Jeremiah 42:5
New International Version
Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with everything the LORD your God sends you to tell us.

New Living Translation
Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the LORD your God be a faithful witness against us if we refuse to obey whatever he tells us to do!

English Standard Version
Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act according to all the word with which the LORD your God sends you to us.

Berean Standard Bible
Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act upon every word that the LORD your God sends you to tell us.

King James Bible
Then 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.

New King James Version
So they said to Jeremiah, “Let the LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not do according to everything which the LORD your God sends us by you.

New American Standard Bible
Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with the whole message with which the LORD your God will send you to us.

NASB 1995
Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with the whole message with which the LORD your God will send you to us.

NASB 1977
Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us, if we do not act in accordance with the whole message with which the LORD your God will send you to us.

Legacy Standard Bible
And they said to Jeremiah, “May Yahweh be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with the whole message with which Yahweh your God will send you to us.

Amplified Bible
Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we fail to act in accordance with all the things that the LORD your God sends you to tell us.

Christian Standard Bible
And they said to Jeremiah, “May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we don’t act according to every word the LORD your God sends you to tell us.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And they said to Jeremiah, “As for every word the LORD your God sends you to tell us, if we don’t act accordingly, may the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us.

American Standard Version
Then they said to Jeremiah, Jehovah be a true and faithful witness amongst us, if we do not according to all the word wherewith Jehovah thy God shall send thee to us.

Contemporary English Version
They answered, "The LORD himself will be our witness that we promise to do whatever he says,

English Revised Version
Then they said to Jeremiah, The LORD be a true and faithful witness amongst us, if we do not even according to all the word wherewith the LORD thy God shall send thee to us.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They said to Jeremiah, "May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we don't do exactly what the LORD your God tells us to do.

Good News Translation
Then they said to me, "May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not obey all the commands that the LORD our God gives you for us.

International Standard Version
Then they told Jeremiah, "May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we don't do everything that the LORD your God tells us through you.

Majority Standard Bible
Then they said to Jeremiah, ?May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act upon every word that the LORD your God sends you to tell us.

NET Bible
They answered Jeremiah, "May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not do just as the LORD sends you to tell us to do.

New Heart English Bible
Then they said to Jeremiah, "The LORD be a true and faithful witness among us, if we do not do according to all the word with which the LORD your God shall send you to us.

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

World English Bible
Then they said to Jeremiah, “May Yahweh be a true and faithful witness among us, if we don’t do according to all the word with which Yahweh your God sends you to tell us.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And they have said to Jeremiah, “YHWH is against us for a true and faithful witness, if—according to all the word with which your God YHWH sends you to us—we do not do so.

Young's Literal Translation
And they have said to Jeremiah, 'Jehovah is against us for a witness true and faithful, if -- according to all the word with which Jehovah thy God doth send thee unto us -- we do not so.

Smith's Literal Translation
And they said to Jeremiah, Jehovah will be with us for a witness of truth and faithful, if not according to all the words which Jehovah thy God will send thee to us, thus will we do.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And they said to Jeremias: The Lord be witness between us of truth and faithfulness, if we do not according to every thing for which the Lord thy God shall send thee to us.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And they said to Jeremiah: “May the Lord be the witness between us of truth and fidelity, if we do not act according to whatever word the Lord your God will send by you to us.

New American Bible
And they said to Jeremiah, “May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not follow all the instructions the LORD, your God, sends us through you.

New Revised Standard Version
They in their turn said to Jeremiah, “May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act according to everything that the LORD your God sends us through you.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then they said to Jeremiah, May the LORD be a true and faithful witness between us if we do not do according to the word with which the LORD your God shall send you to us.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they said to Jeremiah: “LORD JEHOVAH shall be a firm and faithful witness with us if we will not do according to the answer that LORD JEHOVAH your God will send you for us!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then 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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And 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.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Warning Against Going to Egypt
4“I have heard you,” replied Jeremiah the prophet. “I will surely pray to the LORD your God as you request, and I will tell you everything that the LORD answers; I will not withhold a word from you.” 5Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act upon every word that the LORD your God sends you to tell us. 6Whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God to whom we are sending you, so that it may go well with us, for we will obey the voice of the LORD our God!”…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 6:13
Fear the LORD your God, serve Him only, and take your oaths in His name.

Joshua 24:22
Then Joshua told them, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD.” “We are witnesses!” they said.

1 Samuel 12:5
Samuel said to them, “The LORD is a witness against you, and His anointed is a witness today, that you have not found anything in my hand.” “He is a witness,” they replied.

2 Kings 17:13-15
Yet through all His prophets and seers, the LORD warned Israel and Judah, saying, “Turn from your wicked ways and keep My commandments and statutes, according to the entire Law that I commanded your fathers and delivered to you through My servants the prophets.” / But they would not listen, and they stiffened their necks like their fathers, who did not believe the LORD their God. / They rejected His statutes and the covenant He had made with their fathers, as well as the decrees He had given them. They pursued worthless idols and became worthless themselves, going after the surrounding nations that the LORD had commanded them not to imitate.

Isaiah 48:1
“Listen to this, O house of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel, who have descended from the line of Judah, who swear by the name of the LORD, who invoke the God of Israel—but not in truth or righteousness—

Ezekiel 33:31-32
So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain. / Indeed, you are to them like a singer of love songs with a beautiful voice, who skillfully plays an instrument. They hear your words but do not put them into practice.

Matthew 5:33-37
Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ / But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; / or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ...

James 5:12
Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment.

Acts 5:3-4
Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land? / Did it not belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How could you conceive such a deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God!”

Romans 1:9
God, whom I serve with my spirit in preaching the gospel of His Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you

2 Corinthians 1:23
I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.

Galatians 1:20
I assure you before God that what I am writing to you is no lie.

1 Thessalonians 2:5
As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness!

Hebrews 6:16
Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and their oath serves as a confirmation to end all argument.

Revelation 3:14
To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Originator of God’s creation.


Treasury of Scripture

Then 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 your God shall send you to us.

The Lord be.

Jeremiah 5:2
And though they say, The LORD liveth; surely they swear falsely.

Genesis 31:50
If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee.

Exodus 20:7
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

if we.

Exodus 20:19
And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

Deuteronomy 5:27-29
Go thou near, and hear all that the LORD our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the LORD our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it, and do it

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Jeremiah 42
1. Johanan desires Jeremiah to enquire of God, promising obedience to his will.
7. Jeremiah assures him of safety in Judea;
13. and destruction in Egypt.
19. He reproves their hypocrisy.














Then they said to Jeremiah
This phrase sets the stage for a pivotal moment in the narrative. The people are addressing Jeremiah, the prophet, who serves as a mouthpiece for God. Historically, Jeremiah was a prophet during a tumultuous time in Judah's history, around the late 7th and early 6th centuries BC. His role was to convey God's messages to the people, often calling them to repentance and warning them of impending judgment. The people's approach to Jeremiah signifies their recognition of his prophetic authority and their desire for divine guidance.

May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us
Here, the people invoke the name of the LORD, Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. The phrase "true and faithful witness" underscores the seriousness of their commitment. In Hebrew, the word for "witness" (עֵד, 'ed) carries legal connotations, suggesting a solemn vow or testimony. By calling upon God as a witness, they are acknowledging His omniscience and justice, understanding that He will hold them accountable to their promise. This reflects a deep awareness of God's character as one who is both just and merciful.

if we do not act according to every word
This part of the verse highlights the people's pledge to obey the divine instructions given through Jeremiah. The phrase "every word" emphasizes total obedience, not selective adherence. In the Hebrew context, the word for "word" (דָּבָר, davar) often signifies not just spoken words but also matters or things, indicating the comprehensive nature of God's commands. This commitment to complete obedience is a recurring theme in the covenant relationship between God and His people, where blessings are contingent upon adherence to His laws.

the LORD your God sends you to tell us
The phrase "the LORD your God" personalizes the relationship between God and Jeremiah, affirming Jeremiah's role as God's chosen messenger. The use of "sends you to tell us" indicates the divine origin of the message, reinforcing the authority of Jeremiah's words. In the ancient Near Eastern context, prophets were seen as intermediaries between the divine and human realms, and their messages were considered binding. This acknowledgment by the people shows their willingness to submit to God's will as revealed through His prophet.

(5, 6) The Lord be a true and faithful witness . . .--The emphatic adjuration implies that they are ready to accept the punishment which the righteous Judge will inflict in the event of their proving unfaithful to their promise. The name of the place where they had lately been staying may have reminded them of the history of Genesis 31:49 (though that refers to another Mizpah), in which we find the same formula.

Verse 5. - A true and faithful witness between us; rather, against us. If they broke their promise, Jehovah was to "witness against" them by punishing them.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then they
וְהֵ֙מָּה֙ (wə·hêm·māh)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

said
אָמְר֣וּ (’ā·mə·rū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to
אֶֽל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Jeremiah,
יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ (yir·mə·yā·hū)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3414: Jeremiah -- 'Yah loosens', the name of a number of Israelites

“May the LORD
יְהוָה֙ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

be
יְהִ֤י (yə·hî)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

a true
אֱמֶ֣ת (’ĕ·meṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 571: Stability, certainty, truth, trustworthiness

and faithful
וְנֶאֱמָ֑ן (wə·ne·’ĕ·mān)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 539: To confirm, support

witness against us
לְעֵ֖ד (lə·‘êḏ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5707: A witness, testimony, a recorder, prince

if
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

we do not
לֹ֡א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

act upon
נַעֲשֶֽׂה׃ (na·‘ă·śeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 6213: To do, make

every
כְּֽכָל־ (kə·ḵāl-)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

word
הַ֠דָּבָר (had·dā·ḇār)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

that
אֲשֶׁ֨ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

the LORD
יְהוָ֧ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

your God
אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ (’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

sends you
יִֽשְׁלָחֲךָ֜ (yiš·lā·ḥă·ḵā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

to tell us.
אֵלֵ֖ינוּ (’ê·lê·nū)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 42:5 Then they said to Jeremiah Yahweh be (Jer.)
Jeremiah 42:4
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