Add parallel Print Page Options

The False Prophet Hananiah

28 It was in that same year, in the fifth month of Zedekiah’s fourth year as king of Judah [C 593 bc], soon after he began to rule. The prophet Hananiah son of Azzur, from the town of Gibeon, spoke to me in the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord ·in front [L before the eyes] of the priests and all the people. He said: “The Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts], the God of Israel, says: ‘I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. Before two years are over, I will ·bring back [restore] ·everything [L all the vessels] that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took to Babylon from the Lord’s ·Temple [L house]. I will also ·bring back [restore] ·Jehoiachin [L Jeconiah] son of Jehoiakim king of Judah and all the other ·captives [exiles] from Judah who went to Babylon,’ says the Lord. ‘So I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’”

Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to the prophet Hananiah ·in front [L before the eyes] of the priests and all the people who were standing in the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord. He said, “Amen! Let the Lord really do that! May the Lord ·make the message you prophesy come true [L confirm your word which you prophesied]. May he ·bring back here [L restore] ·everything [L the vessels] the Lord’s ·Temple [L house] and all the ·people who were taken as captives [exiles] to Babylon.

“But listen to ·what I am going to say to you and [L this word which I am speaking in your ears and the ears of] all the people. There were prophets long before we became prophets, Hananiah. They prophesied that war, ·hunger [famine; or disaster; calamity], and ·terrible diseases [plague; pestilence] would come to many countries and great kingdoms. But if a prophet prophesies that we will have peace and that message comes true, he can be recognized as one truly sent by the Lord [C prophets usually came announcing judgment not peace].”

10 Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke off Jeremiah’s neck and ·broke [shattered] it. 11 Hananiah said ·in front [L before the eyes] of all the people, “This is what the Lord says: ‘In the same way I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. He put that yoke on all the nations of the world, but I will break it before two years are over.’” After Hananiah had said that, Jeremiah ·left the Temple [L went on his way].

12 The Lord spoke his word to Jeremiah after the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke off of the prophet Jeremiah’s neck. 13 The Lord said, “Go and tell Hananiah, ‘This is what the Lord says: You have broken a wooden yoke, but I will make a yoke of iron in its place! 14 The Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts], the God of Israel, says: I will put a yoke of iron on the necks of all these nations to make them serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and they will be slaves to him. I will even give Nebuchadnezzar ·control over the wild animals [L the beasts of the field].’ ”

15 Then the prophet Jeremiah said to the prophet Hananiah, “Listen, Hananiah! The Lord did not send you, and you have made the people of Judah ·trust [have confidence] in lies. 16 So this is what the Lord says: ‘Soon I will ·remove you from [L send you off the face of] the earth. You will die this year, because you taught ·the people to turn [rebellion] against the Lord [Deut. 18:20].’”

17 Hananiah died in the seventh month of that same year.

Hananiah’s False Prophecy

28 Now in the same year, (A)in the beginning of the reign of (B)Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, in the fifth month, (C)Hananiah the prophet the son of Azzur, who was from (D)Gibeon, spoke to me at the house of the Lord in the sight of the priests and all the people, saying, (E)This is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel says: ‘I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. Within two years I am going to bring back to this place (F)all the vessels of the Lords house, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took from this place and brought to Babylon. I am (G)also going to bring back to this place (H)Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all the (I)exiles of Judah who went to Babylon,’ declares the Lord, ‘for I will break the (J)yoke of the king of Babylon.’”

Then Jeremiah the prophet spoke to the prophet Hananiah in the sight of the priests and in the sight of all the people who were standing at the (K)house of the Lord, and Jeremiah the prophet said, “(L)Amen! May the Lord do so; may the Lord fulfill your words which you have prophesied, to bring back the vessels of the Lords house and all the exiles, from Babylon to this place. Yet (M)hear now this word which I am going to speak [a]so that you and all the people can hear it! The prophets who were before me and before you from ancient times also (N)prophesied against many lands and against great kingdoms regarding war, disaster, and plague. As for the prophet who prophesies of peace, (O)when the word of the prophet comes to pass, then that prophet will be known as one whom the Lord has truly sent.”

10 Then Hananiah the prophet took the (P)yoke from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet and broke it. 11 Hananiah spoke in the sight of all the people, saying, “(Q)This is what the Lord says: ‘Even so within two full years I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all the nations.’” Then Jeremiah the prophet went his way.

12 Then the (R)word of the Lord came to Jeremiah after Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet, saying, 13 “Go and speak to Hananiah, saying, ‘This is what the Lord says: “You have broken the yokes of wood, but in their place you have made (S)yokes of iron.” 14 For this is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel says: “I have put a (T)yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations, to serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall (U)serve him. And (V)I have also given him the animals of the field.”’” 15 Then Jeremiah the prophet said to Hananiah the prophet, “Listen now, Hananiah: the Lord has not sent you, and (W)you have made this people trust in a lie. 16 Therefore, this is what the Lord says: ‘(X)Behold, I am going to [b]remove you from the face of the earth. This year you are going to (Y)die, because you (Z)spoke falsely against the Lord.’”

17 So Hananiah the prophet died in the same year, in the seventh month.

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 28:7 Lit in your ears and the ears of...people
  2. Jeremiah 28:16 Lit send