“Then spake Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men, saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely: the LORD our God hath not sent thee to say, Go not into Egypt to sojourn there:”
My Notes
What Does Jeremiah 43:2 Mean?
The leaders' response to Jeremiah's God-given guidance is blunt: "Thou speakest falsely: the LORD our God hath not sent thee." They asked for God's word, received it, didn't like it, and declared the prophet a liar. The rejection is immediate and complete — from request to denial in a single scene.
The word "proud" (zed — arrogant, presumptuous) identifies the character behind the accusation. These aren't humble seekers who genuinely disagree with Jeremiah's interpretation. They're arrogant men who already knew what answer they wanted and dismissed the one they got.
The irony is devastating: they asked Jeremiah to pray for guidance, promised to obey whatever God said (42:5-6), and then when the answer came back as "don't go to Egypt," they called it a lie. They didn't want guidance; they wanted validation. When they didn't get it, they shot the messenger.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Have you ever asked God for guidance while already having decided what you wanted to hear?
- 2.How do you respond when God's direction contradicts your plan — do you adjust or dismiss?
- 3.What's the difference between genuinely seeking guidance and seeking validation?
- 4.Where in your life might you be calling God's answer a lie because you don't like it?
Devotional
They asked for God's word. They promised to obey it. Then they heard it, didn't like it, and called Jeremiah a liar.
This is one of the most infuriating patterns in human spiritual behavior: asking God for direction while already having decided where you're going. The request for guidance was theater. The promise to obey was conditional — conditional on God saying what they already wanted to hear. When the answer was "stay," and they wanted "go," the problem wasn't the answer. It was the prophet.
The word "proud" in the narrator's description is the diagnosis. These men weren't confused or genuinely uncertain. They were arrogant — certain of their own plan, using the prophetic consultation as a rubber stamp. When the stamp came back "denied," they attacked the stamp rather than reconsidering the plan.
This pattern is alive and well. You pray for direction, but you've already made the decision. You ask for counsel, but you've already chosen the path. And when God's answer contradicts your plan, you find a reason to dismiss the answer: the prophet is wrong, the timing isn't right, the circumstances are different, God must mean something else.
If you're asking God for guidance, the only honest posture is the one they promised but didn't deliver: "whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey" (42:6). If you can't say that and mean it, don't ask. Because calling God's answer a lie when it disagrees with your preference is worse than not asking at all.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Then spake Azariah the son of Hoshaiah,.... Perhaps the same with Jezaniah, or a brother of his, Jer 42:1; he is…
These captains belonged to the party who had all along resisted Jeremiah’s counsels, and had led Zedekiah astray. Now…
What God said to the builders of Babel may be truly said of this people that Jeremiah is now dealing with: Now nothing…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture