King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 15:1 Mean?

Jeremiah 15:1 in the King James Version says “Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast t... — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 15 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth.

Jeremiah 15:1 · KJV


Context

1

Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth.

2

And it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith the LORD; Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity.

3

And I will appoint over them four kinds, saith the LORD: the sword to slay, and the dogs to tear, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and destroy. kinds: Heb. families


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
This verse opens with a shocking divine declaration: 'Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people.' Moses and Samuel were Israel's greatest intercessors—Moses turned aside God's wrath after the golden calf (Exodus 32:11-14) and at Kadesh-Barnea (Numbers 14:13-20); Samuel's intercession was legendary (1 Samuel 7:5-9, 12:19-25). Yet even their combined intercession could not avert this judgment. 'Cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth.' The Hebrew shalach me'al panai (שַׁלַּח מֵעַל פָּנַי, send away from my presence) indicates complete dismissal—exile from God's protective presence. When the greatest intercessors cannot prevail, judgment is fixed.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

This pronouncement responds to Jeremiah's intercession in chapter 14. God had already forbidden Jeremiah to pray for the people (7:16, 11:14, 14:11), but this verse adds that even Moses and Samuel's prayers would be ineffective. The historical reference acknowledges Israel's intercessory tradition while declaring its limits. By Jeremiah's time, centuries of rejected prophetic warning had accumulated guilt beyond intercession's reach.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does the ineffectiveness of even Moses and Samuel's intercession reveal about the limits of prayer when sin has reached its full measure?
  2. How does this verse inform our understanding of both intercessory prayer's power and its boundaries?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 17 words
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר1 of 17

Then said

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָה֙2 of 17

the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֵלַ֔י3 of 17
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

אִם4 of 17
H518

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

יַעֲמֹ֨ד5 of 17

stood

H5975

to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)

מֹשֶׁ֤ה6 of 17

unto me Though Moses

H4872

mosheh, the israelite lawgiver

וּשְׁמוּאֵל֙7 of 17

and Samuel

H8050

shemuel, the name of three israelites

פָּנַ֖י8 of 17

before

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

אֵ֥ין9 of 17
H369

a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle

נַפְשִׁ֖י10 of 17

me yet my mind

H5315

properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment

אֶל11 of 17
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

הָעָ֣ם12 of 17

could not be toward this people

H5971

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

הַזֶּ֑ה13 of 17
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

שַׁלַּ֥ח14 of 17

cast them out

H7971

to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)

מֵֽעַל15 of 17
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

פָּנַ֖י16 of 17

before

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

וְיֵצֵֽאוּ׃17 of 17

and let them go forth

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Jeremiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Jeremiah 15:1 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Jeremiah 15:1 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Test Your Knowledge

Continue Your Study