Jeremiah 42:15-16
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, then the sword that you fear shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine of which you are afraid shall follow close after you to Egypt, and there you shall die.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrase "set your faces" isn't just about making a decision; it reveals a profound stubbornness and a deliberate turning away from God's authority. This resolute direction toward Egypt, despite all warnings, highlights their deep-seated disobedience and refusal to trust God's protection.
The people of Judah, survivors of Jerusalem's destruction, are desperate and seeking God's guidance through Jeremiah regarding their next move. After hearing God's command to stay in their land, they disregard it and plan to flee to Egypt, believing it a safer refuge from war and famine. Jeremiah relays God's response: if they stubbornly persist in going to Egypt, the very dangers they seek to escape will surely find them there and lead to their destruction.
You've prayed, you've waited, and now God speaks. But what happens when His word doesn't match your desires? This verse cuts to the heart of that tension.
Jeremiah 42:15 begins with God's clear command: "hear the word of the LORD." This isn't a casual suggestion; it's an invitation to listen to the Almighty, the "LORD of hosts, the God of Israel." The people are a "remnant of Judah," a group that has already suffered immensely. They're desperate for safety, but their proposed solution – fleeing to Egypt – is directly against God's will.
The Danger of Stubborn Resolve
The phrase "If you set your faces to enter Egypt" isn't just about a physical journey. It speaks to an inward disposition: a firm, settled decision, a stubborn resolve. It means their minds and hearts are already made up, regardless of what God says. This kind of determined opposition, even before they physically leave, is where the real problem lies.
The people of Judah wanted to escape war and famine. But God's message here is stark: the very things they feared would follow them, even to Egypt.
The people of Judah were terrified of the sword and famine in their land. Their logical, but deeply flawed, solution was to escape to Egypt, a place they imagined would offer peace and security. However, God, through Jeremiah, reveals the ultimate futility of this plan.
Where Will You Run?
God's message in the verses immediately following this one (Jeremiah 42:16-17) is clear: the sword, famine, and pestilence they feared would overtake them in Egypt. Their attempt to flee from judgment would only lead them directly into it. God's sovereign hand reaches everywhere. Trying to escape His warnings by disobeying Him is a dangerous illusion.
The essence of their rebellion wasn't just the physical act of going to Egypt, but the underlying unbelief and the rejection of God's authority. They promised themselves peace in Egypt, but God had already declared a curse on such disobedience.
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.
chereb · Hebrew Noun
A literal weapon used in war, often serving as a synecdoche for war itself, divine judgment, or sudden destruction in the Old Testament.
ra'ab · Hebrew Noun
A severe shortage of food, frequently portrayed in the Bible as a divine instrument of discipline, judgment, or testing upon a nation or individual.
This passage directly prohibits Israel from returning to Egypt, reinforcing God's strong disapproval of their desire to go there for security.
Isaiah 30:2This prophecy warns against seeking help from Egypt, a theme directly echoed in Jeremiah's message about the people's misplaced trust.
Jeremiah 44:12This verse shows the ultimate tragic end for those who ignored Jeremiah's warning and insisted on going to Egypt, highlighting the dire consequences of disobedience.
Luke 9:51The phrase 'set their faces' is used here to describe Jesus' determined resolve to go to Jerusalem, showing how this phrase signifies a firm, unwavering decision.
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 reveals a profound stubbornness and a deliberate turning away from God's authority. This resolute direction toward Egypt, despite all warnings, highlights their deep-seated disobedience and refusal to trust God's protection.
The people of Judah, survivors of Jerusalem's destruction, are desperate and seeking God's guidance through Jeremiah regarding their next move. After hearing God's command to stay in their land, they disregard it and plan to flee to Egypt, believing it a safer refuge from war and famine. Jeremiah relays God's response: if they stubbornly persist in going to Egypt, the very dangers they seek to escape will surely find them there and lead to their destruction.
The people of Judah, survivors of Jerusalem's destruction, are desperate and seeking God's guidance through Jeremiah regarding their next move. After hearing God's command to stay in their land, they disregard it and plan to flee to Egypt, believing it a safer refuge from war and famine. Jeremiah relays God's response: if they stubbornly persist in going to Egypt, the very dangers they seek to escape will surely find them there and lead to their destruction.
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"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, then the sword that you fear shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and…" — The phrase "set your faces" isn't just about making a decision; it reveals a profound stubbornness and a deliberate turning away from God's authority. This resolute direction toward Egypt, despite al…
