Jeremiah 42:20 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 42:20 mean?

Jeremiah 42:20 means that the people were not being honest in their hearts when they asked Jeremiah to pray to the LORD their God for guidance, even though they claimed they would obey whatever God said. The verse points out that their request was insincere—they had already made up their minds and were not truly open to God's answer.

Jeremiah is speaking to a group of Judeans who survived the Babylonian invasion and are now seeking direction about whether to stay in Judah or flee to Egypt. He confronts them for pretending to seek God's will while secretly planning to do what they wanted all along. This verse exposes the gap between their words and their true intentions, highlighting the seriousness of approaching God with honesty.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 42:20

• "Dissembled" (תָּעָה, ta‘ah): This word often means to go astray or wander, but here it carries the sense of misleading or deceiving, especially in one’s inner motives. Jeremiah accuses the people of misleading themselves and him about their true intentions.
• "Hearts" (נֶפֶשׁ, nefesh): This word can mean "soul" or "inner self," emphasizing that the dishonesty is not just in their words but deep within their desires and intentions.
• "Pray" (פָּלַל, palal): The people asked Jeremiah to intercede for them, but the verse reveals that their request for prayer was not genuine, highlighting the importance of sincerity when seeking God's guidance.

Why Jeremiah 42:20 matters

• Jeremiah 42:20 clears up the misunderstanding that outward religious actions—like asking for prayer—are enough, showing that God looks at the sincerity of the heart.
• The verse emphasizes the danger of self-deception, especially when people claim to seek God's will but are actually set on their own plans.
• This verse connects to the wider passage by explaining why God’s answer, given through Jeremiah, will not be accepted by the people; it sets up the coming confrontation between their stated intentions and their actual choices.