King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 28:11 Mean?

Jeremiah 28:11 in the King James Version says “And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Even so will I break the yoke of Nebu... — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 28 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years. And the prophet Jeremiah went his way.

Jeremiah 28:11 · KJV


Context

9

The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him.

10

Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah's neck, and brake it.

11

And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years. And the prophet Jeremiah went his way.

12

Then the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the prophet, after that Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying,

13

Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years (כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה כָּכָה אֶשְׁבֹּר אֶת־עֹל נְבֻכַדְנֶאצַּר מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶל בְּעוֹד שְׁנָתַיִם יָמִים מֵעַל צַוַּאר כָּל־הַגּוֹיִם, koh amar YHWH kakah eshbor et-ol n'vukhadnetsar melekh-bavel b'od sh'natayim yamim me'al tsavvar kol-haggoyim)—Hananiah invokes divine authority (כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה, 'Thus saith the LORD') for his optimistic timeline. The comparison כָּכָה (kak'ah, 'just like this') links broken wooden yoke to promised broken Babylonian empire. Within the space of two full years (בְּעוֹד שְׁנָתַיִם יָמִים, b'od sh'natayim yamim) sets specific deadline. And the prophet Jeremiah went his way (וַיֵּלֶךְ יִרְמְיָהוּ הַנָּבִיא לְדַרְכּוֹ, vayyelekh yirm'yahu hannavi l'darko)—Jeremiah departs without immediate response.

Jeremiah's departure shows wisdom: not every false claim requires instant rebuttal. Sometimes truth needs time to formulate proper response. Jeremiah waits for divine instruction rather than reacting emotionally. Hananiah's specific timeline would eventually expose him—either events vindicate him (they won't) or time proves him false. Faithful ministry sometimes requires patience, letting lies hang themselves with their own specifics.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Hananiah's two-year prediction (593-591 BC) would be tested by events. Babylon didn't fall; instead, it grew stronger, ultimately destroying Jerusalem in 586 BC. Hananiah died within the year (28:17), never seeing his prophecy's failure. His specific timeline, meant to inspire confidence, became his undoing. False prophets often make falsifiable predictions; truth requires patience to let time expose lies.

Reflection Questions

  1. When should you immediately refute false teaching versus waiting for time to expose it?
  2. How do specific predictions make theological claims testable?
  3. What does Jeremiah's departure teach about not needing last word in every argument?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 27 words
אָמַ֣ר1 of 27

Thus saith

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

חֲנַנְיָה֩2 of 27

And Hananiah

H2608

chananjah, the name of thirteen israelites

לְעֵינֵ֨י3 of 27

in the presence

H5869

an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)

כָל4 of 27
H3605

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

הָעָ֜ם5 of 27

of all the people

H5971

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

אָמַ֣ר6 of 27

Thus saith

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

כֹּה֮7 of 27
H3541

properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now

אָמַ֣ר8 of 27

Thus saith

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָה֒9 of 27

the LORD

H3068

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

כָּ֣כָה10 of 27
H3602

just so, referring to the previous or following context

אֶשְׁבֹּ֞ר11 of 27

Even so will I break

H7665

to burst (literally or figuratively)

אֶת12 of 27
H853

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

עֹ֣ל׀13 of 27

the yoke

H5923

a yoke (as imposed on the neck), literally or figuratively

נְבֻֽכַדְנֶאצַּ֣ר14 of 27

of Nebuchadnezzar

H5019

nebukadnetstsar (or nebukadretsts(-ar, or)), king of babylon

מֶֽלֶךְ15 of 27

king

H4428

a king

בָּבֶ֗ל16 of 27

of Babylon

H894

babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire

בְּעוֹד֙17 of 27
H5750

properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more

שְׁנָתַ֣יִם18 of 27

years

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

יָמִ֔ים19 of 27

within the space of two full

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

מֵעַ֕ל20 of 27
H5921

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

צַוַּ֖אר21 of 27

from the neck

H6677

the back of the neck (as that on which burdens are bound)

כָּל22 of 27
H3605

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

הַגּוֹיִ֑ם23 of 27

of all nations

H1471

a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts

וַיֵּ֛לֶךְ24 of 27
H1980

to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

יִרְמְיָ֥ה25 of 27

Jeremiah

H3414

jirmejah, the name of eight or nine israelites

הַנָּבִ֖יא26 of 27

And the prophet

H5030

a prophet or (generally) inspired man

לְדַרְכּֽוֹ׃27 of 27

his way

H1870

a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb


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 28:11 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 28:11 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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