And now therefore hear the word of the LORD, ye remnant of Judah; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; If ye wholly set your faces to enter into Egypt, and go to sojourn there;

JEREMIAH 42:15KJV
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Jeremiah 42:15 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 42:15 mean?

Jeremiah 42:15 warns the remaining people of Judah that if they decide to go and live in Egypt, despite God’s warning, they will face serious consequences. God, through Jeremiah, is directly addressing the survivors, making it clear that choosing Egypt as a place of refuge is against His will.

In this verse, the prophet Jeremiah is speaking to the "remnant" of Judah—those few left after much of the nation has been taken away or destroyed. The people had asked Jeremiah to seek God’s guidance about where they should go, and this verse is part of God’s answer. The situation is tense: the people are afraid of staying in their land because of threats from Babylon, but God is telling them not to flee to Egypt for safety.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 42:15

  • "Remnant" (שְׁאֵרִית, she'erit): This word means the small group left after disaster. The verse is aimed at those who survived the earlier destruction, highlighting how few remain and how important their choices are.
  • "Set your faces" (שִׂים פְּנֵיכֶם, sim peneikhem): This phrase means to firmly decide or determine to do something. It shows that God is addressing a deliberate, determined plan to go to Egypt, not just a passing thought.
  • "Sojourn" (גּוּר, gur): This word means to live as a temporary resident or foreigner. The people are not just visiting Egypt; they are planning to settle there for a time, which carries the idea of seeking safety and a new life outside their homeland.

Why Jeremiah 42:15 matters

  • Jeremiah 42:15 makes it clear that God’s warning is not about casual travel but about a determined plan to relocate and rely on Egypt for safety, which was a common temptation for Israel in times of trouble.
  • The verse connects to the larger passage, where the people had promised to obey whatever God said—yet here, God anticipates their disobedience and warns them in advance.
  • Understanding the word "remnant" helps readers see the gravity of the situation: these are the last survivors, and their decision will shape the future of Judah.

Where else these words appear

“remnant” Hebrew H7611 · used in 66 verses

  • Genesis 45:7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
  • Jeremiah 15:9 She that hath borne seven languisheth: she hath given up the ghost; her sun is gone down while it was yet day: she hath been ashamed and confounded: and the residue of them will I deliver to the sword before their enemies, saith the LORD.
  • Ezekiel 11:13 And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then fell I down upon my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel?

“sojourn” Hebrew H1481 · used in 94 verses

  • Genesis 12:10 And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.
  • Numbers 22:3 And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
  • Psalms 59:3 For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD.