Jeremiah 28

Hananiah’s False Prophecy

1 In the fifth month of the fourth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, the prophet Hananiah son of Azzur from Gibeon spoke to me in the house of the LORD in the presence of the priests and all the people.

2 He said, “This is what the LORD of armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.’”

3 “‘Within two years I will bring back to this place all the articles of the LORD’s house that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon removed to Babylon.’”

4 “‘And I will also bring back Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim king of Judah and all the exiles from Judah who went to Babylon,’ declares the LORD, ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’”

Jeremiah Responds to Hananiah

5 Then the prophet Jeremiah replied to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests and all the people standing in the house of the LORD.

6 Jeremiah said, “Amen! May the LORD do so! May the LORD fulfill the words you have prophesied by bringing back the articles of the LORD’s house and all the exiles from Babylon.”

7 “But hear the word I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people.”

8 “The prophets who preceded you and me from ancient times prophesied war, disaster, and plague against many countries and great kingdoms.”

9 “But the prophet who prophesies peace will be recognized as truly sent by the LORD only if his prediction comes true.”

Hananiah Breaks Jeremiah’s Yoke

10 Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah and broke it.

11 And in the presence of all the people he said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘In this way I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all the nations within two years.’” But Jeremiah went on his way.

God’s Response to Hananiah

12 After Hananiah broke the yoke off Jeremiah’s neck, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah:

13 “Go and tell Hananiah, ‘This is what the LORD says: You broke a yoke of wood, but in its place you will make a yoke of iron.’”

14 “For this is what the LORD of armies, the God of Israel, says: I have put an iron yoke on the necks of all these nations to make them serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and they will serve him. I have also given him the wild animals.”

Judgment on Hananiah

15 Then the prophet Jeremiah said to the prophet Hananiah, “Listen, Hananiah! The LORD has not sent you, yet you have persuaded this nation to trust in a lie.”

16 “Therefore this is what the LORD says: I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. This year you will die, because you have preached rebellion against the LORD.”

17 And in the seventh month of that same year, the prophet Hananiah died.