Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of all the people;"
Nevertheless, hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears,.... Though this would be very acceptable to me, and I should be glad to have it fulfilled; yet carefully attend to what I am about to say, it being what greatly concerns thee to observe, as well as all present to listen to: and therefore it is added, and in the ears of all the people; that stood round to hear the c…
calvinJeremiah 28:7-9: "Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of all the people;"
- Propheta qui prophetaverit de pace (hoc est, de rebus prosperis,) cum venerit sermo (id est, cum eventu comprobatus fuerit sermo prophetae,) cognoscetur propheta quod miserit eum Jellova in veritate.
Jeremiah, having testified that he did not wish for anything adverse to his own people, but had a good will towards them, now adds that what he had predicted was yet most true.…
Jeremiah is about to deliver a harsh prophecy, but he emphasizes that he speaks it "in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people" not just to condemn Hananiah, but to publicly demonstrate that his message, however difficult, comes directly from God, unlike Hananiah’s crowd-pleasing lies. This highlights that true prophecy is not about seeking approval but about faithfully delivering God's word, whether it's comforting or corrective, and that its authority rests on its divine origin, not its popularity.
The prophet Jeremiah is confronting Hananiah, another prophet who has just declared that God will soon bring back all the exiled Israelites and remove the yoke of Babylon. Jeremiah, despite having just affirmed his good will toward his people, must now deliver God's harsh message, addressing both Hananiah directly and the crowd gathered to hear them. This exchange is critical because it pits a false, comforting prophecy against God's true, albeit difficult, word, establishing the standard for discerning a genuine prophet.
The prophet Jeremiah is confronting Hananiah, another prophet who has just declared that God will soon bring back all the exiled Israelites and remove the yoke of Babylon. Jeremiah, despite having just affirmed his good will toward his people, must now deliver God's harsh message, addressing both Hananiah directly and the crowd gathered to hear them. This exchange is critical because it pits a false, comforting prophecy against God's true, albeit difficult, word, establishing the standard for discerning a genuine prophet.
"Yet hear now this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people. The prophets who preceded you and me from ancient times prophesied war, famine, and pestilence against many countries and great kingdoms. As for the…" — Jeremiah is about to deliver a harsh prophecy, but he emphasizes that he speaks it "in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people" not just to condemn Hananiah, but to publicly demonstrate tha…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
