The LORD hath said concerning you, O ye remnant of Judah; Go ye not into Egypt: know certainly that I have admonished you this day.

JEREMIAH 42:19KJV
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Jeremiah 42:19 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 42:19 mean?

Jeremiah 42:19 is a warning from God to the remaining people of Judah, telling them not to go to Egypt for refuge. God makes it clear that He has given them a direct and unmistakable warning on that very day.

Jeremiah is speaking to a group of Judeans who survived the Babylonian invasion and are considering fleeing to Egypt for safety. God, through Jeremiah, addresses them as the "remnant of Judah" and commands them not to enter Egypt. The verse emphasizes that this warning is not vague or optional—God has clearly and firmly instructed them, leaving no room for doubt about His will.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 42:19

  • "remnant" (שְׁאֵרִית, she'erit): This word refers to those who are left after a disaster or judgment. Here, it highlights that these people are survivors of a national tragedy, making God's warning especially significant for their future.
  • "admonished" (עֵדוּת, 'edut): The Hebrew word carries the sense of giving a solemn warning or testimony. It is stronger than just advice; it is an official, weighty warning from God Himself.
  • "know certainly" (יָדַע תֵּדְעוּ, yada te'du): The Hebrew repeats the verb for "know" to stress absolute certainty. God wants the people to understand that this is not a suggestion but a definite, unmistakable command.

Why Jeremiah 42:19 matters

  • Jeremiah 42:19 clarifies that God’s instructions were not hidden or ambiguous; the people could not claim ignorance if they disobeyed.
  • The verse connects to the wider passage, where the people had asked Jeremiah to seek God’s guidance, promising to obey whatever answer they received—yet here, God anticipates their reluctance to follow through.
  • This verse highlights the seriousness of seeking God’s will: when God answers clearly, He expects His people to listen, even if the answer is not what they hoped for.

Where else these words appear

“admonished” Hebrew H5749 · used in 40 verses

  • Genesis 43:3 And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.
  • 2 Kings 17:13 Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.
  • Psalms 119:61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.

“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?