Jeremiah Chapter 43 – Commentary and Explanation
Ahh Jeremiah Chapter 43... what a chapter, what a turning point, and really, what a sad moment in the journey of this prophet. It's one of them chapters that kinda sticks with you after reading because of the stubbornness of people and the consequences that comes right after. Like, seriously, even after all the warnings and pleadings Jeremiah been giving to them folks for years, here again we see people refusing to listen. And not just that, they straight up accuse Jeremiah of lying. Like… again?! Man, it's a chapter soaked in distrust, rebellion, fear, and that human tendency to run instead of rest in faith. Let's dive in.
So if you been following along, the chapters leading up to this one are pretty intense. Jerusalem done fell to the Babylonians. The people left behind, a small remnant, are living under the authority of Gedaliah (who sadly gets assassinated in Chapter 41), and now the remaining folks – who already went through so much – they come to Jeremiah in Chapter 42 begging him to ask God what to do. They promise, cross-their-heart-and-hope-to-die kind of stuff, that they’ll listen to whatever God says, no matter what. Whether it sounds good or bad. They really put on that holy face, you know?
But then, in Jeremiah 43, boom! All that promise-making goes right out the window the moment Jeremiah tells them the word of the Lord – which basically was: “Stay in Judah. Don’t go to Egypt. If you do, you’re walking right into the judgment you're trying to avoid.”
And how do they respond? Oh boy.
Verses 1–3: The Accusation – “You’re a liar, Jeremiah!”
So here’s how it opens. After Jeremiah finishes giving the word from God, right away, we see Johanan and the other so-called leaders accuse Jeremiah of lying. Like straight up to his face. And they even go so far to say that Baruch, Jeremiah’s scribe, is behind it. Like he’s pulling the strings, manipulating Jeremiah to get them captured by the Babylonians.
This is… honestly… such a punch to the gut. Imagine being Jeremiah. You just told them exactly what they asked you to go pray about. You didn’t twist anything. You went and sought the Lord sincerely. And now, instead of taking the message and maybe even wrestling with it or praying more, they’re like, “Nah, this whole thing’s fake.” The nerve!
And poor Baruch. I mean, he ain’t even doing much other than writing stuff down and being loyal to Jeremiah through thick and thin. But now his name gets thrown in the mud too. They claim he’s the mastermind behind this supposed conspiracy. It’s so human, isn’t it? When we don’t like what we hear, it’s easier to blame others than accept we might be wrong.
This section makes me think about how even today, truth sometimes just don’t sit right with people. Even if they asked for it. Like, people say, “Tell me the truth,” but only if the truth matches what they already want to do. Once it don’t… boom. You’re the enemy. It’s wild.
Verses 4–7: Flight to Egypt – They Go Anyway
Despite the clear, strong word from the Lord, Johanan and the people go ahead and head to Egypt anyway. They grab up everybody – the whole remnant, including Jeremiah and Baruch themselves – and pack up for Egypt. Even after God said, “If you go there, the sword, the famine, and the pestilence that you’re trying to escape – it will find you there too.”
It’s like... what are y’all doing?? Why even ask God in the first place if you was gonna do your own thing anyway? There’s a word for this kind of behavior: willful disobedience.
But you know what’s scary? It’s not just disobedience. It’s deceptive obedience. Like people pretending to want God's will but actually looking for permission for their own plans. That kind of fake spirituality still exists. We’ve all done it to some extent. Like when we pray “Lord, guide me,” but what we really mean is “Lord, please bless the decision I already made.”
It’s also heartbreaking that they took Jeremiah with them. I imagine Jeremiah didn’t wanna go. He probably knew exactly what was coming. But they forced him. That’s heavy. The one man who actually listens to God is being dragged into the judgment he’s been warning others about. Whew.
Verse 8–13: The Prophetic Stone Drama – Judgment in Egypt
So then in Egypt, specifically in a place called Tahpanhes, God gives Jeremiah another word, and this one is super symbolic.
God tells Jeremiah to take some large stones and hide them in the mortar of the brick pavement near Pharaoh’s palace. That’s strange, right? But then God says: “Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, is gonna come here too. Right to this very spot. He will set up his throne over these stones.”
Wow.
This part is wild because it’s God basically saying, “You thought Egypt would be your safe hiding place? Nah, judgment’s gonna find you here too. You can’t outrun My will.” Babylon ain’t just gonna stay in Judah – they’re coming for Egypt too.
It’s also a visual prophecy. Like Jeremiah hiding those stones is like God planting His claim on the very land they thought was their refuge. Symbolic, sure, but powerful. Those stones were like God's bookmarks in history.
And what’s more chilling is the language God uses – how Nebuchadnezzar will come and "spread his royal canopy," like he owns the place. He’ll conquer Egypt. And not just that – he’ll burn their temples, take their gods, and leave the land in ruins. Egypt, the mighty nation, becomes a shadow. Their so-called gods won’t be able to protect them.
Think about this from the eyes of the remnant. They fled Judah thinking Egypt would protect them. But God is showing them that any refuge outside of Him is false refuge. No matter how strong or appealing a place looks, if God ain’t in it, it’s destined to fall.
Personal Reflection – Why This Chapter Matters Today
Now I know some folks might read this and go, “Okay cool, some ancient history lesson.” But for real, Jeremiah 43 got major application to our modern lives too.
First, there’s the issue of obedience. How many times do we pray for guidance, but deep down, we already made our mind up? We’re just looking for a divine rubber stamp. I been there, not proud of it, but it happens. Sometimes we don’t want truth. We want confirmation. And when God’s answer don’t match what we desire, we say stuff like, “Maybe I heard wrong,” or “Maybe that’s just someone else’s opinion.” That’s dangerous territory.
Second, there’s the lesson of fear vs. faith. The remnant had just gone through trauma – war, destruction, assassination of their leader. Their fear was real. But instead of leaning on God, they leaned into self-preservation. Egypt represented strength. They thought, “If we go there, we’ll be safe.” But real safety ain’t found in strong armies or fortified cities. It’s found in surrender to God’s plan – even when it don’t make logical sense.
Third, and this hit me hard – the burden of the faithful. Jeremiah did everything right. He obeyed, he spoke the truth, he loved his people. And yet, he’s mistreated, ignored, and dragged along into Egypt against his will. Sometimes obeying God don’t lead to a cushy life. Sometimes, it leads into storms. That’s the truth many modern preachers don’t like to mention. But it’s biblical. Obedience can be costly, but it's never wasted.
And lastly, there’s the reminder of God's sovereignty. Even in Egypt, a foreign land, God sends His word. He don’t stay in Jerusalem. He ain’t limited to one temple. No matter where His people go – even in disobedience – He still speaks. That’s grace. But it’s also justice, because He don’t let sin slide just because it’s in a different zip code.
Wrapping It All Up – What We Take From This
Jeremiah 43 feels like a tragic chapter. You read it and your heart kinda sinks. The people had a chance to start over. A new beginning. God was offering protection if they just trusted Him. But they chose fear. They chose self-reliance. And they dragged the prophet with them into judgment.
And it makes me wonder – how many of us are heading toward our own Egypts? Places we think will save us, but are actually the stage for our downfall? Maybe it's a relationship, a job, a habit, a mindset – something we ran to outta fear, but deep down we know God said, “Stay where you are. Trust Me.”
And maybe we ignored Him.
If that’s you – it ain’t too late. The same God who warned the remnant is the God who receives prodigals. The same God who sent Jeremiah to speak truth in a land of rebellion is the God who still speaks to hearts today. You don’t gotta run anymore.
Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is stay when everything in you says “go.”
Final Thoughts
Jeremiah 43 ain't sugarcoated. It’s a raw, honest look at what happens when people ignore God's voice. But it also shows us the faithfulness of a prophet who kept going, even when everyone else walked away. It’s about human nature, rebellion, fear, and ultimately, the sovereignty of God.
I hope if nothing else, this chapter makes you pause and ask: “Am I really listening to God, or just hoping He says what I already want to hear?”
That’s the real question.
If you’d like more commentaries like this for the other chapters, or wanna dive deeper into Jeremiah’s journey, hit me up. There’s something powerful about these old prophets. Their stories still speak today. Raw, real, and relevant.
Peace and grace.
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