Jeremiah 26:21
And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death: but when Urijah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt;
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע
heard
H8085
וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע
heard
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
1 of 18
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
וְכָל
H3605
וְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
4 of 18
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
גִּבּוֹרָ֤יו
with all his mighty men
H1368
גִּבּוֹרָ֤יו
with all his mighty men
Strong's:
H1368
Word #:
5 of 18
powerful; by implication, warrior, tyrant
וְכָל
H3605
וְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
6 of 18
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הַשָּׂרִים֙
and all the princes
H8269
הַשָּׂרִים֙
and all the princes
Strong's:
H8269
Word #:
7 of 18
a head person (of any rank or class)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
8 of 18
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
דְּבָרָ֔יו
his words
H1697
דְּבָרָ֔יו
his words
Strong's:
H1697
Word #:
9 of 18
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
וַיְבַקֵּ֥שׁ
sought
H1245
וַיְבַקֵּ֥שׁ
sought
Strong's:
H1245
Word #:
10 of 18
to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after
הֲמִית֑וֹ
to put him to death
H4191
הֲמִית֑וֹ
to put him to death
Strong's:
H4191
Word #:
12 of 18
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע
heard
H8085
וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע
heard
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
13 of 18
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
אוּרִיָּ֙הוּ֙
but when Urijah
H223
אוּרִיָּ֙הוּ֙
but when Urijah
Strong's:
H223
Word #:
14 of 18
urijah, the name of one hittite and five israelites
וַיִּרָ֔א
it he was afraid
H3372
וַיִּרָ֔א
it he was afraid
Strong's:
H3372
Word #:
15 of 18
to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten
Cross References
Matthew 10:23But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.Jeremiah 36:26But the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet: but the LORD hid them.Matthew 14:5And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.2 Chronicles 16:10Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.
Historical Context
Egypt was traditional refuge for those fleeing Judean kings—Jeroboam fled there from Solomon (1 Kings 11:40), and later Jewish refugees would settle there (Jeremiah 43-44). Egypt and Judah had complex political relationships; Egypt couldn't refuse extradition requests from Judean kings without damaging alliances. The distance (200+ miles) shows Urijah's desperation.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you respond to the reality that faithfulness sometimes includes fear and flight?
- What determines when to stand firm versus when to flee persecution?
- How does Urijah's fear make him relatable rather than diminish his prophetic integrity?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death (וַיְבַקֵּשׁ הַמֶּלֶךְ הֲמִיתוֹ, vay'vaqqesh hammelekh hamito)—the verb בָּקַשׁ (baqash, 'seek') with מוּת (mut, 'to kill') indicates deliberate intent to execute. But when Urijah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt—unlike Jeremiah who stood firm, Urijah fled (נָס, nas). This isn't condemned; it's human.
The text doesn't criticize Urijah's fear (יִרָא, yare) or flight. Even true prophets experience terror before tyranny. Jesus instructed disciples to flee persecution (Matthew 10:23). David fled from Saul. Flight isn't failure when confronting murderous power. What matters is that Urijah had already delivered God's message faithfully. The contrast with Jeremiah (who remained) shows different callings—some prophets stay and face lions; others flee and still get caught. Both are faithful.