Jeremiah 28

Jeremiah 28 recounts a confrontation between the prophet Jeremiah and Hananiah, a false prophet who contradicted Jeremiah’s warnings of Babylonian captivity. Hananiah prophesies that the yoke of Babylon would soon be broken and that the captives would return. Jeremiah responds, pointing out the distinction between true and false prophecy. Hananiah’s false message is met with divine judgment, as he dies later that year, illustrating the seriousness of speaking falsely in God’s name.

Jeremiah 28:1-10 (NKJV)
1 And it happened in the same year, at 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 who was from Gibeon, spoke to me in the house of the Lord in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,
2 “Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying: ‘I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.
3 Within two full years I will bring back to this place all the vessels of the Lord’s house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place and carried to Babylon.
4 And I will bring back to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah who went to Babylon,’ says the Lord, ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’”
5 Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests and in the presence of all the people who stood in the house of the Lord,
6 and the prophet Jeremiah said, “Amen! The Lord do so; the Lord perform your words which you have prophesied, to bring back the vessels of the Lord’s house and all who were carried away captive, from Babylon to this place.
7 Nevertheless hear now this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people:
8 The prophets who have been before me and before you of old prophesied against many countries and great kingdoms—of war and disaster and pestilence.
9 As for the prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet comes to pass, the prophet will be known as one whom the Lord has truly sent.”
10 Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke off the prophet Jeremiah’s neck and broke it.

Hananiah, proclaiming himself a prophet, boldly declares that God has broken the power of Babylon and promises that the temple vessels and exiled king Jeconiah will return in two years. Hananiah’s words offer a false hope, contradicting Jeremiah’s message of Babylonian domination as God’s judgment. Jeremiah responds affirming hope for restoration, but he reminds Hananiah and the audience that true prophets often speak of judgment and that peace will confirm a prophet’s legitimacy only when it comes to pass. Hananiah theatrically breaks Jeremiah’s symbolic yoke, showing his defiance of Jeremiah’s prophecy and rejecting God’s declared message.

Jeremiah 28:11 (NKJV)
11 And Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Even so I will 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.

Hananiah repeats his prophecy in public, reinforcing his claim that God will swiftly end Babylon’s control. This bold statement, combined with his dramatic act of breaking the yoke, is meant to sway the people’s faith and instill confidence in a quick end to their captivity. Jeremiah, understanding the gravity of Hananiah’s false words, chooses to walk away, allowing God to respond in due time rather than causing further confrontation.

Jeremiah 28:12-14 (NKJV)
12 Now the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, after Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying,
13 “Go and tell Hananiah, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “You have broken the yokes of wood, but you have made in their place yokes of iron.”
14 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “I have put a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him. I have given him the beasts of the field also.”’”

After Hananiah’s display, God directs Jeremiah to confront him with a new message: the wooden yoke that was broken will be replaced by an unbreakable iron yoke. This symbolizes that the bondage to Babylon is not just temporary but firmly set by God. The reference to an “iron yoke” indicates that the nations, including Judah, will be under Babylon’s control inescapably, and even nature (the beasts) is given into Nebuchadnezzar’s rule, underscoring God’s sovereign decision.

Jeremiah 28:15-17 (NKJV)
15 Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, “Hear now, Hananiah, the Lord has not sent you, but you make this people trust in a lie.
16 Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will cast you from the face of the earth. This year you shall die, because you have taught rebellion against the Lord.’”
17 So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.

Jeremiah firmly rebukes Hananiah, clarifying that God did not send him and that his false prophecy has deceived the people into believing a lie. Jeremiah pronounces God’s judgment on Hananiah, declaring that he will die within the year due to his rebellion against God. This severe consequence underlines the danger of false prophecy and the responsibility of a prophet to speak only God’s truth. True to Jeremiah’s words, Hananiah dies that same year, validating Jeremiah’s status as a true prophet and warning others against speaking falsely in God’s name.