Jeremiah 29:30
Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying,
Original Language Analysis
וַֽיְהִי֙
H1961
וַֽיְהִי֙
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 6
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
דְּבַר
Then came the word
H1697
דְּבַר
Then came the word
Strong's:
H1697
Word #:
2 of 6
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
יְהוָ֔ה
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֔ה
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 6
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
Historical Context
This oracle (29:30-32) pronounces judgment on Shemaiah, demonstrating that opposing God's prophet brings divine judgment. Written before Jerusalem's fall, it would be fulfilled when Shemaiah's descendants found no place in the restoration community—a prediction verifiable by the returning exiles.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's fresh word to Jeremiah after Shemaiah's attack encourage you when your faithfulness draws opposition?
- What does the timing of this oracle teach about God's vindication coming after, not before, accusations against His servants?
- How does the phrase 'word of the LORD' function as divine authentication when human authorities question your calling?
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Analysis & Commentary
Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying—the formula דְּבַר־יְהוָה (debar-Yahweh, 'word of Yahweh') validates Jeremiah's authority precisely when Shemaiah denied it. God's response to persecution of His prophet is not silence but speech, not withdrawal but vindication. This phrase appears over 150 times in Jeremiah, each occurrence a hammer blow against claims that the prophet spoke presumptuously.
The timing is significant: after Zephaniah's disclosure, God speaks. Divine vindication often follows human malice, teaching that God's delay is not divine absence. As with Joseph ('You meant evil... but God meant it for good,' Genesis 50:20), opposition becomes the platform for prophetic authority's demonstration. The false prophet silences himself by opposing the true one.