And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah.

JEREMIAH 42:7KJV
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Jeremiah 42:7 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 42:7 mean?

Jeremiah 42:7 describes how, after ten days had passed, God’s message finally came to the prophet Jeremiah. This verse shows that there was a period of waiting before Jeremiah received a word from the LORD to share with the people.

Jeremiah was asked by the people of Judah to seek guidance from God about what they should do after Jerusalem’s fall. The verse highlights that God did not answer immediately—Jeremiah waited ten days before receiving God’s word. This detail sets the stage for the message that follows and emphasizes that God’s timing is not always immediate, even for prophets.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 42:7

  • "after" (אַחֲרֵי, ’acharei): This word marks a clear sequence, showing that the message did not come right away but only after a specific period had passed.
  • "ten" (עֶשֶׂר, ‘eser) and "days" (יָמִים, yamim): The mention of "ten days" underlines a deliberate waiting period, which may have felt long for those seeking urgent guidance.
  • "word" (דָּבָר, davar): In Hebrew, "davar" can mean both "word" and "message," stressing that what Jeremiah received was a direct communication from God.
  • "LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal name for God in the Hebrew Bible, reminding the reader that the message’s source was the God of Israel, not just a general deity.

Why Jeremiah 42:7 matters

  • The verse clarifies that even prophets like Jeremiah sometimes had to wait for God’s answer, which can correct the idea that divine guidance is always instant.
  • The ten-day delay emphasizes the seriousness and weight of the message to come, building anticipation for the people and the reader.
  • This waiting period connects to the wider passage, showing the importance of patience and trust in God’s timing, especially in moments of crisis or uncertainty.

Where else these words appear

“after” Hebrew H7093 · used in 62 verses

  • Genesis 4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
  • Esther 2:12 Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women,(for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)
  • Ezekiel 7:3 Now is the end come upon thee, and I will send mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense upon thee all thine abominations.

“Jeremiah” Hebrew H3414 · used in 133 verses

  • 2 Kings 23:31 Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
  • Jeremiah 28:15 Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.
  • Jeremiah 38:7 Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin;