Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 42:4

Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard [you]; behold, I will pray unto the LORD your God according to your words; and it shall come to pass, [that] whatsoever thing the LORD shall answer you, I will declare [it] unto you; I will keep nothing back from you.

I have heard you; that is, I will do for you according as you desire. And I will be faithful in giving you an account of what God shall reveal to me to be his will on your behalf. They called God Jeremiahs God, here Jeremiah calls him their God, both to mind them of Gods relation to them, and their duty towards him.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

4. I have heardthat is, Iaccede to your request.

your GodBeing His byadoption, ye are not your own, and are bound to whatever He wills(Exo 19:5; Exo 19:6;1Co 6:19; 1Co 6:20).

answer youthat is,through me.

keep nothing back(1Sa 3:18; Act 20:20).

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard [you],…. He took notice of what they said to him, and found himself disposed to comply with their request, and readily granted it:

behold, I will pray unto the Lord your God, according to your words; be an intercessor for them; use his interest with his God, and their God; and, on account of relation, might expect to be heard; whom he would humbly entreat to direct what they should do, as they desired:

and it shall come to pass, [that] whatsoever thing the Lord shall answer you, I will declare [it] unto you; I will keep nothing back from you; but faithfully make known the whole mind and will of God, just as it is delivered, be it in what way soever: and though it is not expressed, he might suggest that he had some doubt on his mind whether they would obey it or not; and that he expected they would be open and free in declaring themselves on that point; since he had so readily complied with their request, and was determined to act the faithful part to them; hence the following reply:

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

In order to prepare them to obey, he testified that he would be a faithful messenger of God; for there is no doubt but that the Prophet, as we shall see, regarded them with suspicion. That he might therefore have them teachable and obedient to the answer expected from God, he said beforehand, that he would honestly and faithfully perform his office as a Prophet.

I have heard, he says; here he shews how ready he was to attend, and how he neglected nothing conducive to their well being. I have heard, he says, Behold, I will pray according to your words There is no doubt but that he thus intimated that he wished well to them; and it might have rendered them more attentive to the oracle to know that the Prophet was influenced by love. Nor is there a doubt but that the Prophet testified his love towards them, that his doctrine might afterwards have more weight with them.

By saying, Whatever your God will answer, he did not mean that the oracle would be revealed to all, for the words could not be otherwise explained than through the Prophet, who would openly make known to the whole people what he heard from God’s mouth. But he says, that the answer would be given to them, because God would give the answer which was to be communicated to all, as it is said that God spoke to Moses, and also to all the people, for the doctrine was intended for all. Moses did not receive the law, nor its interpretation, in his own private character, but in order that the people might know what was right. So Jeremiah did here; the answer he received from God he made known as belonging in common to all the people.

But in calling God their God, he did not mean to flatter them or to praise their piety, but to exhort them to surrender and devote themselves wholly to God, as though he had said, that they had to do with God, who had bound them to himself when he adopted them as his peculiar people, and then favored them with so many blessings. Since then God had made himself known to them, they could not reject his counsel with impunity, for there was no pretext of ignorance. We hence see what weight there is in this, your God; for Jeremiah reminded them that they could not with impunity trifle with God, for they were not their own, but had been chosen to be God’s people, and on this condition, to be wholly subject to his authority. Then the sum of the whole is this, that the Prophet would faithfully convey to the Jews the answer God would give them; and he said this that his doctrine might have a greater authority among them. It now follows, —

Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary

4. I have heard you I agree to your request.

The Lord your God As he was their God they had a right to prefer to him their requests.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Nothing can be more promising than this engagement on both sides. We shall see how the matter ends.

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

Jer 42:4 Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard [you]; behold, I will pray unto the LORD your God according to your words; and it shall come to pass, [that] whatsoever thing the LORD shall answer you, I will declare [it] unto you; I will keep nothing back from you.

Ver. 4. I have heard you; behold, I will pray. ] The wisdom from above is persuasible, easy to be entreated, Jam 3:18 and good men are ready to every good work. Tit 3:1 Jeremiah hoped they might speak their whole hearts, and promiseth to do his best for them, both by praying and prophesying.

Whatsoever thing the Lord shall answer you, I will declare. ] Sic veteres nihil ex se vel potuerunt, vel protulerunt. The prophets spake as they were inspired by the Spirit of truth. Christ spake nothing but what was consonant to the Holy Scriptures. The apostles delivered to the churches what they had received of the Lord. 1Co 11:23 Polycarp told the churches that he delivered nothing to them but what he had received of the apostles. a

a Irenaeus, lib. iii.; Eccles. Hist., lib. iv. cap. 14.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

Jeremiah: The princes seem to have wholly neglected Jeremiah, till on this occasion they wanted his sanction to their purpose of going to Egypt. In order to induce him to favour them, they applied to him with one consent, in the most respectful and plausible manner: they used language to prepossess him with a favourable opinion of them, and to move his compassion; and, in words expressing great humility, they entreated his prayers in their behalf, and that he would enquire of the Lord what he would have them to do. The prophet readily acquiesced; and doubted not but that he should receive an answer from God, which he would unreservedly declare to them; and they called the Lord to witness that they would implicitly follow his directions.

I will pray: Exo 8:29, 1Sa 12:23, Rom 10:1

whatsoever: Jer 23:28, 1Ki 22:14-16, 2Ch 18:13-15, Eze 2:7

I will keep: 1Sa 3:17, 1Sa 3:18, Psa 40:10, Act 20:20, Act 20:27

Reciprocal: Jer 21:2 – Inquire Jer 26:2 – all the words

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jer 42:4. Jeremiah agreed to make the requested prayer for them. He also assured them that whatever the Lord revealed to him he would deliver to them faithfully.

Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary

Jer 42:4-6. Then Jeremiah said, I have heard you, &c. That is, I will do for you what you desire. I will pray unto the Lord your God They called the Lord Jeremiahs God: here Jeremiah calls him their God, both to remind them of Gods relation to them, and of their duty toward him. And whatsoever thing the Lord shall answer, I will declare I will be faithful in giving you an account of what God shall reveal to me to be his will concerning you. Then they said, The Lord be a true and faithful witness, &c. The words of this and the following verse imply a perfect oath, the form of which lies in appealing to God as a witness of the sincerity of the hearts of those that swear, for a security to those to whom the oath is given: which also includes a secret challenging of God to take vengeance upon those that give that security, if they should not act according to their promise. The thing these men promise is, that they would perfectly obey Gods will, whether agreeable or disagreeable to them. And they further declare they were convinced that their prosperity and happiness entirely depended upon their complying with Gods will, adding, That it may be well with us, &c.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Jeremiah agreed to seek the Lord’s guidance and to report what He said to the remnant.

Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)