King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 42:2 Mean?

Jeremiah 42:2 in the King James Version says “And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 42 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:) Let: or, Let our supplication fall before thee”

Jeremiah 42:2 · KJV

Prayer

Context

1

Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest, came near,

2

And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:) Let: or, Let our supplication fall before thee

3

That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do.

4

Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard you; behold, I will pray unto the LORD your God according to your words; and it shall come to pass, that whatsoever thing the LORD shall answer you, I will declare it unto you; I will keep nothing back from you.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Jeremiah's description of the remnant's request—'And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:)'—combines apparent humility with subtle manipulation. The phrase 'we beseech thee' suggests humble petition, and their self-description as 'but a few of many' acknowledges their desperate circumstance. The parenthetical '(for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:)' appeals to Jeremiah's compassion, highlighting their vulnerability. However, calling God 'the LORD thy God' rather than 'our God' suggests psychological distance—they viewed Jeremiah as having special access to God they lacked, possibly indicating they didn't see themselves as full covenant partners. Their request that Jeremiah pray 'for us' rather than with them reinforces this distance. The phrase 'let our supplication be accepted before thee' makes Jeremiah the mediator, appropriate for his prophetic role but also potentially placing pressure on him to deliver favorable words. This entire approach—emphasizing their pitiful state, appealing to Jeremiah's compassion, positioning him as intercessor—aimed to evoke favorable response. Yet God's will doesn't bend to human need or emotional manipulation; He speaks truth regardless of circumstances.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The remnant's self-description as 'a few of many' accurately reflected Judah's catastrophic population loss. Before Babylon's invasions, Judah's population likely numbered 200,000-250,000. Three waves of deportation (605, 597, 586 BC) removed tens of thousands, Jerusalem's siege killed many thousands through violence and starvation, and Ishmael's recent massacre eliminated more. The remnant now approaching Jeremiah perhaps numbered only a few thousand at most. Their reference to 'thine eyes do behold us' indicates Jeremiah witnessed their reduced state, adding emotional weight to their appeal. Calling God 'the LORD thy God' echoed Israelite practice of identifying God through His relationship with prophets or patriarchs (the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; Exodus 3:6). However, in contexts where speakers should claim personal covenant relationship, this distancing language reveals spiritual alienation. Their position near Bethlehem, already on the Egypt route, showed their physical posture contradicted their verbal deference—they were positioned for flight, not patient waiting for divine direction. This body-language versus verbal-claim dissonance revealed their true intentions despite pious words.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does calling God 'thy God' rather than 'our God' reveal spiritual distance and failure to claim personal covenant relationship?
  2. What does this passage teach about the danger of emphasizing our desperate circumstances as leverage for favorable divine response rather than submitting to His will regardless?
  3. In what ways do believers today use emotional appeals or emphasis on suffering to manipulate God or His representatives rather than genuinely submitting to His purposes?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 25 words
וַיֹּאמְר֞וּ1 of 25

“And said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֶֽל2 of 25
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

יִרְמְיָ֣הוּ3 of 25

“unto Jeremiah”

H3414

jirmejah, the name of eight or nine israelites

הַנָּבִ֗יא4 of 25

“the prophet”

H5030

a prophet or (generally) inspired man

תִּפָּל5 of 25

“be accepted”

H5307

to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)

נָ֤א6 of 25
H4994

'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction

תְחִנָּתֵ֙נוּ֙7 of 25

“Let we beseech thee our supplication”

H8467

graciousness; causatively, entreaty

לְפָנֶ֔יךָ8 of 25

“before”

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

וְהִתְפַּלֵּ֤ל9 of 25

“thee and pray”

H6419

to judge (officially or mentally); by extension, to intercede, pray

בַּעֲדֵ֙נוּ֙10 of 25
H1157

in up to or over against; generally at, beside, among, behind, for, etc

אֶל11 of 25
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

יְהוָ֣ה12 of 25

“for us unto the LORD”

H3068

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

אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ13 of 25

“thy 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

בְּעַ֖ד14 of 25
H1157

in up to or over against; generally at, beside, among, behind, for, etc

כָּל15 of 25
H3605

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

הַשְּׁאֵרִ֣ית16 of 25

“even for all this remnant”

H7611

a remainder or residual (surviving, final) portion

הַזֹּ֑את17 of 25
H2063

this (often used adverb)

כִּֽי18 of 25
H3588

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

נִשְׁאַ֤רְנוּ19 of 25

“for we are left”

H7604

properly, to swell up, i.e., be (causatively, make) redundant

מְעַט֙20 of 25

“but a few”

H4592

a little or few (often adverbial or comparative)

מֵֽהַרְבֵּ֔ה21 of 25

“of many”

H7235

to increase (in whatever respect)

כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר22 of 25
H834

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

עֵינֶ֖יךָ23 of 25

“as thine eyes”

H5869

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

רֹא֥וֹת24 of 25

“do behold”

H7200

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

אֹתָֽנוּ׃25 of 25
H853

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

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 42:2 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 42:2 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 36:7Leviticus 26:22Lamentations 1:1Isaiah 1:9Isaiah 37:4James 5:16

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