Jeremiah 42:2 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 42:2 mean?

Jeremiah 42:2 describes a group of people coming to Jeremiah and earnestly asking him to pray to the LORD on their behalf, hoping their request will be favorably received, because only a small remnant of them remains. The people recognize their desperate situation, seeing themselves as just a few survivors from what was once a much larger group.

The speakers are the leaders and people left in Judah after most had been taken away or killed during the Babylonian invasion. They approach Jeremiah, the prophet, with humility, calling their request a "supplication" and asking him to intercede for them before God. The verse highlights their sense of loss and vulnerability, as they point out to Jeremiah that he can see for himself how few of them are left.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 42:2

• "Supplication" (תְּחִנָּה, teḥinnah) refers to an earnest, humble plea, not just a casual request. This word emphasizes the deep need and humility of the people as they approach Jeremiah.
• "Remnant" (שְׁאֵרִית, she'erit) means those who are left behind after a disaster or judgment. Here, it underscores the idea that only a small, surviving group remains, which is central to their plea.
• "Few" (מְעָט, me'at) and "many" (רַב, rav) are set in contrast to show the drastic reduction in their numbers, highlighting the severity of their situation and why they feel so desperate.

Why Jeremiah 42:2 matters

• This verse clarifies that the people left in Judah were aware of their small numbers and the seriousness of their situation, which sets the emotional tone for the rest of the chapter.
• The request for Jeremiah to pray shows that the people still recognized his role as a true prophet and mediator with God, even after so much loss.
• The verse connects to the wider passage by showing the humility and dependence of the remnant on God’s guidance, which becomes a key theme in the following verses.