Jeremiah 42:15
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The phrase "set your faces" isn't just about intention; it vividly portrays an obstinate and determined resolve, like turning your entire body and gaze in a single direction, refusing to be swayed by any warnings or counsel. This isn't a casual decision, but a hardened commitment against God's clear direction, highlighting their deep-seated rebellion.
then hear the word of the LORD, O remnant of Judah. Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: If you set your faces to enter Egypt and go to live there,
English Standard Version (ESV)
After surviving the destruction of Jerusalem and being exiled to Egypt against God's explicit commands, a remnant of Judah returns to Jeremiah, seeking his counsel on whether to remain in their devastated land or flee to Egypt. God's response, through Jeremiah, is a stern warning: if they choose to go to Egypt, they will face the very dangers they fear, ultimately leading to their demise there.
In the face of devastation, the people of Judah had a crucial decision to make. Their fear was palpable, but their choices carried eternal weight.
Jeremiah 42:15-17 reveals God's direct response to the remnant of Judah's inquiry about fleeing to Egypt. This isn't just advice; it's a divine ultimatum.
A Path Defined by Disobedience
God doesn't mince words. He lays out a stark choice: obey His word and remain in the land (implied, though not stated in this specific verse), or defy Him by setting their faces toward Egypt. The phrase 'set your faces' is powerful, indicating a determined, resolute decision, almost an obstinate turning away from God's will.
The Inevitability of Consequences
Verse 15 is the if clause, setting up the consequences that follow in the subsequent verses. God warns that every evil they feared—the sword, famine, and pestilence—would find them in Egypt. Their attempt to escape God's judgment by fleeing to Egypt would ironically lead them directly into it. This highlights a core theological truth: you cannot outrun God's justice or outwit His plans.
Who is speaking to the remnant of Judah? Understanding God's self-description adds immense gravity to His warning.
The way God introduces Himself in Jeremiah 42:15 is far from incidental. 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel' is a profound declaration carrying significant weight.
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LORD of Hosts
This title, 'LORD of hosts' (or 'Yahweh-Sabaoth' in the original Hebrew), speaks to God's supreme power and authority. He is the commander of all heavenly armies, the sovereign ruler over all creation. This isn't a weak deity pleading for compliance; it's the Almighty God issuing a decree. His power means He is fully capable of bringing the promised judgment, whether they stay or flee.
The God of Israel
By calling Himself 'the God of Israel,' the Lord reminds them of His covenantal relationship with His people. He is not an arbitrary ruler; He is the God who chose them, delivered them from Egypt, and made promises to them. This title underscores His faithfulness and His right to expect obedience from His chosen people. It implies that their turning away from His command is a betrayal of that sacred covenant.
Understand the original words
she'erith · Hebrew Noun
A small part of a larger whole that remains or survives. In the Old Testament, it refers to the faithful portion of Israel that continues to exist after divine judgment or exile.
tsaba · Hebrew Noun
A title emphasizing God's sovereignty over the heavenly armies (angels and celestial bodies). It portrays Him as the Almighty Commander who directs the forces of the universe.
This passage comes at the very end of Judah's existence as a nation, after Jerusalem and its Temple have been destroyed by Babylon. The remnant left behind is deeply afraid of further retribution, and their hearts are set on fleeing to Egypt for safety. Jeremiah's message is a direct confrontation with their desperate, disobedient plan, warning them that seeking refuge in Egypt will lead to the same doom they are trying to escape.
c. 722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern kingdom of Israel, deporting many of its inhabitants. This event serves as a stark warning to the southern kingdom of Judah about the consequences of disobedience and reliance on foreign powers.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, besieges Jerusalem and deports a group of Judean nobles and skilled workers, including the prophet Daniel. This marks the beginning of Judah's Babylonian exile.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports more Judeans, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel. Jerusalem's temple is plundered.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
Nebuchadnezzar razes Jerusalem and destroys Solomon's Temple. The majority of the remaining population is exiled to Babylon, leaving only a small group of poor farmers behind.
c. 582 BC
Third Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar conducts a final deportation from Judah after a period of unrest, further reducing the population left in the land.
c. 580 BC— this verse
The Remnant in Mizpah Seeks Guidance
The remaining Judeans in the land, led by Johanan son of Kareah, survive the destruction of Jerusalem. They consult the prophet Jeremiah, seeking God's will regarding their future, specifically whether to flee to Egypt.
c. 580 BC
Prophecy Against Fleeing to Egypt
Jeremiah delivers God's message: staying in the land, despite its desolation, is the path of obedience and safety. Fleeing to Egypt, a nation historically unreliable and also subject to Babylonian power, is presented as an act of disobedience that will bring the very destruction they fear.
This passage warns against returning to Egypt, a direct parallel to the people's stubborn desire in Jeremiah 42:15, highlighting a long-standing divine prohibition.
Isaiah 30:2Isaiah also condemned reliance on Egypt for help, framing it as a turning away from the Lord, which resonates with Jeremiah's message of impending doom for those who set their faces toward Egypt.
Jeremiah 44:12This verse shows the direct consequence of the disobedience warned against in chapter 42, as those who fled to Egypt faced the very destruction they sought to escape.
Luke 9:51The phrase 'set their faces' mirrors Jesus' resolute determination to go to Jerusalem, but in Jeremiah's context, this firmness is directed toward disobedience and seeking safety in a place God forbids.
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 42:15: "And now therefore hear the word of the LORD, ye remnant of Judah; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; If ye wholly set your faces to enter into Egypt, and go to sojourn there;"
This verse is wholly prefatory. to what followeth. If, saith God, all your mind be upon Egypt, and you he resolved thither you will go,
The phrase "set your faces" isn't just about intention; it vividly portrays an obstinate and determined resolve, like turning your entire body and gaze in a single direction, refusing to be swayed by any warnings or counsel. This isn't a casual decision, but a hardened commitment against God's clear direction, highlighting their deep-seated rebellion.
After surviving the destruction of Jerusalem and being exiled to Egypt against God's explicit commands, a remnant of Judah returns to Jeremiah, seeking his counsel on whether to remain in their devastated land or flee to Egypt. God's response, through Jeremiah, is a stern warning: if they choose to go to Egypt, they will face the very dangers they fear, ultimately leading to their demise there.
After surviving the destruction of Jerusalem and being exiled to Egypt against God's explicit commands, a remnant of Judah returns to Jeremiah, seeking his counsel on whether to remain in their devastated land or flee to Egypt. God's response, through Jeremiah, is a stern warning: if they choose to go to Egypt, they will face the very dangers they fear, ultimately leading to their demise there.
"then hear the word of the LORD, O remnant of Judah. Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: If you set your faces to enter Egypt and go to live there," — The phrase "set your faces" isn't just about intention; it vividly portrays an obstinate and determined resolve, like turning your entire body and gaze in a single direction, refusing to be swayed by…
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Last reviewed October 2026
