Jeremiah 42:22 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 42:22 mean?

Jeremiah 42:22 warns that those who choose to go to the place they desire will face death by the sword, famine, and disease there. The verse is a clear statement that disaster will meet them in the very place they hope to find safety.

Jeremiah is speaking to the people of Judah after the fall of Jerusalem, delivering God’s message in response to their plans to flee to Egypt. Despite their hopes, Jeremiah tells them that Egypt—the place they want to escape to—will not protect them, but will instead be where they encounter the very dangers they fear. This is the final warning in a series of messages urging them to trust God rather than their own plans.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 42:22

• The word “know certainly” uses the Hebrew יָדַע (yada‘), repeated for emphasis, meaning “know for sure” or “be absolutely certain.” This stresses that the warning is not just a possibility but a definite outcome.
• “Die” is מוּת (muth), which is a straightforward word for physical death, underlining the seriousness of the warning.
• “Sword” (חֶרֶב, cherev), “famine” (רָעָב, ra‘av), and “pestilence” (דֶּבֶר, dever) are often paired together in Jeremiah to describe the main disasters that come with war and judgment. Their use together here signals total calamity.
• “Desire” (חָפֵץ, chafets) means to take pleasure in or strongly want, highlighting that the people are set on going to Egypt despite God’s warnings.

Why Jeremiah 42:22 matters

• Jeremiah 42:22 makes it clear that running to Egypt is not a neutral or safe choice; it is directly against God’s guidance and will lead to the very disasters the people hope to avoid.
• The verse closes a section where the people had asked for God’s direction but were unwilling to accept it, revealing the seriousness of ignoring God’s warnings.
• This warning ties back to the larger theme in Jeremiah that trusting in human plans or foreign powers, instead of God, leads to ruin.