King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 42:5 Mean?

Jeremiah 42:5 in the King James Version says “Then they said to Jeremiah, The LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all thing...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 42 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Then they said to Jeremiah, The LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us.”

Jeremiah 42:5 · KJV

Context

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.

5

Then they said to Jeremiah, The LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us.

6

Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God.

7

And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah.

Read Jeremiah 42 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The people's solemn oath to Jeremiah establishes explicit covenant terms: 'Then they said to Jeremiah, The LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us.' Invoking God as 'true and faithful witness' creates formal covenant accountability—they call divine judgment on themselves if they disobey. The phrase 'if we do not even according to all things' commits them to complete obedience, not selective compliance. The condition 'for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us' acknowledges prophetic revelation as divine instruction they're bound to obey. This oath parallels covenant renewals throughout Israel's history (Exodus 24:3-7, Deuteronomy 26:17-19, Joshua 24:21-24, Nehemiah 10:28-29), suggesting formal solemnity. However, their eventual violation (chapter 43) made this oath bearing false witness and covenant breaking, compounding their sin. The passage illustrates how easily humans make bold promises during calm moments, fully intending compliance, only to renege when divine commands conflict with fear or desire. Their sincerity may have been genuine when spoken, but untested resolve proves inadequate when challenged. This warns against glib religious commitments made without counting the cost of obedience (Luke 14:28-33).

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Historical & Cultural Context

Oath-taking with God as witness carried ultimate solemnity in ancient Israelite culture. The phrase 'The LORD be a true and faithful witness' (literally 'may Yahweh be between us a witness of truth and faithfulness') invoked divine presence to judge any violation. Such oaths were legally binding and breaking them brought divine curse. Old Testament law prohibited false oaths (Leviticus 19:12, Exodus 20:7), making this doubly serious: both covenant breaking and taking God's name in vain. That the entire community participated ('then they said') made this corporate oath-taking, similar to covenant ceremonies at Sinai, Shechem, or during Josiah's reforms. Their subsequent violation (43:1-7) when Jeremiah delivered God's word commanding them to stay in Judah rather than flee to Egypt demonstrated that their oath was empty religious formalism. Like Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11) who promised one thing but delivered another, these survivors made solemn vows while planning disobedience if God's word contradicted their predetermined path. The tragedy is that their oath made their eventual disobedience more culpable, adding oath-breaking to rebellion.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does making solemn religious commitments without genuine intent to obey regardless of cost compound sin when we subsequently disobey?
  2. What does this passage teach about the danger of confusing sincere emotion in the moment with tested, costly obedience over time?
  3. In what ways do believers today invoke God's name in commitments we later violate when obedience proves costlier than anticipated?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 21 words
וְהֵ֙מָּה֙1 of 21
H1992

they (only used when emphatic)

אָמְר֣וּ2 of 21

“Then they said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֶֽל3 of 21
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ4 of 21

“to Jeremiah”

H3414

jirmejah, the name of eight or nine israelites

יְהִ֤י5 of 21
H1961

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

יְהוָ֧ה6 of 21

“The LORD”

H3068

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

בָּ֔נוּ7 of 21
H0
לְעֵ֖ד8 of 21

“witness”

H5707

concretely, a witness; abstractly, testimony; specifically, a recorder, i.e., prince

אֱמֶ֣ת9 of 21

“be a true”

H571

stability; (figuratively) certainty, truth, trustworthiness

וְנֶאֱמָ֑ן10 of 21

“and faithful”

H539

properly, to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render (or be) firm or faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanen

אִם11 of 21
H518

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

לֹ֡א12 of 21
H3808

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

כְּֽכָל13 of 21
H3605

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

הַ֠דָּבָר14 of 21

“not even according to all things”

H1697

a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

אֲשֶׁ֨ר15 of 21
H834

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

יִֽשְׁלָחֲךָ֜16 of 21

“shall send”

H7971

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

יְהוָ֧ה17 of 21

“The LORD”

H3068

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

אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ18 of 21

“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

אֵלֵ֖ינוּ19 of 21
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

כֵּ֥ן20 of 21
H3651

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

נַעֲשֶֽׂה׃21 of 21

“between us if we do”

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

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 42:5 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 42:5 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Genesis 31:50Judges 11:10Malachi 3:5Malachi 2:14Micah 1:2Revelation 1:5

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