Breakdown of Jeremiah 42:17

"All the men who set their faces to go to Egypt to live there shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence. They shall have no remnant or survivor from the disaster that I will bring upon them." — God highlights the intentionality behind their decision to flee to Egypt by saying they "set their faces" to go. This isn't just a passive drift but a firm resolve to pursue their own perceived saf…

Jeremiah 42:17 Meaning Explained

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Jeremiah 42:17

All the men who set their faces to go to Egypt to live there shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence. They shall have no remnant or survivor from the disaster that I will bring upon them.

English Standard Version (ESV)

God highlights the intentionality behind their decision to flee to Egypt by saying they "set their faces" to go. This isn't just a passive drift but a firm resolve to pursue their own perceived safety, directly defying God's declared will and counsel. Ultimately, their determined pursuit of a false refuge will bring them face-to-face with God's judgment, leaving no escape.

What Jeremiah 42:17 means

After seeking God's will through Jeremiah regarding their plans to flee to Egypt, the people are directly warned that their desire to sojourn there, contrary to God's command, will result in destruction by sword, famine, and plague. This pronouncement comes after they explicitly stated their intention to ignore Jeremiah's counsel and seek refuge in Egypt, revealing their rebellious hearts even as they are presented as a remnant of Judah.

The Gravity of a Determined Heart

Why does Jeremiah’s prophecy single out those who 'set their faces' to go to Egypt? It’s not just about the action, but the internal resolve behind it.

The text emphasizes the deliberate and determined intent of these individuals. The phrase 'set their faces' signifies a firm decision, a resolute purpose to go to Egypt, regardless of God's revealed will.

This isn't about a hesitant or uninformed choice. It speaks to a stubbornness, a rejection of God's counsel in favor of their own perceived safety and desires. Calvin highlights this as an 'impious and diabolical presumption and rashness' against God's clear commands and warnings.

Poole and Gill note that this judgment is specifically for those who 'drive on this design, and go with their whole heart resolvedly against the contrary revelation of my will.' This intentional defiance is what incurs God's severe judgment.

The Completeness of God's Judgment

When God declares judgment, it's not a half-hearted threat. The language here is stark and absolute, leaving no room for escape.

The prophecy outlines a comprehensive and unavoidable destruction for those who defy God's command. The repetition of 'sword, famine, and pestilence' isn't just a list of potential dangers; it represents the totality of God's judgment, often referred to as the 'four sore judgments' (though pestilence is listed as three here).

These were the historical instruments God used to discipline His people. Ellicott points out that these phrases were 'old familiar phrases,' indicating a known and expected consequence for such profound disobedience. They were choosing to involve themselves 'in all the worst evils that he had prophesied before.'

The closing statement, 'and none of them shall remain or escape,' underscores the utter finality of this judgment for those who 'set their faces' toward Egypt. God's discipline, while aimed at restoration, is also sovereign and complete when defiance is absolute.

Historical context

Written: Around 580 BC, following the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem.
Author: Jeremiah, traditionally understood as the sole author, though some scholars suggest possible editorial additions.
Location: Written from Egypt, likely Tahpanhes, to the remnant of Judah who had fled there.
Genre: Prophetic literature, characterized by divine oracles, laments, and warnings, often employing vivid imagery and direct address.

Historical background

This prophecy was delivered during a desperate time after Jerusalem's fall, when many Judeans saw Egypt as their only hope. However, Jeremiah's message reveals that fleeing to Egypt was not an escape from disaster, but an invitation to it, as their disobedience to God's direct command sealed their fate.

c. 701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
King Sennacherib of Assyria campaigns in Judah, besieging Jerusalem. While the city is spared destruction, many other Judean cities are devastated, leading some to look to Egypt for aid and alliance.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah and deports some of the nobility and skilled workers, including the prophet Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of Judah's subjugation to Babylon.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a revolt, Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and more of Judah's elite, including the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon. The city of Jerusalem is spared, but the kingdom's power is severely weakened.
587-586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
After a prolonged siege and further rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple. The majority of the remaining population is deported to Babylon, leaving only a small remnant in Judah.

Key themes

01Consequences of disobedience
02Divine judgment certain
03False security sought
04God's sovereign power

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 17:16

This verse explicitly warns against returning to Egypt, directly correlating with God's prohibition against the people's desired course of action in Jeremiah 42.

Isaiah 30:2-3

This passage denounces seeking refuge in Egypt, highlighting the futility and danger of relying on Egypt for protection rather than trusting in God, echoing the same theme of misplaced trust.

Ezekiel 6:11

This verse describes the same three-fold judgment of sword, famine, and pestilence, illustrating the severe consequences of disobedience and apostasy that God brings upon His people.

Jeremiah 24:10

This passage also lists sword, famine, and pestilence as instruments of God's judgment, reinforcing the consistent message of divine punishment for disobedience seen in Jeremiah 42.

Scholarly commentary

Jeremiah 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…

calvin

Jeremiah 42:17: "So shall it be with all the men that set their faces to go into Egypt to sojourn there; they shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: and none of them shall remain or escape from the evil that I will bring upon them."

Those words, that set their faces to go, may reasonably be interpreted as a limitation of the universal particle all ; for as eventually we can hardly conceive that every individual person that went into Egypt did thus perish, so it can hardly…
poole

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What Jeremiah 42:17 means

Historical context

Written: Around 580 BC, following the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem.
Author: Jeremiah, traditionally understood as the sole author, though some scholars suggest possible editorial additions.
Location: Written from Egypt, likely Tahpanhes, to the remnant of Judah who had fled there.
Genre: Prophetic literature, characterized by divine oracles, laments, and warnings, often employing vivid imagery and direct address.

Historical background

c. 701 BC

Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem

King Sennacherib of Assyria campaigns in Judah, besieging Jerusalem. While the city is spared destruction, many other Judean cities are devastated, leading some to look to Egypt for aid and alliance.

605 BC

First Deportation to Babylon

Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah and deports some of the nobility and skilled workers, including the prophet Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of Judah's subjugation to Babylon.

597 BC

Second Deportation to Babylon

Following a revolt, Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and more of Judah's elite, including the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon. The city of Jerusalem is spared, but the kingdom's power is severely weakened.

587-586 BC

Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple

After a prolonged siege and further rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple. The majority of the remaining population is deported to Babylon, leaving only a small remnant in Judah.