Jeremiah 42:15
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)
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The phrase "set your faces" isn't just about making a decision; it implies a firm, determined resolve—almost an obstinate turning away from God's way. It highlights that their desire to go to Egypt stems not from seeking God's will, but from a stubborn inward drive that will lead them into even greater danger.
The people of Judah, survivors of Jerusalem's destruction, have asked the prophet Jeremiah to pray for them about where they should go. After ten days, God answers through Jeremiah, revealing that they are resolutely set on fleeing to Egypt, a path God had previously warned them against. This verse introduces God's severe warning of the dangers they will face in Egypt if they disobey His counsel.
Have you ever felt so determined about a decision that nothing could change your mind? The way Jeremiah describes this group's resolve carries a powerful, even dangerous, weight.
The phrase "set your faces" isn't just about making a decision; it speaks to a deep-seated, resolute intention. In Jeremiah 42:15, "If you set your faces to enter Egypt," it implies a determined, almost stubborn, move away from God's path.
This wasn't a casual thought. It was a firm resolve, driven by fear and a desire for perceived safety, but ultimately a rejection of God's guidance.
A Stubborn Resolve
When we're making big decisions, who do we believe has the final say? This verse reminds us that our choices are being made in the presence of an all-powerful God.
Jeremiah doesn't just deliver a message; he declares it in the name of the "LORD of hosts, the God of Israel." This title carries immense weight and authority, reminding the remnant of Judah who truly holds power.
Who is the LORD of Hosts?
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 verse speaks into a desperate situation where the remnant of Judah, having survived the destruction of Jerusalem, is contemplating a move to Egypt. This wasn't an abstract theological question, but a concrete decision made out of fear after witnessing the devastating Babylonian conquest and the subsequent assassination of their governor.
701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
King Sennacherib of Assyria invades Judah, capturing many cities but failing to conquer Jerusalem. This event created widespread fear and instability.
597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon deports King Jehoiachin and thousands of Judeans to Babylon, including the prophet Ezekiel. This marked the beginning of Judah's Babylonian captivity.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Second Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, deporting more Judeans to Babylon. A small number of the poor are left behind in Judah.
c. 586-582 BC— this verse
Flight to Egypt
After the fall of Jerusalem, Gedaliah, the governor appointed by the Babylonians, is assassinated. Fearing Babylonian retribution, a large group of Judeans, including priests and the prophet Jeremiah, flees to Egypt.
This passage directly warns Israel against returning to Egypt or relying on its horses and chariots, paralleling God's prohibition to the remnant in Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 37:11-12This shows a prior instance where Judah's leaders, in fear, sought escape to Egypt, demonstrating a recurring pattern of seeking refuge in Egypt despite God's warnings.
Isaiah 30:1-3Isaiah prophesied against those who sought refuge in Egypt, calling their reliance on Pharaoh's strength a shameful and fruitless endeavor, echoing God's message in Jeremiah 42.
Jeremiah 44:12-14This passage describes the grim fate of those who *did* go to Egypt, fulfilling Jeremiah's prophecy by dying by sword and famine, confirming the severe consequences of disobedience.
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 making a decision; it implies a firm, determined resolve—almost an obstinate turning away from God's way. It highlights that their desire to go to Egypt stems not from seeking God's will, but from a stubborn inward drive that will lead them into even greater danger.
The people of Judah, survivors of Jerusalem's destruction, have asked the prophet Jeremiah to pray for them about where they should go. After ten days, God answers through Jeremiah, revealing that they are resolutely set on fleeing to Egypt, a path God had previously warned them against. This verse introduces God's severe warning of the dangers they will face in Egypt if they disobey His counsel.
The people of Judah, survivors of Jerusalem's destruction, have asked the prophet Jeremiah to pray for them about where they should go. After ten days, God answers through Jeremiah, revealing that they are resolutely set on fleeing to Egypt, a path God had previously warned them against. This verse introduces God's severe warning of the dangers they will face in Egypt if they disobey His counsel.
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c. 582 BC
Jeremiah's Prophecies in Egypt
In Egypt, Jeremiah pronounces judgment against the Judean refugees for their idolatry and disobedience, declaring that disaster will follow them even 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 making a decision; it implies a firm, determined resolve—almost an obstinate turning away from God's way. It highlights that their desire to go to Egypt s…
