King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 42:17 Mean?

Jeremiah 42:17 in the King James Version says “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 ... — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 42 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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. So: Heb. So shall all the men be

Jeremiah 42:17 · KJV


Context

15

And now therefore hear the word of the LORD, ye remnant of Judah; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; If ye wholly set your faces to enter into Egypt, and go to sojourn there;

16

Then it shall come to pass, that the sword, which ye feared, shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine, whereof ye were afraid, shall follow close after you there in Egypt; and there ye shall die. shall follow: Heb. shall cleave after you

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. So: Heb. So shall all the men be

18

For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As mine anger and my fury hath been poured forth upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem; so shall my fury be poured forth upon you, when ye shall enter into Egypt: and ye shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach; and ye shall see this place no more.

19

The LORD hath said concerning you, O ye remnant of Judah; Go ye not into Egypt: know certainly that I have admonished you this day. admonished: Heb. testified against you


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
All the men that set their faces to go into Egypt to sojourn there—The repeated phrase sum panim (שׂוּם פָּנִים, set faces) emphasizes deliberate, willful disobedience. The comprehensive judgment follows: they shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence—the threefold covenant curse (herev ra'av dever, חֶרֶב רָעָב דֶּבֶר) repeatedly invoked throughout Jeremiah (14:12, 21:7, 24:10, 27:8, 29:17-18, 32:24, 34:17, 38:2, 44:13).

This triad represents comprehensive judgment: herev (sword) signifies violent death in war; ra'av (famine) indicates agricultural failure and starvation; dever (pestilence/plague) encompasses disease and epidemic. Ironically, these were the very calamities they sought to escape by fleeing to Egypt (v. 14). By choosing Egypt for safety, they encountered the judgment they fled.

The verdict is absolute: none of them shall remain or escape from the evil that I will bring upon them. The phrase the evil that I will bring (ha-ra'ah asher ani mevi, הָרָעָה אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי מֵבִיא) identifies Yahweh as the agent of judgment. This was not mere political misfortune but divine retribution for covenant violation. The totality—none shall remain or escape—fulfills the Deuteronomic curses for disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:15-68).

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Historical & Cultural Context

This prophecy was literally fulfilled. Jeremiah 44 records the remnant's continued idolatry in Egypt, provoking final judgment. Historical records indicate Nebuchadnezzar invaded Egypt circa 568 BC (Josephus, Antiquities 10.9.7; see also Jeremiah 43:10-13), bringing the very Babylonian sword they fled. Additionally, Egypt experienced internal conflicts under Pharaoh Apries (Hophra), who was overthrown by Amasis II around 570 BC. The Jewish refugee community faced the sword (war), famine (agricultural disruption), and pestilence (disease outbreaks common in unstable regions). The Elephantine papyri (5th century BC) show a later Jewish community in Egypt, but the generation that fled Judah in 582 BC perished as prophesied. Their fate validated Jeremiah's prophetic authority and demonstrated that fleeing God's will leads to the very destruction one seeks to avoid.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the irony of finding in Egypt the exact calamities they fled illustrate that we cannot escape God's judgment through human schemes?
  2. What does the threefold curse (sword, famine, pestilence) teach about the comprehensive nature of covenant judgment?
  3. In what ways might we 'set our faces' toward worldly solutions while fleeing the very place God has called us to remain faithful?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 26 words
וְיִֽהְי֣וּ1 of 26
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

כָל2 of 26
H3605

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

הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים3 of 26
H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

אֲשֶׁר4 of 26
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

שָׂ֨מוּ5 of 26

that set

H7760

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

אֶת6 of 26
H853

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

מִפְּנֵי֙7 of 26

from

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

מֵבִ֥יא8 of 26

that I will bring

H935

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

מִצְרַ֙יִם֙9 of 26

into Egypt

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

לָג֣וּר10 of 26

to sojourn

H1481

properly, to turn aside from the road (for a lodging or any other purpose), i.e., sojourn (as a guest); also to shrink, fear (as in a strange place);

שָׁ֔ם11 of 26
H8033

there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence

יָמ֕וּתוּ12 of 26

there they shall die

H4191

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

בַּחֶ֖רֶב13 of 26

by the sword

H2719

drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement

בָּרָעָ֣ב14 of 26

by the famine

H7458

hunger (more or less extensive)

וּבַדָּ֑בֶר15 of 26

and by the pestilence

H1698

a pestilence

וְלֹֽא16 of 26
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

יִהְיֶ֤ה17 of 26
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

לָהֶם֙18 of 26
H0
שָׂרִ֣יד19 of 26

and none of them shall remain

H8300

a survivor

וּפָלִ֔יט20 of 26

or escape

H6412

a refugee

מִפְּנֵי֙21 of 26

from

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

הָֽרָעָ֔ה22 of 26

the evil

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

אֲשֶׁ֥ר23 of 26
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

אֲנִ֖י24 of 26
H589

i

מֵבִ֥יא25 of 26

that I will bring

H935

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

עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃26 of 26
H5921

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


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 42:17 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 42:17 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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