But Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, took all the remnant of Judah, that were returned from all nations, whither they had been driven, to dwell in the land of Judah;

JEREMIAH 43:5KJV
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Jeremiah 43:5 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 43:5 mean?

Jeremiah 43:5 describes how Johanan son of Kareah, along with the other military leaders, gathered all the remaining people of Judah who had come back from foreign nations and brought them to live in the land of Judah. This verse highlights the movement and gathering of the survivors after a time of exile and scattering.

The verse is set after the Babylonian conquest, when many people from Judah had been forced to flee to other nations. Johanan and the captains are acting as leaders for those who survived and returned. The focus is on the effort to regroup the scattered community and settle them again in their homeland, which sets the stage for the events that follow in the chapter.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 43:5

  • שָׁאַרִית (she'arit, "remnant"): This word refers to those who survived the earlier disasters and exile. The emphasis on the "remnant" shows that only a small, surviving group of Judahites is left to be gathered.
  • שָׁבוּ (shavu, "returned"): This word means "to return" and points to the fact that these people had previously been scattered among the nations and have now come back to Judah.
  • גּוֹיִם (goyim, "nations"): This term refers to the foreign countries where the people of Judah had been driven. It underscores the widespread nature of their exile.
  • לָקַח (laqach, "took"): This verb means "to take" or "to gather," highlighting the active role of Johanan and the captains in bringing the people together.

Why Jeremiah 43:5 matters

  • Jeremiah 43:5 clarifies that the people being moved are not just any group, but specifically the remnant who had survived exile and returned, showing the fragile state of the nation.
  • The verse sets up the context for the following events, where the leaders' decisions will have major consequences for the future of the people of Judah.
  • By naming Johanan and the captains, the verse emphasizes the responsibility and leadership involved in guiding the remnant, which is a key theme in this part of Jeremiah.

Where else these words appear

“Kareah” Hebrew H7143 · used in 14 verses

  • 2 Kings 25:23 And when all the captains of the armies, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, there came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Careah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men.
  • Jeremiah 40:16 But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing: for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.
  • Jeremiah 41:16 Then took Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, all the remnant of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, from Mizpah, after that he had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, even mighty men of war, and the women, and the children, and the eunuchs, whom he had brought again from Gibeon:

“Johanan” Hebrew H3110 · used in 24 verses

  • 2 Kings 25:23 And when all the captains of the armies, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, there came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Careah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men.
  • Ezra 8:12 And of the sons of Azgad; Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him an hundred and ten males.
  • Jeremiah 41:13 Now it came to pass, that when all the people which were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, then they were glad.

“driven” Hebrew H5080 · used in 51 verses

  • Deuteronomy 4:19 And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.
  • Nehemiah 1:9 But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.
  • Jeremiah 27:15 For I have not sent them, saith the LORD, yet they prophesy a lie in my name; that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you.

“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?