King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 28:16 Mean?

Jeremiah 28:16 in the King James Version says “Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, becaus...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 28 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD. rebellion: Heb. revolt”

Jeremiah 28:16 · KJV

Context

14

For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him: and I have given him the beasts of the field also.

15

Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.

16

Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD. rebellion: Heb. revolt

17

So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.

Read Jeremiah 28 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD (לָכֵן כֹּה־אָמַר יְהוָה הִנְנִי מְשַׁלֵּחֲךָ מֵעַל פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה הַשָּׁנָה אַתָּה מֵת כִּי־סָרָה דִבַּרְתָּ אֶל־יְהוָה, lakhen koh-amar YHWH hin'ni m'shalechakha me'al p'nei ha'adamah hasshanah attah met ki-sarah dibbarta el-YHWH)—the death sentence is immediate: this year thou shalt die (הַשָּׁנָה אַתָּה מֵת, hasshanah attah met). The charge: thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD (סָרָה דִבַּרְתָּ אֶל־יְהוָה, sarah dibbarta el-YHWH). The noun סָרָה (sarah, 'rebellion/turning aside') comes from סוּר (sur, 'turn away'). Hananiah's false prophecy constituted theological sedition—teaching people to turn from God's actual word.

The phrase I will cast thee from off the face of the earth (מְשַׁלֵּחֲךָ מֵעַל פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה, m'shalechakha me'al p'nei ha'adamah) uses the verb שָׁלַח (shalach, 'send/cast') ironically—Hananiah wasn't 'sent' by God (v. 15) for prophetic ministry, but he will be 'sent' from life to death. This capital judgment for false prophecy fulfills Deuteronomy 13:5's requirement: prophets who teach rebellion against Yahweh must die. The severity reflects the danger: false prophecy destroys communities by divorcing them from divine reality.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Verse 17 records Hananiah's death fulfillment: 'So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.' The prophecy was given in the fifth month (28:1), meaning Hananiah died within two months. This rapid fulfillment vindicated Jeremiah's authority and exposed Hananiah's lies. Unlike Hananiah's two-year timeline (which never came), Jeremiah's death prediction proved accurate within weeks.

Reflection Questions

  1. Why does Scripture prescribe death penalty for false prophets teaching rebellion?
  2. How does false teaching constitute 'rebellion against the LORD' beyond mere error?
  3. What makes prophetic/theological falsehood more dangerous than other sins?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 17 words
לָכֵ֗ן1 of 17
H3651

properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner

כֹּ֚ה2 of 17
H3541

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

אָמַ֣ר3 of 17

“Therefore thus saith”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָֽה׃4 of 17

“against the LORD”

H3068

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

הִנְנִי֙5 of 17
H2005

lo!; also (as expressing surprise) if

מְשַֽׁלֵּֽחֲךָ֔6 of 17

“Behold I will cast”

H7971

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

מֵעַ֖ל7 of 17
H5921

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

פְּנֵ֣י8 of 17

“thee from off the face”

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

הָאֲדָמָ֑ה9 of 17

“of the earth”

H127

soil (from its general redness)

הַשָּׁנָה֙10 of 17

“this year”

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

אַתָּ֣ה11 of 17
H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

מֵ֔ת12 of 17

“thou shalt die”

H4191

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

כִּֽי13 of 17
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

סָרָ֥ה14 of 17

“rebellion”

H5627

apostasy, crime; figuratively, remission

דִבַּ֖רְתָּ15 of 17

“because thou hast taught”

H1696

perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue

אֶל16 of 17
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

יְהוָֽה׃17 of 17

“against the LORD”

H3068

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

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 28:16 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 28:16 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 29:32Genesis 7:41 Kings 13:34Deuteronomy 6:15Exodus 32:12Jeremiah 20:6

Test Your Knowledge

Jeremiah 28 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterJeremiah Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Jeremiah 28 with CommentaryAll Jeremiah ChaptersComplete Jeremiah QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes