Hebrew Word Reference — Jeremiah 28:17
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to die, either literally or as a punishment, and is used in books like Genesis and Exodus. It can also mean to perish or be killed. This concept is seen in the story of Adam and Eve, where death enters the world as a result of sin.
Definition: 1) to die, kill, have one executed 1a)(Qal) 1a1) to die 1a2) to die (as penalty), be put to death 1a3) to die, perish (of a nation) 1a4) to die prematurely (by neglect of wise moral conduct) 1b) (Polel) to kill, put to death, dispatch 1c) (Hiphil) to kill, put to death 1d) (Hophal) 1d1) to be killed, be put to death 1d1a) to die prematurely
Usage: Occurs in 695 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] at all, [idiom] crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), [idiom] must needs, slay, [idiom] surely, [idiom] very suddenly, [idiom] in (no) wise. See also: Genesis 2:17; Exodus 21:18; Numbers 35:21.
Hananiah means God has favored, the name of thirteen Israelites, including a friend of Daniel. He was renamed Shadrach by Nebuchadnezzar and refused to eat unclean food.
Definition: A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Dan.1.6; also called Shadrach at Dan.1.7; 2.49; 3.12,13,14,16,19,20,22,23,26,28,29,30; § Hananiah = "God has favoured" 1) the godly friend of Daniel whom Nebuchadnezzar renamed Shadrach; one of the three friends who with Daniel refused to make themselves unclean by eating food from the king's table which went against the dietary laws which God had given the Jews; also one of the three who were thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to bow down to a graven image of Nebuchadnezzar and who were saved by the angel of the Lord. See also, 'Shadrach' (H7714 or H7715) 2) one of the 14 sons of Heman and chief of the 16th course 3) a general in the army of King Uzziah 4) father of Zedekiah in the time of Jehoiakim 5) son of Azur, a Benjamite of Gibeon and a false prophet in the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah 6) grandfather of Irijah, the captain of the ward at the gate of Benjamin who arrested Jeremiah on the charge of deserting to the Chaldeans 7) a head of a Benjamite house 8) son of Zerubbabel from whom Christ derived His descent also called 'Joanna' by Luke 9) one of the sons of Bebai who returned with Ezra from Babylon 10) a priest, one of the makers of the sacred ointments and incense, who built a portion of the wall of Jerusalem in the days of Nehemiah 11) head of the priestly course of Jeremiah in the days of Joiakim 12) ruler of the palace at Jerusalem under Nehemiah and also, along with Hanani, the Tirshatha's brother, entrusted with the arrangements of guarding the gates of Jerusalem 13) Two post exilic Israelites
Usage: Occurs in 28 OT verses. KJV: Hananiah. See also: 1 Chronicles 3:19; Jeremiah 28:5; Jeremiah 28:1.
A prophet is someone who speaks for God, like a spokesperson. This word is used in the Bible to describe true and false prophets, like those in 1 and 2 Kings.
Definition: 1) spokesman, speaker, prophet 1a) prophet 1b) false prophet 1c) heathen prophet Aramaic equivalent: ne.vi (נְבִיא "prophet" H5029)
Usage: Occurs in 288 OT verses. KJV: prophecy, that prophesy, prophet. See also: Genesis 20:7; 2 Kings 24:2; Psalms 51:2.
This word also means a year, like when Abraham was 100 years old in Genesis 21. It is used to describe a period of time, age, or a lifetime.
Definition: 1) year 1a) as division of time 1b) as measure of time 1c) as indication of age 1d) a lifetime (of years of life) Aramaic equivalent: she.nah (שְׁנָה "year" H8140)
Usage: Occurs in 647 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] whole age, [idiom] long, [phrase] old, year([idiom] -ly). See also: Genesis 1:14; Genesis 47:28; Numbers 7:35.
This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.
Definition: pron 3p s 1) he, she, it 1a) himself (with emphasis) 1b) resuming subj with emphasis 1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate) 1d) (anticipating subj) 1e) (emphasising predicate) 1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron 2) that (with article)
Usage: Occurs in 1693 OT verses. KJV: he, as for her, him(-self), it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they, this, those, which (is), who. See also: Genesis 2:11; Genesis 32:19; Exodus 21:3.
The Hebrew term for month, specifically referring to the new moon and the lunar cycle, as described in the book of Exodus and the festivals of Israel. It marks the beginning of a new month in the Hebrew calendar.
Definition: : month 1) the new moon, month, monthly 1a) the first day of the month 1b) the lunar month
Usage: Occurs in 224 OT verses. KJV: month(-ly), new moon. See also: Genesis 7:11; 1 Chronicles 3:4; Psalms 81:4.
The Hebrew word for seventh, this term is an ordinal number used to describe something in the seventh position. It appears in the Bible as seventh time.
Definition: 1) seventh 1a) ordinal number
Usage: Occurs in 94 OT verses. KJV: seventh (time). See also: Genesis 2:2; Numbers 29:12; Jeremiah 28:17.
Context — Hananiah’s False Prophecy
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) |
| 1 |
Zechariah 1:6 |
But did not My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, overtake your fathers? They repented and said, ‘Just as the LORD of Hosts purposed to do to us according to our ways and deeds, so He has done to us.’” |
| 2 |
Isaiah 44:25–26 |
who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who confounds the wise and turns their knowledge into nonsense, who confirms the message of His servant and fulfills the counsel of His messengers, who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be inhabited,’ and of the cities of Judah, ‘They will be rebuilt, and I will restore their ruins,’ |
Jeremiah 28:17 Summary
The prophet Hananiah died in the seventh month of that year, just as Jeremiah had prophesied in Jeremiah 28:16. This event shows us that the Lord is serious about those who speak falsely in His name and that He will judge them accordingly, as seen in Deuteronomy 18:20-22. We can learn from Hananiah's mistake by being careful to speak truthfully and faithfully, and by trusting in the Lord's words and warnings, as stated in Jeremiah 29:11. By doing so, we can avoid the consequences of rebellion and disobedience and instead experience the Lord's mercy and forgiveness, as promised in 1 John 1:9.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the prophet Hananiah?
The prophet Hananiah died in the seventh month of that very year, as prophesied by Jeremiah in Jeremiah 28:16, because he had preached rebellion against the Lord.
Why did Hananiah's death occur so quickly after Jeremiah's prophecy?
Hananiah's death was a direct result of his disobedience and rebellion against the Lord, as stated in Jeremiah 28:16, and it served as a confirmation of Jeremiah's prophecy and the Lord's judgment against those who falsely speak in His name, as seen in Deuteronomy 18:20-22.
What can we learn from Hananiah's mistake?
We can learn the importance of speaking truthfully and faithfully, as seen in Jeremiah 28:15, and the dangers of deceiving others and rebelling against the Lord, as warned in Proverbs 19:9 and Jeremiah 23:30-32.
How does Hananiah's death relate to the broader theme of Jeremiah's prophecy?
Hananiah's death serves as a fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy and a demonstration of the Lord's sovereignty and justice, as seen in Jeremiah 28:16, and it reinforces the importance of trusting in the Lord's words and warnings, as stated in Jeremiah 29:11 and Isaiah 55:11.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I may be tempted to rebel against the Lord or speak falsely in His name, and how can I guard against these tendencies?
- How can I cultivate a deeper trust in the Lord's words and warnings, as seen in Jeremiah 29:11, and apply them to my life?
- What are some areas in my life where I may be experiencing the consequences of my own rebellion or disobedience, and how can I seek the Lord's forgiveness and restoration?
- How can I use Hananiah's story as a reminder to speak truthfully and faithfully, and to trust in the Lord's sovereignty and justice?
Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 28:17
So Hananiah the prophet died the same year,.... That he had delivered out his prophecy; in the same year in which Jeremiah said he should die; which proved him to be a false prophet, and Jeremiah to
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Jeremiah 28:17
That is, within the compass of a year after that Jeremiah had spoken these words, within two months after that Jeremiah had thus prophesied, as appeareth from ; so dangerous a thing it is for ministers to teach people contrary to the revealed will of God.
Trapp's Commentary on Jeremiah 28:17
Jeremiah 28:17 So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.Ver. 17. So Hananiah died.] Two months after this prediction, yet the people relented not, but persisted in their obstinace to the end. Such a sward, or rather hoof, is grown over some men’ s hearts, as neither ministry, nor misery, nor miracle, nor mercy, can possibly mollify.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Jeremiah 28:17
Verse 17. So Hananiah - died the same year in the seventh month.] The prophecy was delivered in the fifth month, (Jeremiah 28:1,) and Hananiah died in the seventh month. And thus God, in mercy, gave him about two months, in which he might prepare to meet his Judge. Here, then the true prophet was demonstrated, and the false prophet detected. The death of Hananiah, thus predicted, was God's seal to the words of his prophet; and must have gained his other predictions great credit among the people.
Cambridge Bible on Jeremiah 28:17
17. in the seventh month] i.e. within two months (see Jeremiah 28:1).
Whedon's Commentary on Jeremiah 28:17
16, 17. This year thou shalt die — A fearful pledge and earnest of the fulfilment of Jeremiah’s prophecies.