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Jeremiah, 26

1. In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the LORD, saying,

1. At the beginning of the reign of Judah's king Jehoiakim son of Josiah, the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah:

2. Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD'S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD'S house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:

2. Yahweh says this, "Stand in the courtyard of Yahweh's House and say to all who come from the towns of Judah to worship in Yahweh's house - all that I command you to say; do not omit anything!

3. If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.

3. Perhaps they will listen to you. Perhaps each one will turn from his wicked ways. Then I will change my mind and forget the destruction that I have planned to inflict on them because of their wicked deeds.

4. And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you,

4. Tell them: This is what Yahweh says: "You have not obeyed me and you have failed to walk according to my Law which I have set before you.

5. To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending [them], but ye have not hearkened;

5. You have not heeded my servants, the prophets, whom I have persistently sent to you. If you stubbornly close your ears to them,

6. Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.

6. I will treat this House of mine as I treated the sanctuary of Shiloh and let all the nations see that Jerusalem is a cursed city."

7. So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD.

7. The priests, the prophets and all the people heard what Jeremiah said in Yahweh's House.

8. Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded [him] to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die.

8. When Jeremiah finished saying all that Yahweh had commanded, he was besieged by the priests and prophets saying, "You are bound to die!

9. Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.

9. How dare you speak in Yahweh's Name telling us that this House will be treated like Shiloh and this city is to become a deserted ruins." And all the people gathered around Jeremiah in the House of Yahweh.

10. When the princes of Judah heard these things, then they came up from the king's house unto the house of the LORD, and sat down in the entry of the new gate of the LORD'S [house].

10. Upon hearing this, the leaders of Judah came up from the king's palace to the House of Yahweh and took their place at the entrance of the New Gate.

11. Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man [is] worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears.

11. Then the priests and the prophets said to the leaders of the people: "This man must die for he has spoken against the city as you have heard with your own ears!"

12. Then spake Jeremiah unto all the princes and to all the people, saying, The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard.

12. Jeremiah replied, "I have been sent by Yahweh to prophesy against this House and this city all that you have heard.

13. Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you.

13. Hence, reform your ways and your deeds and obey Yahweh your God that he may change his mind and not bring upon you the destruction he had intended.

14. As for me, behold, I [am] in your hand: do with me as seemeth good and meet unto you.

14. As for me I am in your hands; do with me whatever you consider just and right.

15. But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the LORD hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears.

15. But know that I am innocent and if you take my life you commit a crime that is a curse on yourselves, on the city and the people. In truth it was Yahweh who sent me to say all that I said in your hearing."

16. Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets; This man [is] not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.

16. Then the leaders, backed by the people, said to the priests and the prophets, "This man does not deserve death; he spoke to us in the Name of Yahweh."

17. Then rose up certain of the elders of the land, and spake to all the assembly of the people, saying,

17. Some of the elders of the land addressed the people's assembly saying,

18. Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Zion shall be plowed [like] a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.

18. "Micah of Moresheth prophesied publicly in the time of Hezekiah, king of Judah: 'Zion will become like a field, Jerusalem a heap of rubble and the Temple Mount a hill of overgrown thickets.'

19. Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death? did he not fear the LORD, and besought the LORD, and the LORD repented him of the evil which he had pronounced against them? Thus might we procure great evil against our souls.

19. Did King Hezekiah of Judah and the people of Judah kill him? They instead feared Yahweh and implored his pardon until they succeeded in their plea to make him change his mind; and Yahweh did not inflict the harm with which he had threatened them. How can we commit such a crime?"

20. And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjathjearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah:

20. There was another man, by the name of Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath Jearim who also prophesied in the name of Yahweh. He spoke against this city and this country in words similar to those of Jeremiah.

21. And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death: but when Urijah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt;

21. When King Jehoiakim together with his officials heard his words, he decided to do away with him. When Uriah came to know about it, he was scared and fled to Egypt.

22. And Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt, [namely], Elnathan the son of Achbor, and [certain] men with him into Egypt.

22. But King Jehoiakim sent Elnathan son of Achbor with some people into Egypt.

23. And they fetched forth Urijah out of Egypt, and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king; who slew him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people.

23. They brought Uriah out of Egypt and took him to King Jehoiakim who had him slain and his body thrown into the common people's burial place.

24. Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.

24. As for Jeremiah he was befriended by Ahikam, son of Shaphan, and was not handed over to those who wanted him put to death.



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Footnotes:

26:1-6 - The prophet Jeremiah is sent to announce God's judgment on Jerusalem. The message of judgment on the temple and the city is met with hostility, but it highlights Jeremiah's faithfulness in fulfilling God's will, even in the face of persecution (see also Ezekiel 33:3-5 and Matthew 23:37).

26:7-11 - Jeremiah is accused of blasphemy for prophesying the destruction of the temple. The violent reaction of the religious authorities and the people reveals the nation's resistance to God's plan, which often defies human expectations (see also Isaiah 30:9-11 and John 7:48-49).

26:12-15 - Jeremiah defends his prophecy, claiming it comes from God. His courage in maintaining the truth, even under threat of death, demonstrates the importance of remaining faithful to God's message, regardless of the consequences (see also Acts 5:29 and Ephesians 6:19-20).

26:16-19 - Some elders defend Jeremiah, citing the example of Micaiah, who prophesied God's judgment on Israel and was persecuted for it. Micaiah's story reinforces Jeremiah's legitimacy and his continued resistance to God's message (see also 1 Kings 22:13-28 and Luke 6:23).

26:20-24 - The prophet Uriah, who also prophesied against Jerusalem, is killed by Jeremiah's enemies. However, King Ahaziah protects Jeremiah, showing that God, in His sovereignty, preserves His messengers to fulfill His plans (see also Acts 12:1-2 and John 18:36).

Verses related to Jeremiah, 26:

Jeremiah chapter 26 recounts Jeremiah's judgment for his message. How does the prophet face the threat of death? This dramatic text describes the hostile reaction to Jeremiah's prophecy about the destruction of the temple. The chapter highlights the courage of the prophet, the intervention of the officials and the precedent of Micah. Jeremiah 26 also reports the martyrdom of the prophet Uriah. Consider with us five biblical passages that illuminate the crucial themes of this tense chapter.

Matthew 23:34: "Therefore, I send you prophets, wise men and teachers. Some you will kill and crucify; Others they will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city." - This passage reflects the theme of persecution of prophets seen in Jeremiah 26, particularly the threat to Jeremiah.

Acts 7:52: "Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become traitors and murderers." - Stephen references the persecution of the prophets, a central theme in Jeremiah 26.

Micah 3:12: "Therefore, because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, and the Temple Mount a hill covered with forest." - This is the verse that the elders quote in Jeremiah 26:18 to defend Jeremiah.

Luke 13:34: "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you, who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you! How many times have I wanted to gather your children together, like a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you didn't want to!" - Jesus laments over Jerusalem in a manner similar to Jeremiah's warning in Jeremiah 26.

2 Chronicles 36:16: "But they mocked God's messengers, despised his words and laughed at his prophets, until finally the wrath of the Lord rose against his people, and there was no remedy." - This passage summarizes the people's attitude toward the prophets, reflecting the events of Jeremiah 26.

FAQ:

Why was Jeremiah threatened with death in Jeremiah 26?

Jeremiah prophesied the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem if the people did not repent. The priests and leaders accused him of blasphemy and wanted to kill him. (Jeremiah 26:4-11)

How did Jeremiah escape death in Jeremiah 26?

The princes and the people remembered that the prophet Micah had made a similar prophecy and was not killed. Jeremiah was spared, but Uriah, another prophet, was assassinated. (Jeremiah 26:16-24)

What was the main message of Jeremiah 26?

God warned that if the people did not repent, the temple and Jerusalem would be destroyed like Shiloh. The call was to repentance and change. (Jeremiah 26:4-6)

Who protected Jeremiah from death?

Ahikam, son of Shaphan, protected Jeremiah from the wrath of the people, preventing him from being put to death. (Jeremiah 26:24)

What can we learn from Jeremiah 26?

The chapter teaches about the resistance of religious leaders to God's truth and how He uses people to protect His prophets. (Jeremiah 26:12-24)


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