Jeremiah Chapter 43 in Simple English

Updated on October 1, 2026

Read Jeremiah Chapter 43

1Jeremiah finished speaking to all the people all the words of the LORD their God. The LORD their God had sent him to them with these words, all of them.

2Then Azariah son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan son of Kareah, and all the proud men spoke. They said to Jeremiah, "You are lying. The LORD our God did not send you to say, 'Do not go into Egypt to live there.'"

3"But Baruch son of Neriah is stirring you up against us. He wants to hand us over to the Chaldeans, so that they may put us to death, and carry us away as prisoners to Babylon."

4So Johanan son of Kareah, and all the captains of the armies, and all the people did not obey the voice of the LORD. They would not stay in the land of Judah.

5Instead, Johanan son of Kareah and all the captains of the armies took all who were left of Judah. These were the people who had come back from all the nations where they had been driven away, to live in the land of Judah.

6They took men, and women, and children, and the king's daughters, and everyone whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan. They also took Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch son of Neriah.

7So they came into the land of Egypt, for they did not obey the voice of the LORD. They went as far as Tahpanhes.

8Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes:

9"Take some large stones in your hand. Hide them in the clay of the brick pavement at the entrance to Pharaoh's house in Tahpanhes. Do it while the men of Judah are watching."

10Say to them, 'This is what the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, says: Look, I will send for Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and I will bring him here. I will set his throne on these stones that I have hidden, and he will spread his royal tent over them.

11When he comes, he will strike the land of Egypt. Those meant for death will go to death. Those meant for captivity will go to captivity. Those meant for the sword will go to the sword.

12I will light a fire in the temples of the gods of Egypt. He will burn them and carry their gods away as prisoners. He will wrap the land of Egypt around himself, as a shepherd puts on his coat, and he will leave that place in peace.

13"He will also break down the pillars of Bethshemesh, which is in the land of Egypt, and he will burn the temples of the gods of the Egyptians with fire.'"

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Explanation

Jeremiah 43

In short

After Jerusalem falls to Babylon, Jeremiah warns the surviving Jews not to flee to Egypt. They reject his message, accuse him of lying, and force him to go with them anyway. Once in Egypt, God gives Jeremiah a symbolic act to perform: he buries stones at Pharaoh's palace to show that Babylon's king will conquer Egypt too.

Context

This comes after the destruction of Jerusalem. A small group of Jews remains under a governor appointed by Babylon, but after his assassination, they fear Babylonian retaliation. Jeremiah has been telling them to stay put and submit to Babylon's rule. Now the military leaders, headed by Johanan, reject this advice and decide to flee to Egypt, taking Jeremiah and his scribe Baruch with them against their will.

What the text says

In verses 1-2, Jeremiah finishes speaking God's word, and Azariah and Johanan respond that he is lying. Verses 2-3 show their accusation: they claim God never told him to warn them away from Egypt, and that Baruch is manipulating him to hand them over to the Chaldeans for death or captivity. Verses 4-7 state that despite God's voice, Johanan and the captains take all the remaining Judeans, including women, children, the king's daughters, Jeremiah, and Baruch, to Tahpanhes in Egypt. Verses 8-10 describe God's command to Jeremiah: he must hide large stones at the entrance to Pharaoh's house and declare that God will place Nebuchadnezzar's throne upon them. Verses 11-13 give the prophecy: Nebuchadnezzar will strike Egypt, deliver people to death and captivity, burn the temples and gods' houses of Egypt, and break the images at Bethshemesh.

Takeaways

The people reject God's word through Jeremiah and suffer the consequences they sought to avoid.
Even in exile in Egypt, God continues to speak through Jeremiah about what will happen next.
The symbolic action of hiding stones shows God's sovereignty over earthly powers, not just over Judah.

Jeremiah 43 - Simple English