The big picture
Jeremiah 28 opens in verse 1 with “And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 9 with “The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass…”, and closes in verse 17 with “So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.” Repeated or prominent terms include prophet, LORD, Hananiah, Babylon, king. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Jeremiah · King James Version · 17Jeremiah 28:1-6
1–6: It came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah…
Jeremiah 28:1–6 opens with “And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in…” and reaches “Even the prophet Jeremiah said, Amen: the LORD do so: the LORD perform thy words which thou hast…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jeremiah 28 develops its own movement around prophet, LORD, Hananiah, Babylon, king, with particular weight carried by Babylon, LORD, king.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.
“Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.” Naming Babylon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Within two full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of the LORD’s house, that Nebuchadnezzar king…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
Jeremiah 28:1-6
King James Version1And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the LORD , in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,
2Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.
3Within two full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of the LORD’s house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried them to Babylon:
4And I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, saith the LORD : for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.
5Then the prophet Jeremiah said unto the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests, and in the presence of all the people that stood in the house of the LORD ,
6Even the prophet Jeremiah said, Amen: the LORD do so: the LORD perform thy words which thou hast prophesied, to bring again the vessels of the LORD’s house, and all that is carried away captive, from Babylon into this place.
Jeremiah 28:7-12
7–12: Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears, and in…
Jeremiah 28:7–12 opens with “Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of all the…” and reaches “Then the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the prophet, after that Hananiah the prophet had…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jeremiah 28 develops its own movement around prophet, LORD, Hananiah, Babylon, king, with particular weight carried by prophet, Hananiah, Jeremiah.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of all the people;” Naming Nevertheless keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“The prophets that have been before me and before thee of old prophesied both against many countries, and against great…” The line’s distinctive content terms include both, countries, evil. Its relationship to verses 7 and 9 shows what work it does in this passage.
Jeremiah 28:7-12
King James Version7Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of all the people;
8The 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.
9The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him.
10Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah’s neck, and brake it.
11And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith the LORD ; Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years. And the prophet Jeremiah went his way.
12Then the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the prophet, after that Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying,
Jeremiah 28:13-17
13–17: Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD ; Thou hast broken the…
Jeremiah 28:13–17 opens with “Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD ; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou…” and reaches “So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jeremiah 28 develops its own movement around prophet, LORD, Hananiah, Babylon, king, with particular weight carried by LORD, Hananiah, prophet.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD ; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them…” Naming Hananiah and Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
Jeremiah 28:13-17
King James Version13Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD ; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron.
14For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him: and I have given him the beasts of the field also.
15Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.
16Therefore thus saith the LORD ; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD .
17So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Jeremiah 28:1 begins with “And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the…”
Where the chapter turns
Jeremiah 28:10 forms a natural hinge: “Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah’s neck, and brake it.”
The final note
Jeremiah 28:17 leaves the reader with “So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words prophet, LORD, Hananiah, Babylon, king, Jeremiah help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Which promise most directly answers Jacob's situation?
God will be with him, keep him and bring him back to the land in verse 15.
How does the place change for Jacob?
An ordinary stopping place becomes recognized as the setting of divine encounter.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.