Jeremiah 28

1 In the fifth month of that same year, the fourth [quaternary] year, near the beginning [in the early stages] of the reign [kingdom, dominion] of King Zedekiah [Jehovah is righteous] of Judah [praise, a region in Israel], the prophet [one who speaks for God] Hananiah [God has favored] son of Azzur [he that assists], who was from Gibeon [a Levitical city], said to me in the house [dwelling place, temple] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] in the presence [before the eyes] of the priests [those who serve God] and all [everything, the entirety] the people [a nation, a group of individuals]: word study 2 “This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [army, a large group of people or things], the God [Elohim, the one supreme God] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants], says: ‘I have broken [shattered, ruptured] the yoke [a wooden beam] of the king [a royal person, a ruler] of Babylon [a city and empire, meaning confusion or mixing]. word study 3 Within [two full, a couple of] two years I will restore [bring back, return] to this place [the temple, Jerusalem] all the articles [utensils, vessels] of the house [temple, dwelling] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] that Nebuchadnezzar [the king of Babylon] king of Babylon [a powerful empire] removed [took away, seized] from here [this location] and carried [brought, transported] to Babylon [the city of confusion]. word study 4 And I [the Lord] will restore [bring back, return] to this place [location, city] Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, along with [together with, including] all the exiles [captives, prisoners] from Judah [the tribe of Judah, the region] who went [were taken, entered] to Babylon [the city of confusion, Babel],’ declares the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], ‘for I will break [shatter, burst] the yoke [burden, wooden beam] of the king of Babylon [the ruler of Babel, the empire].’” word study 5 Then the prophet [someone who speaks for God] Jeremiah replied to the prophet [a spokesperson for the divine] Hananiah in the presence [before the eyes, in full view] of the priests [spiritual leaders, mediators between God and people] and all [every single one, the entirety] the people who were standing [gathered, assembled] in the house [temple, dwelling place] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God]. word study 6 “Amen [so be it, truly]!” Jeremiah [whom Jehovah has appointed] said. “May the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] do so [fulfill, bring to pass]! May the LORD [the supreme God] fulfill [establish, confirm] the words [prophecies, messages] you have prophesied [spoken under divine inspiration], and may He restore [bring back, return] the articles [utensils, vessels] of His house [temple, dwelling place] and all [everything, every person] the exiles [captives, those taken away] back to this place [location, city] from Babylon [the city of confusion, mixing]. word study 7 Nevertheless [in spite of everything], listen now [please, I pray] to this message [word, thing, or matter] I am speaking [communicating, declaring] in your hearing [ear, ability to hear] and in the hearing [ear, ability to hear] of all [everything, every person] the people [nation, group of individuals]. word study 8 The prophets [from the beginning] of old who preceded you and me prophesied [spoke under the influence of the divine spirit] war [battle, conflict], disaster [evil, affliction], and plague [pestilence, disease] against many [numerous, several] lands [countries, territories] and great [large, powerful] kingdoms [domains, rulers’ territories]. word study 9 As for the prophet [one who speaks for God, a spokesperson] who prophesies [speaks or sings under the influence of the divine spirit] peace [completeness, wellness, and friendship], only if the word [message, declaration] of the prophet comes true will the prophet be recognized [known, acknowledged] as one the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has truly [in truth, faithfully] sent [dispatched, commissioned].” word study 10 Then the prophet [someone who speaks for God, a spokesperson] Hananiah took the yoke off the neck [a sign of beauty and status] of Jeremiah [whom Jehovah has appointed] the prophet and broke [to shatter or rupture] it. word study 11 And in the presence [before the eyes] of all [every single one] the people Hananiah proclaimed, “This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: ‘In this way [thus, in this manner], within two [a pair of] years I will break [shatter, rupture] the yoke [a wooden beam] of Nebuchadnezzar king [a royal ruler] of Babylon off [from upon] the neck of all [every] the nations [Gentile, non-Hebrew peoples].’” At this, Jeremiah [whom Jehovah has appointed, a major prophet] the prophet [a spokesperson for God] went on his way [journey, path]. word study 12 But shortly after [following, subsequent to] Hananiah [God has favored] the prophet [one who speaks for God] had broken [shattered, severed] the yoke off [from, away from] his neck [the part of the body that supports the head], the word [message, declaration] of the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] came to Jeremiah [whom Jehovah has appointed]: word study 13 “Go [to approach, draw near] and tell Hananiah [God has favored] that this is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: ‘You have broken [shattered, ruptured] a yoke [bar] of wood [tree, strong and firm object], but in its place [underneath, below] you have fashioned [made, created] a yoke [bar] of iron [strong metal].’ word study 14 For this is what the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] of Hosts [armies, a large group of people or things], the God [Elohim, the one supreme God] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants], says: ‘I have put a yoke [a wooden beam] of iron [a strong metal] on the neck of all these nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew or non-Israeli people] to make them serve [to work or be in bondage] Nebuchadnezzar [a powerful king of Babylon] king of Babylon [a city and empire, meaning confusion or mixing], and they will serve [be in bondage or work for] him. I have even given [put or set] him control [authority or power] of the beasts [living creatures, animals] of the field [a flat area of land, used for cultivation or as a habitat].’” word study 15 Then the prophet [one who speaks for God] Jeremiah said to the prophet Hananiah, “Listen [hear and obey], Hananiah! The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] did not send [appoint or commission] you, but you have persuaded [convinced or deceived] this people [nation or community] to trust [have faith or confidence] in a lie [deception or falsehood]. word study 16 Therefore [in this manner, thus] this is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: ‘I am about to remove [send away, cast] you from the face [presence] of the earth [land, ground]. You will die [pass away, meet your end] this year [a period of time, a cycle of seasons] because you have preached [spoken, taught] rebellion [revolt, apostasy] against the LORD [the supreme authority, God].’” word study 17 And in the seventh month of that very year [the same year, a period of twelve months], the prophet [someone who speaks for God, a spokesperson] Hananiah [God has favored, the name of thirteen Israelites] died [to die, either literally or as a punishment]. word study