King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 43:10 Mean?

Jeremiah 43:10 in the King James Version says “And say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadrezzar the king... — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 43 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne upon these stones that I have hid; and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them.

Jeremiah 43:10 · KJV


Context

8

Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying,

9

Take great stones in thine hand, and hide them in the clay in the brickkiln, which is at the entry of Pharaoh's house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah;

10

And say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne upon these stones that I have hid; and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them.

11

And when he cometh, he shall smite the land of Egypt, and deliver such as are for death to death; and such as are for captivity to captivity; and such as are for the sword to the sword.

12

And I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt; and he shall burn them, and carry them away captives: and he shall array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd putteth on his garment; and he shall go forth from thence in peace.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
God declares He will bring Nebuchadnezzar to Egypt - the very place the remnant fled to escape him. This fulfills the warning that they would face in Egypt what they feared in Judah (42:16). God calls Nebuchadnezzar 'my servant,' showing even pagan rulers serve His purposes. You cannot flee from God's will; disobedience brings you to what you most feared.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

This prophecy was fulfilled when Nebuchadnezzar invaded Egypt in 568 BC. The Jewish refugees who fled there seeking safety found the destruction they hoped to escape.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does attempting to escape God's will often lead to encountering what you feared?
  2. What does God's sovereignty over all nations teach about the futility of fleeing from Him?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 27 words
אָמַר֩1 of 27

And say

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֲלֵיהֶ֡ם2 of 27
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

כֹּֽה3 of 27
H3541

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

אָמַר֩4 of 27

And say

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָ֨ה5 of 27

the LORD

H3068

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

צְבָא֜וֹת6 of 27

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

אֱלֹהֵ֣י7 of 27

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

יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל8 of 27

of Israel

H3478

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

הִנְנִ֤י9 of 27
H2005

lo!; also (as expressing surprise) if

שֹׁלֵ֙חַ֙10 of 27

Behold I will send

H7971

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

וְ֠לָקַחְתִּי11 of 27

and take

H3947

to take (in the widest variety of applications)

אֶת12 of 27
H853

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

נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֤ר13 of 27

Nebuchadrezzar

H5019

nebukadnetstsar (or nebukadretsts(-ar, or)), king of babylon

מֶֽלֶךְ14 of 27

the king

H4428

a king

בָּבֶל֙15 of 27

of Babylon

H894

babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire

עַבְדִּ֔י16 of 27

my servant

H5650

a servant

וְשַׂמְתִּ֣י17 of 27

and will set

H7760

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

כִסְא֔וֹ18 of 27

his throne

H3678

properly, covered, i.e., a throne (as canopied)

מִמַּ֛עַל19 of 27

upon

H4605

properly,the upper part, used only adverbially with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top, etc

לָאֲבָנִ֥ים20 of 27

these stones

H68

a stone

הָאֵ֖לֶּה21 of 27
H428

these or those

אֲשֶׁ֣ר22 of 27
H834

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

טָמָ֑נְתִּי23 of 27

that I have hid

H2934

to hide (by covering over)

וְנָטָ֥ה24 of 27

and he shall spread

H5186

to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application (as follows)

אֶת25 of 27
H853

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

שַׁפְרִור֖וֹ26 of 27

his royal pavilion

H8237

splendid, i.e., a tapestry or canopy

עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃27 of 27
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 43:10 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 43:10 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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