And I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, saith the LORD: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.

JEREMIAH 28:4KJV
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Jeremiah 28:4 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 28:4 mean?

Jeremiah 28:4 records a promise that Jeconiah (also known as Jehoiachin), the exiled king of Judah, along with all the people of Judah taken captive to Babylon, would be brought back to their homeland because God would break the power ("yoke") of the Babylonian king. This statement is presented as a message from the LORD, declaring an end to Babylon’s control over Judah’s exiles.

In context, the prophet Hananiah is speaking to the people in Jerusalem, claiming that God will soon restore the exiles and the former king, reversing the Babylonian conquest. This verse is part of a confrontation between Hananiah, who gives a message of quick restoration, and Jeremiah, who warns that this prophecy is not truly from God. The verse reflects the hope many people had for a swift end to their suffering, but the surrounding passage shows that this hope was, in fact, false assurance.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 28:4

  • "again" (שׁוּב, shuv): This word often means "to return" or "to bring back." Here, it emphasizes the idea of restoration—bringing Jeconiah and the captives back to their original home.
  • "yoke" (עֹל, ol): This word refers to a wooden bar used to harness animals, symbolizing oppression or control. The promise to "break the yoke" means to end Babylon’s domination over Judah.
  • "captives" (גּוֹלָה, golah): This term specifically refers to people who have been exiled or deported. It highlights the forced displacement experienced by the people of Judah.

Why Jeremiah 28:4 matters

  • Jeremiah 28:4 helps clarify that not every message claiming to be from God is truly from Him; the verse is part of a false prophecy that Jeremiah later rebukes.
  • The verse shows the deep longing among the exiles and those left in Judah for a quick restoration, revealing the emotional and political tension of the time.
  • Understanding this verse in its context warns readers about the danger of listening to comforting but untrue promises, especially in times of crisis.

Where else these words appear

“Jeconiah” Hebrew H3204 · used in 7 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 3:16 And the sons of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son.
  • Esther 2:6 Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.
  • Jeremiah 27:20 Which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took not, when he carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem;

“captives” Hebrew H1546 · used in 14 verses

  • 2 Kings 25:27 And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison;
  • Jeremiah 29:22 And of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captivity of Judah which are in Babylon, saying, The LORD make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire;
  • Ezekiel 33:21 And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity, in the tenth month, in the fifth day of the month, that one that had escaped out of Jerusalem came unto me, saying, The city is smitten.

“yoke” Hebrew H5923 · used in 34 verses

  • Genesis 27:40 And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.
  • 2 Chronicles 10:4 Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee.
  • Jeremiah 27:8 And it shall come to pass, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I punish, saith the LORD, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand.

“Jehoiakim” Hebrew H3079 · used in 37 verses

  • 2 Kings 23:34 And Pharaohnechoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away: and he came to Egypt, and died there.
  • Jeremiah 1:3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.
  • Jeremiah 36:1 And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,