King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 42:18 Mean?

Jeremiah 42:18 in the King James Version says “For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As mine anger and my fury hath been poured forth upon the inhabitan... — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 42 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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.

Jeremiah 42:18 · KJV


Context

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

20

For ye dissembled in your hearts, when ye sent me unto the LORD your God, saying, Pray for us unto the LORD our God; and according unto all that the LORD our God shall say, so declare unto us, and we will do it. ye dissembled: or, ye have used deceit against your souls


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
As mine anger and my fury hath been poured forth upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem—The phrase poured forth (natakh, נָתַךְ) means to pour out like liquid, often used of molten metal (Ezekiel 22:22) or God's wrath (Psalm 69:24, Jeremiah 7:20). God's aph (אַף, anger, lit. 'nostril/nose') and hemah (חֵמָה, fury/wrath, from a root meaning 'heat') were not arbitrary emotions but covenantal responses to persistent rebellion. Jerusalem's destruction (586 BC) was recent, visible evidence of divine judgment—the city lay in ruins, thousands were dead or exiled.

So shall my fury be poured forth upon you, when ye shall enter into Egypt—The comparison is explicit: identical apostasy brings identical judgment. The remnant witnessed Jerusalem's fate yet chose the same path of disobedience. This demonstrates the principle that observing God's judgment on others should produce repentance, not rebellion (Romans 2:4-5).

The consequences are comprehensive: ye shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach—four terms describing covenant curses (Deuteronomy 28:37). Alah (אָלָה, execration) means an oath or curse invoked upon oneself; shammah (שַׁמָּה, astonishment) indicates horrified wonder; qelalah (קְלָלָה, curse) is the opposite of blessing; herpah (חֶרְפָּה, reproach) means disgrace or taunt. Together, they picture complete disgrace—a cautionary example cited by others.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Jerusalem's destruction in 586 BC was devastating: the temple burned, walls demolished, population killed or deported, the city left desolate (2 Kings 25:8-21; Lamentations). This was fresh trauma for the remnant, who either witnessed it or heard detailed reports. Jeremiah's warning that Egypt would bring identical judgment proved prophetic. Nebuchadnezzar's later invasion of Egypt (568 BC) fulfilled this literally. The Jewish community in Egypt declined into syncretism (Jeremiah 44:15-19 describes their worship of the Queen of Heaven), provoking continued judgment. By the Persian period, Egypt's Jewish communities had adopted pagan practices, as evidenced by the Elephantine papyri showing a mixed cult. The remnant became proverbial examples of judgment—exactly as prophesied. Their name became associated with rebellion and divine wrath.

Reflection Questions

  1. How should witnessing God's judgment on others shape our response to His word rather than hardening our hearts?
  2. What does it mean to become 'an execration, astonishment, curse, and reproach,' and how does this fulfill covenant warnings?
  3. Why do we sometimes observe God's judgment yet choose the same path that led to that judgment?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 31 words
כִּי֩1 of 31
H3588

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

כֹ֨ה2 of 31
H3541

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

אָמַ֜ר3 of 31

For thus saith

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָ֣ה4 of 31

the LORD

H3068

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

צְבָאוֹת֮5 of 31

of hosts

H6635

a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci

אֱלֹהֵ֣י6 of 31

the God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

יִשְׂרָאֵל֒7 of 31

of Israel

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

כַּאֲשֶׁר֩8 of 31
H834

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

תִּתַּ֤ךְ9 of 31

be poured forth

H5413

to flow forth (literally or figuratively); by implication, to liquify

אַפִּ֜י10 of 31

As mine anger

H639

properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire

חֲמָתִי֙11 of 31

and my fury

H2534

heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever)

עַל12 of 31
H5921

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

יֹֽשְׁבֵי֙13 of 31

upon the inhabitants

H3427

properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry

יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם14 of 31

of Jerusalem

H3389

jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine

כֵּ֣ן15 of 31
H3651

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

תִּתַּ֤ךְ16 of 31

be poured forth

H5413

to flow forth (literally or figuratively); by implication, to liquify

חֲמָתִי֙17 of 31

and my fury

H2534

heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever)

עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם18 of 31
H5921

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

בְּבֹאֲכֶ֖ם19 of 31

upon you when ye shall enter

H935

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

מִצְרָ֑יִם20 of 31

into Egypt

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

וִהְיִיתֶ֞ם21 of 31
H1961

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

לְאָלָ֤ה22 of 31

and ye shall be an execration

H423

an imprecation

וּלְשַׁמָּה֙23 of 31

and an astonishment

H8047

ruin; by implication, consternation

וְלִקְלָלָ֣ה24 of 31

and a curse

H7045

vilification

וּלְחֶרְפָּ֔ה25 of 31

and a reproach

H2781

contumely, disgrace, the pudenda

וְלֹֽא26 of 31
H3808

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

תִרְא֣וּ27 of 31

and ye shall see

H7200

to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

ע֔וֹד28 of 31
H5750

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

אֶת29 of 31
H853

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

הַמָּק֖וֹם30 of 31

this place

H4725

properly, a standing, i.e., a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind)

הַזֶּֽה׃31 of 31
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that


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 42:18 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 42:18 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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