But if you say, ‘We will not remain in this land,’ disobeying the voice of the LORD your God
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jeremiah 42:13
What does Jeremiah 42:13 mean?
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Jeremiah 42:13
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The verse isn't just saying they'll disobey God; it reveals that their decision to go to Egypt is the act of disobedience. By choosing to pursue their own perceived safety and comfort over God's command to stay, they are in essence saying "no" to His authority and trusting their own plans instead.
But if you say, ‘We will not remain in this land,’ disobeying the voice of the LORD your God
English Standard Version (ESV)
The people, clinging to Jeremiah for a word from God after the devastation of Jerusalem, are presented with a stark choice: stay in their devastated homeland or flee to Egypt. Jeremiah delivers God's warning that choosing Egypt means actively disobeying Him, and that the very dangers they fear—war and famine—will relentlessly pursue them there. This decision is framed not just as a practical matter of safety, but as a direct act of rebellion against God's authority, forfeiting any promise of protection He might otherwise offer.
It's easy to think we're just making a practical decision, but sometimes our choices are actually a direct defiance of God's clear commands.
Jeremiah 42 presents a critical moment for the remnant of Judah. They've endured immense suffering and are now seeking God's guidance through Jeremiah. God's answer is clear: stay in the land. But the people, driven by fear and a desire for perceived safety in Egypt, are considering defying Him.
Verse 13 lays out the stark reality of their potential decision. They face a choice not just between two locations, but between two paths:
This isn't about a minor infraction; it's about rejecting the authority of God's word. Their decision to flee to Egypt, despite God's prohibition, would be an outright refusal to listen to Him.
What if the very thing you're trying to escape will actually find you, amplified, because you chose the wrong way out?
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The consequence of their potential disobedience isn't left to guesswork. God, through Jeremiah, paints a grim picture of what awaits them if they choose Egypt.
The Illusion of Safety
They likely believed Egypt offered refuge from the war and famine that had ravaged Judah. They thought they could outrun danger by relocating. However, God declares this hope is vain.
Divine Retribution
Instead of escape, they would find the very evils they feared waiting for them in Egypt:
Calvin points out that God promised safety in the land if they obeyed. By rejecting that promise and choosing Egypt, they were not only disobeying but also inviting God's judgment upon their misguided attempt to save themselves. The 'evil that I will bring upon them' signifies a judgment specifically tied to their act of rebellion.
Understand the original words
shama · Hebrew Verb
To listen, heed, or comply with instructions or commands. In a theological sense, it often implies an active obedience or submission to the divine will.
The remnant in Judah is facing immense pressure after the destruction of Jerusalem. Their decision to flee to Egypt, despite God's direct warning through Jeremiah, is rooted in a deep-seated distrust of God's promises and a desperate attempt to escape the very dangers God forewarned would follow them there.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The northern kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrians, leading to the exile of its people and ongoing political instability in the region.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deports Jewish nobles and skilled workers, including the prophet Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the end for Judah.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple
Babylonian forces destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling most of the remaining population. A small remnant remains in Judah.
c. 586-582 BC— this verse
Flight to Egypt
Following the destruction of Jerusalem and the assassination of Gedaliah, the remaining Judean leaders, against Jeremiah's counsel, flee to Egypt, fearing Babylonian retribution.
c. 582 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar conducts another deportation from Judah, further reducing the population and consolidating Babylonian control over the region.
This passage directly warns against returning to Egypt, establishing a pattern of disobedience that Jeremiah is addressing. It shows this isn't a new prohibition but an ancient command being ignored.
Isaiah 30:2-3The prophet Isaiah warned the people against seeking help from Egypt, calling their reliance on it a 'shame' and 'disgrace.' This highlights the long-standing issue of misplaced trust in Egypt instead of God.
Isaiah 31:1-3Similar to Isaiah 30, this passage rebukes those who go down to Egypt for help, emphasizing that Egypt's strength is merely human and will ultimately bring no lasting aid or salvation. It underscores the folly of seeking security apart from God.
Jeremiah 44:15-19This later passage describes the very people who fled to Egypt, showing their continued defiance and the disastrous consequences. It serves as a tragic fulfillment of the warning given in chapter 42.
calvinJeremiah 42:13-17: "But if ye say, We will not dwell in this land, neither obey the voice of the LORD your God,"
Nunc propterea audite sermonem Jehovae, residuum Jehudah, quia sic dicit Jehova exercituum, Deus Israel, Si vos ponendo posueritis facies vestras ad ingrediendum Aegyptum (ut ingrediamini in Aegyptum,) et ingressi fueritis illic ad peregrinandum;
Then it shall come to pass, that the sword, which ye feared, shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt; and the famine, whereo…
pooleJeremiah 42:13: "But if ye say, We will not dwell in this land, neither obey the voice of the LORD your God,"
Our translation a little darkens the sense, translating the Hebrew particle yxlb neither, which signifies no more than not , or by no means , Numbers 14:16 1 Samuel 2:2 20:26 Hosea 13:4 ; and it is certain here is but one thing spoken of, for the thing wherein they disobeyed the voice of the Lord was not continuing in their own land, but going into the land of Egypt.
The verse isn't just saying they'll disobey God; it reveals that their decision to go to Egypt is the act of disobedience. By choosing to pursue their own perceived safety and comfort over God's command to stay, they are in essence saying "no" to His authority and trusting their own plans instead.
The people, clinging to Jeremiah for a word from God after the devastation of Jerusalem, are presented with a stark choice: stay in their devastated homeland or flee to Egypt. Jeremiah delivers God's warning that choosing Egypt means actively disobeying Him, and that the very dangers they fear—war and famine—will relentlessly pursue them there. This decision is framed not just as a practical matter of safety, but as a direct act of rebellion against God's authority, forfeiting any promise of protection He might otherwise offer.
The people, clinging to Jeremiah for a word from God after the devastation of Jerusalem, are presented with a stark choice: stay in their devastated homeland or flee to Egypt. Jeremiah delivers God's warning that choosing Egypt means actively disobeying Him, and that the very dangers they fear—war and famine—will relentlessly pursue them there. This decision is framed not just as a practical matter of safety, but as a direct act of rebellion against God's authority, forfeiting any promise of protection He might otherwise offer.
"But if you say, ‘We will not remain in this land,’ disobeying the voice of the LORD your God" — The verse isn't just saying they'll disobey God; it reveals that their decision to go to Egypt is the act of disobedience. By choosing to pursue their own perceived safety and comfort over God's co…
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Last reviewed October 2026