Back to Jeremiah 27

Jeremiah 27:18-22

But if they are prophets, and if Yahweh’s word is with them, let them now make intercession to Yahweh of Armies, that the vessels which are left in Yahweh’s house, in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem, don’t go to Babylon. For Yahweh of Armies says concerning the pillars, concerning the sea, concerning the bases, and concerning the rest of the vessels that are left in this city, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon didn’t take when he carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem; yes, Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says concerning the vessels that are left in Yahweh’s house, and in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem: ‘They will be carried to Babylon, and there they will be, until the day that I visit them,’ says Yahweh; ‘then I will bring them up, and restore them to this place.’ ”

World English Bible · Public Domain
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Jeremiah 27:18-22 sits inside this longer paragraph.

Also I spoke to the priests and to all this people, saying, Yahweh says, “Don’t listen to the words of your prophets who prophesy to you, saying, ‘Behold, the vessels of Yahweh’s house will now shortly be brought again from Babylon;’ for they prophesy a lie to you. Don’t listen to them. Serve the king of Babylon, and live. Why should this city become a desolation? But if they are prophets, and if Yahweh’s word is with them, let them now make intercession to Yahweh of Armies, that the vessels which are left in Yahweh’s house, in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem, don’t go to Babylon. For Yahweh of Armies says concerning the pillars, concerning the sea, concerning the bases, and concerning the rest of the vessels that are left in this city, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon didn’t take when he carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem; yes, Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says concerning the vessels that are left in Yahweh’s house, and in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem: ‘They will be carried to Babylon, and there they will be, until the day that I visit them,’ says Yahweh; ‘then I will bring them up, and restore them to this place.’ ”

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    But if they are prophets, and if Yahweh’s word is with them, let them now make intercession to Yahweh of Armies, that the vessels which are left in Yahweh’s house, in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem, don’t go to Babylon.

    For Yahweh of Armies says concerning the pillars, concerning the sea, concerning the bases, and concerning the rest of the vessels that are left in this city,

    which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon didn’t take when he carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem;

    yes, Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says concerning the vessels that are left in Yahweh’s house, and in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem:

    ‘They will be carried to Babylon, and there they will be, until the day that I visit them,’ says Yahweh; ‘then I will bring them up, and restore them to this place.’ ”

  • KJV King James Version

    But if they be prophets, and if the word of the LORD be with them, let them now make intercession to the LORD of hosts, that the vessels which are left in the house of the LORD, and in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem, go not to Babylon.

    For thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the pillars, and concerning the sea, and concerning the bases, and concerning the residue of the vessels that remain in this city,

    Which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took not, when he carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem;

    Yea, thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels that remain in the house of the LORD, and in the house of the king of Judah and of Jerusalem;

    They shall be carried to Babylon, and there shall they be until the day that I visit them, saith the LORD; then will I bring them up, and restore them to this place.

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  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    But if they be prophets, and if the word of the LORD be with them, let them now make intercession to the LORD of hosts, that the vessels which are left in the house of the LORD, and in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem, go not to Babylon.

    For thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the pillars, and concerning the sea, and concerning the bases, and concerning the residue of the vessels that remain in this city,

    which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took not, when he carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem;

    yea, thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels that remain in the house of the LORD, and in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem:

    They shall be carried to Babylon, and there shall they be, until the day that I remember them, saith the LORD, and bring them up, and restore them to this place.'

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Cross-references (46)

  • Jeremiah 29:10 (v22) For Yahweh says, “After seventy years are accomplished for Babylon, I will visit you and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to…
  • 2 Kings 25:13 (vv19, 22) The Chaldeans broke up the pillars of bronze that were in Yahweh’s house and the bases and the bronze sea that were in Yahweh’s house, and…
  • Ezra 7:19 (v22) The vessels that are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver before the God of Jerusalem.
  • Jeremiah 24:1 (v20) Yahweh showed me, and behold, two baskets of figs were set before Yahweh’s temple, after Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away…
  • Jeremiah 32:5 (v22) and he will bring Zedekiah to Babylon, and he will be there until I visit him,” says Yahweh: “though you fight with the Chaldeans, you will…
Show all 45 cross-references
  • 1 Samuel 7:8 (v18) The children of Israel said to Samuel, “Don’t stop crying to Yahweh our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the…
  • 2 Chronicles 36:10 (v20) At the return of the year, king Nebuchadnezzar sent and brought him to Babylon, with the valuable vessels of Yahweh’s house, and made…
  • Ezra 1:11 (v22) All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand four hundred. Sheshbazzar brought all these up when the captives were brought up…
  • Jeremiah 25:11-12 (v22) This whole land will be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years. “It will happen,…
  • Jeremiah 52:17-23 (v19) The Chaldeans broke the pillars of bronze that were in Yahweh’s house, and the bases and the bronze sea that were in Yahweh’s house in…
  • 1 Samuel 12:19 (v18) All the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to Yahweh your God, that we not die; for we have added to all our sins this evil, to…
  • 1 Samuel 12:23 (v18) Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Yahweh in ceasing to pray for you: but I will instruct you in the good and…
  • 1 Kings 18:24 (v18) You call on the name of your god, and I will call on Yahweh’s name. The God who answers by fire, let him be God.” All the people answered,…
  • 2 Kings 24:14-16 (v20) He carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valor, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and…
  • 2 Kings 25:17 (v19) The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and a capital of bronze was on it. The height of the capital was three cubits, with…
  • 2 Chronicles 36:18 (v20) All the vessels of God’s house, great and small, and the treasures of Yahweh’s house, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes,…
  • Ezra 5:13-15 (v22) But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God. The gold and silver vessels of…
  • Proverbs 21:30 (v22) There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against Yahweh.
  • Jeremiah 18:20 (v18) Should evil be recompensed for good? For they have dug a pit for my soul. Remember how I stood before you to speak good for them, to turn…
  • Jeremiah 22:28 (v20) Is this man Coniah a despised broken vessel? Is he a vessel in which no one delights? Why are they cast out, he and his offspring, and cast…
  • Genesis 18:24-33 (v18) What if there are fifty righteous within the city? Will you consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous who are in it? May it…
  • Genesis 20:17 (v18) Abraham prayed to God. God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his female servants, and they bore children.
  • 1 Kings 7:15-22 (v19) For he fashioned the two pillars of bronze, eighteen cubits high apiece; and a line of twelve cubits encircled either of them. He made two…
  • 1 Kings 18:26 (v18) They took the bull which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, “Baal,…
  • 2 Kings 24:13-17 (v22) He carried out from there all the treasures of Yahweh’s house, and the treasures of the king’s house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of…
  • 2 Chronicles 4:2-16 (v19) Also he made the molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim. It was round, five cubits high, and thirty cubits in circumference. Under it…
  • 2 Chronicles 32:20 (v18) Hezekiah the king and Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz, prayed because of this, and cried to heaven.
  • 2 Chronicles 36:17-18 (v22) Therefore he brought on them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had…
  • 2 Chronicles 36:21 (v22) to fulfill Yahweh’s word by Jeremiah’s mouth, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. As long as it lay desolate, it kept Sabbath, to…
  • Ezra 1:7-8 (v22) Also Cyrus the king brought out the vessels of Yahweh’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought out of Jerusalem, and had put in the house…
  • Ezra 7:9 (v22) For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylon; and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem,…
  • Job 42:8-9 (v18) Now therefore, take to yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and…
  • Jeremiah 7:16 (v18) “Therefore don’t pray for this people. Don’t lift up a cry or prayer for them or make intercession to me; for I will not hear you.
  • Jeremiah 15:1 (v18) Then Yahweh said to me, “Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind would not turn toward this people. Cast them out of my sight,…
  • Jeremiah 34:5 (v22) You will die in peace; and with the burnings of your fathers, the former kings who were before you, so they will make a burning for you.…
  • Jeremiah 42:2 (v18) and said to Jeremiah the prophet, “Please let our supplication be presented before you, and pray for us to Yahweh your God, even for all…
  • Jeremiah 52:17-21 (v22) The Chaldeans broke the pillars of bronze that were in Yahweh’s house, and the bases and the bronze sea that were in Yahweh’s house in…
  • Ezekiel 14:14 (v18) though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only their own souls by their righteousness,” says the Lord…
  • Ezekiel 14:18-20 (v18) though these three men were in it, as I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “they would deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only would be…
  • Ezekiel 22:30 (v18) “I sought for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I would not destroy it; but I…
  • Daniel 5:1-4 (v22) Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. Belshazzar, while he tasted the…
  • Daniel 5:23 (v22) but have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before you, and you and your lords,…
  • Daniel 9:2 (v22) in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years about which Yahweh’s word came to Jeremiah the…
  • Malachi 1:9 (v18) “Now, please entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With this, will he accept any of you?” says Yahweh of Armies.
  • James 5:16-18 (v18) Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is…

45 distinct cross-references across this passage (46 total citations).

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (15 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain On vv18–21 Here the Prophet laughs to scorn the foolish confidence…

Here the Prophet laughs to scorn the foolish confidence with which the false prophets were swollen, when they promised all happiness in time to come. He hence says, that they were not to be believed as to the prosperity of which they prophesied, but that on the contrary they ought to have dreaded a most grievous punishment.

He then says, If they are prophets, let them intercede with Jehovah, that what still remains may not be taken away from Jerusalem. They promised the return of the vessels, which had been already carried away to Babylon; and yet what still remained in the Temple and in the palace of the king and in the whole city, was to be removed to Babylon. We now perceive the Prophet’s design; he compares the future with the past, and shews that these impostors foolishly promised some better state of things, even when God’s heavy judgment was impending over them; for the city and the Temple were doomed to entire ruin. The verb פגע, pego, means to meet, to go to meet, and is taken metaphorically in the sense of interceding; for he who meets one as an intercessor, in a manner restrains the opponent; and the Scripture uses this word, when it speaks of the saints as supplicating God; the proper word is interceding.

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From this passage we learn that these two things are united — teaching and praying. Then God would have him whom he has set a teacher in his Church, to be assiduous in prayer. And so the Apostles said, when they spoke of appointing deacons, that they could not attend to tables; for they said that they were sufficiently engaged in teaching, and they mentioned also prayers. (Acts 6:2-4.) The same also we learn from this place, where Jeremiah ascribes the office of interceding to God’s true and faithful servants who conscientiously discharged the office of teaching; If they be prophets, he says, let them intercede with Jehovah, that the remaining vessels be not taken away. Let us at the same time notice the definition he gives; for by this he also shews who are to be counted true prophets, even those who have the word of God, as we have found elsewhere,

“The Prophet who has a dream, and who has my true word, let him speak my word.” (Jeremiah 23:28)

We said by these words of the Prophet it may be determined who they are who deserve to be called prophets, even those who have the word of God. Jeremiah confirms the same here when he says, If they are prophets, and if the word of Jehovah is with them These two clauses ought to be read together, for the latter is exegetic, or explanatory of the former. But I cannot now finish the whole, I must therefore defer the rest till to-morrow.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv18, 22 For it was not only the Prophet’s office to…
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv18, 19, 20, 22 Jer 27:18 But if they [be] prophets, and if…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv18–22 If they be true prophets, End have any communion…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv18–22 But if they be prophets, and if the word…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv19, 22 Verse 19. Concerning the pillars] Two brazen columns placed…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On v19 Jer 27:19-22. Thus saith the Lord concerning the pillars,…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv18–19 Hosts. If they prevail, account me a false prophet.…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv18, 19, 22 at Jerusalem--that is, in other houses containing such vessels,…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv18–19 18. Vessels… left — Only the more costly vessels,…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv18–20 18. that the vessels … Babylon] omitted in LXX,…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv18, 19, 22 (18) But if they be prophets . . .—The…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv18–19 But if they be prophets, etc. The "false prophets,"…
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv19, 21 General Information:
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv18, 20, 22 27:18-19 Even the false prophets were called upon to…
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