King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 26:21 Mean?

Jeremiah 26:21 in the King James Version says “And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him t...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 26 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death: but when Urijah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt;”

Jeremiah 26:21 · KJV

Fear & Courage

Context

19

Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death? did he not fear the LORD, and besought the LORD , and the LORD repented him of the evil which he had pronounced against them? Thus might we procure great evil against our souls. the LORD, and the: Heb. the face of the LORD, etc

20

And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjathjearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah:

21

And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death: but when Urijah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt;

22

And Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt, namely, Elnathan the son of Achbor, and certain men with him into Egypt.

23

And they fetched forth Urijah out of Egypt, and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king; who slew him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people. common: Heb. sons of the people

Read Jeremiah 26 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death (וַיְבַקֵּשׁ הַמֶּלֶךְ הֲמִיתוֹ, vay'vaqqesh hammelekh hamito)—the verb בָּקַשׁ (baqash, 'seek') with מוּת (mut, 'to kill') indicates deliberate intent to execute. But when Urijah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt—unlike Jeremiah who stood firm, Urijah fled (נָס, nas). This isn't condemned; it's human.

The text doesn't criticize Urijah's fear (יִרָא, yare) or flight. Even true prophets experience terror before tyranny. Jesus instructed disciples to flee persecution (Matthew 10:23). David fled from Saul. Flight isn't failure when confronting murderous power. What matters is that Urijah had already delivered God's message faithfully. The contrast with Jeremiah (who remained) shows different callings—some prophets stay and face lions; others flee and still get caught. Both are faithful.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Egypt was traditional refuge for those fleeing Judean kings—Jeroboam fled there from Solomon (1 Kings 11:40), and later Jewish refugees would settle there (Jeremiah 43-44). Egypt and Judah had complex political relationships; Egypt couldn't refuse extradition requests from Judean kings without damaging alliances. The distance (200+ miles) shows Urijah's desperation.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do you respond to the reality that faithfulness sometimes includes fear and flight?
  2. What determines when to stand firm versus when to flee persecution?
  3. How does Urijah's fear make him relatable rather than diminish his prophetic integrity?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 18 words
וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע1 of 18

“heard”

H8085

to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ2 of 18

“the king”

H4428

a king

יְ֠הוֹיָקִים3 of 18

“And when Jehoiakim”

H3079

jehojakim, a jewish king

וְכָל4 of 18
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

גִּבּוֹרָ֤יו5 of 18

“with all his mighty men”

H1368

powerful; by implication, warrior, tyrant

וְכָל6 of 18
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הַשָּׂרִים֙7 of 18

“and all the princes”

H8269

a head person (of any rank or class)

אֶת8 of 18
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

דְּבָרָ֔יו9 of 18

“his words”

H1697

a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

וַיְבַקֵּ֥שׁ10 of 18

“sought”

H1245

to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after

הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ11 of 18

“the king”

H4428

a king

הֲמִית֑וֹ12 of 18

“to put him to death”

H4191

to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill

וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע13 of 18

“heard”

H8085

to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

אוּרִיָּ֙הוּ֙14 of 18

“but when Urijah”

H223

urijah, the name of one hittite and five israelites

וַיִּרָ֔א15 of 18

“it he was afraid”

H3372

to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten

וַיִּבְרַ֖ח16 of 18

“and fled”

H1272

to bolt, i.e., figuratively, to flee suddenly

וַיָּבֹ֥א17 of 18

“and went”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

מִצְרָֽיִם׃18 of 18

“into Egypt”

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

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 26:21 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 26:21 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Matthew 10:232 Chronicles 16:10Jeremiah 36:26Matthew 14:5Proverbs 29:251 Kings 19:1-3

Places in This Verse

EgyptRegion · Modern: Ain Shams · 30.13°N, 31.31°E658 verses across 33 books
View all places in Jeremiah 26 →

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