Jeremiah 28:8

Authorized King James Version

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The prophets that have been before me and before thee of old prophesied both against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of evil, and of pestilence.

Original Language Analysis

הַנְּבִיאִ֗ים The prophets H5030
הַנְּבִיאִ֗ים The prophets
Strong's: H5030
Word #: 1 of 17
a prophet or (generally) inspired man
אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 2 of 17
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
הָי֧וּ H1961
הָי֧וּ
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 3 of 17
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
וּלְפָנֶ֖יךָ me and before H6440
וּלְפָנֶ֖יךָ me and before
Strong's: H6440
Word #: 4 of 17
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
וּלְפָנֶ֖יךָ me and before H6440
וּלְפָנֶ֖יךָ me and before
Strong's: H6440
Word #: 5 of 17
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
מִן H4480
מִן
Strong's: H4480
Word #: 6 of 17
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
הָֽעוֹלָ֑ם thee of old H5769
הָֽעוֹלָ֑ם thee of old
Strong's: H5769
Word #: 7 of 17
properly, concealed, i.e., the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e., (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial
וַיִּנָּ֨בְא֜וּ prophesied H5012
וַיִּנָּ֨בְא֜וּ prophesied
Strong's: H5012
Word #: 8 of 17
to prophesy, i.e., speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse)
אֶל H413
אֶל
Strong's: H413
Word #: 9 of 17
near, with or among; often in general, to
אֲרָצ֤וֹת countries H776
אֲרָצ֤וֹת countries
Strong's: H776
Word #: 10 of 17
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
רַבּוֹת֙ both against many H7227
רַבּוֹת֙ both against many
Strong's: H7227
Word #: 11 of 17
abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
וְעַל H5921
וְעַל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 12 of 17
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
מַמְלָכ֣וֹת kingdoms H4467
מַמְלָכ֣וֹת kingdoms
Strong's: H4467
Word #: 13 of 17
dominion, i.e., (abstractly) the estate (rule) or (concretely) the country (realm)
גְּדֹל֔וֹת and against great H1419
גְּדֹל֔וֹת and against great
Strong's: H1419
Word #: 14 of 17
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
לְמִלְחָמָ֖ה of war H4421
לְמִלְחָמָ֖ה of war
Strong's: H4421
Word #: 15 of 17
a battle (i.e., the engagement); generally, war (i.e., war-fare)
וּלְרָעָ֥ה and of evil H7451
וּלְרָעָ֥ה and of evil
Strong's: H7451
Word #: 16 of 17
bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
וּלְדָֽבֶר׃ and of pestilence H1698
וּלְדָֽבֶר׃ and of pestilence
Strong's: H1698
Word #: 17 of 17
a pestilence

Analysis & Commentary

The prophets that have been before me and before thee of old prophesied both against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of evil, and of pestilence (הַנְּבִיאִים אֲשֶׁר הָיוּ לְפָנַי וּלְפָנֶיךָ מִן־הָעוֹלָם וַיִּנָּבְאוּ...מִלְחָמָה וּלְרָעָה וּלְדָבֶר, han'vi'im asher hayu l'fanai ul'fanekha min-ha'olam vayinnav'u...milchamah ul'ra'ah ul'daver)—Jeremiah appeals to prophetic precedent (מִן־הָעוֹלָם, min-ha'olam, 'from of old'). The pattern: true prophets historically proclaimed judgment (war, evil, pestilence) more than peace. This doesn't mean good news is automatically false, but it establishes that difficult messages align with prophetic tradition.

The threefold judgment—war (מִלְחָמָה), evil (רָעָה), pestilence (דֶּבֶר)—echoes covenant curses (Leviticus 26, Deuteronomy 28). Jeremiah argues that prophets proclaiming only prosperity and peace without calling for repentance break with historical pattern. Think of Isaiah, Hosea, Amos, Micah—all proclaimed judgment. The burden of proof lies with those claiming exemption from covenant curses, not those warning of them.

Historical Context

Virtually every canonical prophet before Jeremiah (8th-7th centuries BC) proclaimed judgment: Isaiah warned Judah, Hosea condemned Israel, Amos declared exile, Micah predicted Jerusalem's destruction. The consistent prophetic message called Israel back to covenant through warnings of consequences. False prophets' novelty was unqualified assurance regardless of behavior.

Questions for Reflection

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