The Remnant Seeks Guidance

Jeremiah 49

Joanan and the remaining leaders and people ask Jeremiah to seek the Lord's will for them and promise to obey whatever answer comes. After ten days the Lord's word arrives, urging them to remain in the land under the king of Babylon's rule and warning that going down to Egypt for safety will instead bring upon them the sword, famine, and the same wrath poured out on Jerusalem.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonAND all the generals of the army, with Joanan and Azarias son of Maasias, and all the people small and

BrentonThen came all the leaders of the host, and Joanan, and Azarias the son of Maasæas, and all the people great and small,

GreekΚαὶ προσῆλθον πάντες οἱ ἡγεμόνες τῆς δυνάμεως, καὶ Ἰωάναν, καὶ Ἀζαρίας υἱὸς Μαασαίου, καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ἀπὸ μικροῦ καὶ ἕως μεγάλου,

KJVThen all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest, came near,

JPSThen all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest, came near,

Thomsongreat came to Jeremias the prophet and said to him, Have compassion on us, we beseech thee, and pray to the Lord thy God for this remnant; for we are left only few of many as thine eyes see.

Brentonto Jeremias the prophet, and said to him, Let now our supplication come before thy face, and pray thou to the Lord thy God for this remnant; for we are left few out of many, as thine eyes see.

Greekπρὸς Ἱερεμίαν τὸν προφήτην, καὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ, πεσέτω δὴ τὸ ἔλεος ἡμῶν κατὰ πρόσωπόν σου, καὶ πρόσευξαι πρὸς Κύριον τὸν Θεόν σου περὶ τῶν καταλοίπων τούτων· ὅτι κατελείφθημεν ὀλίγοι ἀπὸ πολλῶν, καθὼς οἱ ὀφθαλμοί σου βλέπουσι.

KJVAnd said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:)

JPSand said unto Jeremiah the prophet: ‘Let, we pray thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us;

ThomsonNow let the Lord thy God point out to us the way which we should go and what we are to do.

BrentonAnd let the Lord thy God declare to us the way wherein we should walk, and the thing which we should do.

GreekΚαὶ ἀναγγειλάτω ἡμῖν Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου τὴν ὁδὸν ᾗ πορευσόμεθα ἐν αὐτῇ, καὶ λόγον ὃν ποιήσομεν.

KJVThat the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do.

JPSthat the LORD thy God may tell us the way wherein we should walk, and the thing that we should do.’

ThomsonWhereupon Jeremias said to them, I have heard. Behold, I will pray for you to the Lord our God according to your words and whatever answer the Lord our God shall give, that I will declare to you. I will not hide anything from you.

BrentonAnd Jeremias said to them, I have heard you; behold, I will pray for you to the Lord our God, according to your words; and it shall come to pass, that whatsoever word the Lord God shall answer, I will declare it to you; I will not hide anything from you.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Ἱερεμίας, ἤκουσα, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ προσεύξομαι ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν πρὸς Κύριον τὸν Θεὸν ἡμῶν, κατὰ τοὺς λόγους ὑμῶν· καὶ ἔσται, ὁ λόγος ὃν ἂν ἀποκριθήσεται Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς, ἁναγγελῶ ὑμῖν, οὐ μὴ κρύψω ἀφʼ ὑμῶν ῥῆμα.

KJVThen 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.

JPSThen 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.’

ThomsonAnd they said to Jeremias, The Lord be a true and faithful witness between us, that we will act conformably to the word, whatever it be, which the Lord shall send to us.

BrentonAnd they said to Jeremias, Let the Lord be between us for a just and faithful witness, if we do not according to every word which the Lord shall send to us.

GreekΚαὶ αὐτοὶ εἶπαν τῷ Ἱερεμίᾳ, ἔστω Κύριος ἐν ἡμῖν εἰς μάρτυρα δίκαιον καὶ πιστὸν, εἰ μὴ κατὰ πάντα τὸν λόγον, ὃν ἐὰν ἀποστείλῃ Κύριος πρὸς ἡμᾶς, οὕτως ποιήσωμεν.

KJVThen they said to Jeremiah, The LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us.

JPSThen they said to Jeremiah: ‘The LORD be a true and faithful witness against us, if we do not even according to all the word wherewith the LORD thy God shall send thee to us.

ThomsonWhether it be agreeable or disagreeable we will hearken to the voice of the Lord our God in respect to that for which we send thee to Him, that it may be the better for us. We will obey the voice of the Lord our God.

BrentonAnd whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will hearken to the voice of the Lord our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, because we shall hearken to the voice of the Lord our God.

GreekΚαὶ ἐὰν ἀγαθὸν καὶ ἐὰν κακὸν, τὴν φωνὴν Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν, οὗ ἡμεῖς ἀποστέλλομέν σε πρὸς αὐτὸν, ἀκουσόμεθα, ἵνα βέλτιον ἡμῖν γένηται, ὅτι ἀκουσόμεθα τῆς φωνῆς Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν.

KJVWhether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God.

JPSWhether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will hearken to the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we hearken to the voice of the LORD our God.’

ThomsonSo after ten days a word of the Lord came to Jeremias,

BrentonAnd it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the Lord came to Jeremias.

GreekΚαὶ ἐγενήθη μεθʼ ἡμέρας δέκα, ἐγενήθη λόγος Κυρίου πρὸς Ἱερεμίαν.

KJVAnd it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah.

JPSAnd it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah.

Thomsonwhereupon he sent for Joanan and the generals of the army, and all the people small and great,

BrentonAnd he called Joanan, and the leaders of the host, and all the people from the least even to the greatest,

GreekΚαὶ ἐκάλεσε τὸν Ἰωάναν, καὶ τοὺς ἡγεμόνας τῆς δυνάμεως, καὶ πάντα τὸν λαὸν ἀπὸ μικροῦ καὶ ἕως μεγάλου,

KJVThen called he Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces which were with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest,

JPSThen called he Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest,

Thomsonand said to them, Thus said the Lord,

Brentonand he said to them, Thus saith the Lord;

Greekκαὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, οὕτως εἶπε Κύριος,

KJVAnd said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto whom ye sent me to present your supplication before him;

JPSand said unto them: ‘Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto whom ye sent me to present your supplication before Him:

ThomsonIf you will abide in this land I will build you up, and not pull you down; and I will plant you, and not root you up; for I am appeased by the evils which I have done to you.

BrentonIf ye will indeed dwell in this land, I will build you, and will not pull you down, but will plant you, and in no wise pluck you up: for I have ceased from the calamities which I brought upon you.

Greekἐὰν καθίσαντες καθίσητε ἐν τῇ γῇ ταύτῃ, οἰκοδομήσω ὑμᾶς, καὶ οὐ μὴ καθελῶ, καὶ φυτεύσω ὑμᾶς, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐκτιλῶ, ὅτι ἀναπέπαυμαι ἐπὶ τοῖς κακοῖς οἷς ἐποίησα ὑμῖν.

KJVIf ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up: for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you.

JPSIf ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I repent Me of the evil that I have done unto you.

ThomsonBe not afraid of the king of Babylon of whom you are in dread. Be not afraid of him, saith the Lord, for I am with you to deliver you, and to save you out of his hands.

BrentonBe not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the Lord: for I am with you, to deliver you, and save you out of their hand.

GreekΜὴ φοβηθῆτε ἀπὸ προσώπου βασιλέως Βαβυλῶνος, οὗ ὑμεῖς φοβεῖσθε· ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ μὴ φοβηθῆτε, φησὶ Κύριος, ὅτι μεθʼ ὑμῶν ἐγὼ, ἐξαιρεῖσθαι ὑμᾶς, καὶ σώζειν ὑμᾶς ἐκ χειρὸς αὐτῶν.

KJVBe not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the LORD: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand.

JPSBe not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the LORD; for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand.

ThomsonAnd I will shew you mercy, and have compassion on you, and bring you back to your own land.

BrentonAnd I will grant you mercy, and pity you, and will restore you to your land.

GreekΚαὶ δώσω ὑμῖν ἔλεος, καὶ ἐλεήσω ὑμᾶς, καὶ ἐπιστρέψω ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν γῆν ὑμῶν.

KJVAnd I will shew mercies unto you, that he may have mercy upon you, and cause you to return to your own land.

JPSAnd I will grant you compassion, that he may have compassion upon you, and cause you to return to your own land.

ThomsonBut if in direct disobedience to the voice of the Lord you say,

BrentonBut if ye say, We will not dwell in this land, that we may not hearken to the voice of the Lord;

GreekΚαὶ εἰ λέγετε ὑμεῖς, οὐ μὴ καθίσωμεν ἐν τῇ γῇ ταύτῃ, πρὸς τὸ μὴ ἀκοῦσαι φωνῆς Κυρίου,

KJVBut if ye say, We will not dwell in this land, neither obey the voice of the LORD your God,

JPSBut if ye say: We will not abide in this land; so that ye hearken not to the voice of the LORD your God;

ThomsonWe will not abide in this land, for we will go to the land of Egypt, that we may not see war nor hear the trumpet’s sound, nor pine for want of bread, and we will dwell there;

Brentonfor we will go into the land of Egypt, and we shall see no war, and shall not hear the sound of a trumpet, and we shall not hunger for bread; and there we will dwell:

Greekὅτι εἰς γῆν Αἰγύπτου εἰσελευσόμεθα, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἴδωμεν πόλεμον, καὶ φωνὴν σάλπιγγος οὐ μὴ ἀκούσωμεν, καὶ ἐν ἄρτοις οὐ μὴ πεινάσωμεν, καὶ ἐκεῖ οἰκήσομεν·

KJVSaying, No; but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor have hunger of bread; and there will we dwell:

JPSsaying: No; but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the horn, nor have hunger of bread; and there will we abide;

Thomsonthen hear the word of the Lord: thus said the Lord, If you set your face for Egypt, and go there to make your abode,

Brentonthen hear the word of the Lord; thus saith the Lord;

Greekδιατοῦτο ἀκούσατε λόγον Κυρίου· οὕτως εἶπε Κύριος, ἐὰν ὑμεῖς δῶτε τὸ πρόσωπον ὑμῶν εἰς Αἴγυπτον, καὶ εἰσέλθητε ἐκεῖ κατοικεῖν,

KJVAnd now therefore hear the word of the LORD, ye remnant of Judah; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; If ye wholly set your faces to enter into Egypt, and go to sojourn there;

JPSnow therefore hear ye the word of the LORD, O remnant of Judah: Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: If ye wholly set your faces to enter into Egypt, and go to sojourn there;

Thomsonthe sword of which you are afraid shall find you in the land of Egypt; and the famine which you wish to avoid shall follow and overtake you in Egypt, and there you shall die.

BrentonIf ye set your face toward Egypt, and go in there to dwell; then it shall be, that the sword which ye fear shall find you in the land of Egypt, and the famine to which ye have regard, shall overtake you, coming after you in Egypt; and there ye shall die.

Greekκαὶ ἔσται, ἡ ῥομφαία ἣν ὑμεῖς φοβεῖσθε ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτῆς εὑρήσει ὑμᾶς ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτου, καὶ ὁ λιμὸς οὗ ὑμεῖς λόγον ἔχετε ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ καταλήψεται ὑμᾶς ὀπίσω ὑμῶν ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ, καὶ ἐκεῖ ἀποθανεῖσθε.

KJVThen it shall come to pass, that the sword, which ye feared, shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine, whereof ye were afraid, shall follow close after you there in Egypt; and there ye shall die.

JPSthen it shall come to pass, that the sword, which ye fear, shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine, whereof ye are afraid, shall follow hard after you there in Egypt; and there ye shall die.

ThomsonFor all the men, even all the strangers who have set their faces towards the land of Egypt to dwell there, shall perish by the sword and by famine, and not one of them shall escape from those evils which I bring upon them.

BrentonAnd all the men, and all the strangers who have set their face toward the land of Egypt to dwell there, shall be consumed by the sword, and by the famine: and there shall not one of them escape from the evils which I bring upon them.

GreekΚαὶ ἔσονται πάντες οἱ ἄνθρωποι, καὶ πάντες οἱ ἀλλογενεῖς, οἱ θέντες τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτῶν εἰς γῆν Αἰγύπτου ἐνοικεῖν ἐκεῖ, ἐκλείψουσιν ἐν τῇ ῥομφαίᾳ, καὶ ἐν τῷ λιμῷ, καὶ οὐκ ἔσται αὐτῶν οὐδεὶς σωζόμενος ἀπὸ τῶν κακῶν ὧν ἐγὼ ἐπάγω ἐπʼ αὐτούς.

KJVSo shall it be with all the men that set their faces to go into Egypt to sojourn there; they shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: and none of them shall remain or escape from the evil that I will bring upon them.

JPSSo shall it be with all the men that set their faces to go into Egypt to sojourn there; they shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence; and none of them shall remain or escape from the evil that I will bring upon them.

ThomsonFor thus said the Lord, As My wrath was poured out on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so shall My wrath be poured out upon you, if you go to Egypt; and you shall be wasted and made slaves, and be for an execration and reproach; and shall never see this land again.

BrentonFor thus saith the Lord; As my wrath has dropped upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so shall my wrath drop upon you, when ye have entered into Egypt: and ye shall be a desolation, and under the power of others, and a curse and a reproach: and ye shall no more see this place.

GreekὍτι οὕτως εἶπε Κύριος, καθὼς ἔσταξεν ὁ θυμός μου ἐπὶ τοὺς κατοικοῦντας Ἱερουσαλὴμ, οὕτως στάξει ὁ θυμός μου ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς, εἰσελθόντων ὑμῶν εἰς Αἴγυπτον· καὶ ἔσεσθε εἰς ἄβατον, καὶ ὑποχείριοι, καὶ εἰς ἀρὰν, καὶ εἰς ὀνειδισμὸν, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἴδητε οὐκέτι τὸν τόπον τοῦτον.

KJVFor thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As mine anger and my fury hath been poured forth upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem; so shall my fury be poured forth upon you, when ye shall enter into Egypt: and ye shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach; and ye shall see this place no more.

JPSFor thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: As Mine anger and My fury hath been poured forth upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so shall My fury be poured forth upon you, when ye shall enter into Egypt; and ye shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach; and ye shall see this place no more.

ThomsonThese are the things which the Lord hath spoken respecting you, the remnant of Juda; that you may not go to Egypt.

BrentonThese are the words which the Lord has spoken concerning you the remnant of Juda; Enter ye not into Egypt: and now know ye for a certainty,

GreekἋ ἐλάλησε Κύριος ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς τοὺς καταλοίπους Ἰούδα· μὴ εἰσέλθητε εἰς Αἴγυπτον· καὶ νῦν γνόντες γνώσεσθε,

KJVThe LORD hath said concerning you, O ye remnant of Judah; Go ye not into Egypt: know certainly that I have admonished you this day.

JPSThe LORD hath spoken concerning you, O remnant of Judah: Go ye not into Egypt; know certainly that I have forewarned you this day.

ThomsonFor now you must be aware that you did evil in your hearts when you sent me saying, Pray for us to the Lord, and we will act conformably to all that the Lord shall say to thee.—

Brentonthat ye have wrought wickedness in your hearts, when ye sent me, saying, Pray thou for us to the Lord; and according to all that the Lord shall speak to thee we will do.

Greekὅτι ἐπονηρεύσασθε ἐν ψυχαῖς ὑμῶν, ἀποστείλαντές με, λέγοντες, πρόσευξαι περὶ ἡμῶν πρὸς Κύριον, καὶ κατὰ πάντα ἃ ἐὰν λαλήσει σοι Κύριος ποιήσομεν.

KJVFor ye dissembled in your hearts, when ye sent me unto the LORD your God, saying, Pray for us unto the LORD our God; and according unto all that the LORD our God shall say, so declare unto us, and we will do it.

JPSFor ye have dealt deceitfully against your own souls; for ye sent me unto the LORD your God, saying: Pray for us unto the LORD our God; and according unto all that the LORD our God shall say, so declare unto us, and we will do it;

ThomsonFor you have not hearkened to the voice of the Lord, which He hath sent by me to you.

BrentonAnd ye have not hearkened to the voice of the Lord, with which he sent me to you.

GreekΚαὶ οὐκ ἠκούσατε τῆς φωνῆς Κυρίου, ἧς ἀπέστειλέ με πρὸς ὑμᾶς.

KJVAnd now I have this day declared it to you; but ye have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God, nor any thing for the which he hath sent me unto you.

JPSand I have this day declared it to you; but ye have not hearkened to the voice of the LORD your God in any thing for which He hath sent me unto you.

ThomsonNow therefore you shall perish by the sword and by famine, in that place to which you are determined to go there to make your abode.

BrentonNow therefore ye shall perish by sword and by famine, in the place which ye desire to go into to dwell there.

GreekΚαὶ νῦν ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ καὶ ἐν λιμῷ ἐκλείψετε ἐν τῷ τόπῳ ᾧ ὑμεῖς βούλεσθε εἰσελθεῖν κατοικεῖν ἐκεῖ.

KJVNow therefore know certainly that ye shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, in the place whither ye desire to go and to sojourn.

JPSNow therefore know certainly that ye shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, in the place whither ye desire to go to sojourn there.’