Jeremiah – Chapter 43

Old Testament • 13 Verses

Chapter Summary

"And it came to pass, that when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking to the people all the words of the Lord their God, for which the Lord…" — so begins Jeremiah 43. The chapter centers on Jeremiah, Baruch and Nebuchadnezzar. Across its 13 verses, two threads run through the text: family and covenant relationships and God's kingdom and kingship. Read slowly, this chapter rewards the kind of prayerful attention the Church calls lectio divina.

1And it came to pass, that when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking to the people all the words of the Lord their God, for which the Lord their God had sent him to them, all these words:

2Azarias the son of Osaias, and Johanan the son of Caree, and all the proud men, made answer, saying to Jeremiah: Thou tellest a lie: the Lord our God hath not sent thee, saying: Go not into Egypt, to dwell there.

3But Baruch the son of Nerias setteth thee on against us, to deliver us into the hands of the Chaldeans, to kill us, and to cause us to be carried away captives to Babylon.

4So Johanan the son of Caree, and all the captains of the soldiers, and all the people, obeyed not the voice of the Lord, to remain in the land of Juda.

5But Johanan the son of Caree, and all the captains of the soldiers took all the remnant of Juda, that were returned out of all nations, to which they had before been scattered, to dwell in the land of Juda:

6Men, and women, and children, and the king's daughters, and every soul, which Nabuzardan the general had left with Godolias the son of Ahicam the son of Saphan, and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Nerias.

7And they went into the land of Egypt, for they obeyed not the voice of the Lord: and they came as far as Taphnis.

8And the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah in Taphnis, saying:

9Take great stones in thy hand, and thou shalt hide them in the vault that is under the brick wall at the gate of Pharao's house in Taphnis: in the sight of the men of Juda.

10And thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Behold I will send, and take Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon my servant: and I will set his throne over these stones which I have hid, and he shall set his throne over them.

11And he shall come and strike the land of Egypt: such as are for death, to death: and such as are for captivity, to captivity: and such as are for the sword, to the sword.

12And he shall kindle a fire in the temples of the gods of Egypt, and he shall burn them, and he shall carry them away captives: and he shall array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd putteth on his garment: and he shall go forth from thence in peace.

13And he shall break the statues of the house of the sun, that are in the land of Egypt; and the temples of the gods of Egypt he shall burn with fire.

Important Verses in Jeremiah 43

“And it came to pass, that when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking to the people all the words of the Lord their God, for which the Lord their God had sent him to them, all these words:”

Jeremiah 43:1

“Men, and women, and children, and the king's daughters, and every soul, which Nabuzardan the general had left with Godolias the son of Ahicam the son of Saphan, and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Nerias.”

Jeremiah 43:6

“And thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel: Behold I will send, and take Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon my servant: and I will set his throne over these stones which I have hid, and he shall set his throne over them.”

Jeremiah 43:10

“And he shall break the statues of the house of the sun, that are in the land of Egypt; and the temples of the gods of Egypt he shall burn with fire. ”

Jeremiah 43:13

Historical Context

As a Old Testament book, Jeremiah was written with judah on the brink of destruction, called to repentance in view. Chapter 43 of 52 moves toward the climax of the book as earlier promises and conflicts converge. It is a prophetic oracle addressed to Israel in a moment of covenant crisis or renewal with 13 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The chapter focuses on Jeremiah, Baruch, Nebuchadnezzar and Pharaoh, whose actions and words drive the passage forward. It opens with the line: "And it came to pass, that when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking to the people all the words of the Lord their God,…" The final verse reads: "And he shall break the statues of the house of the sun, that are in the land of Egypt; and the temples of the gods of…" The wider setting of Jeremiah is this: Jeremiah prophesied through Judah's final decades, warning of Babylon's coming judgment while priests and false prophets promised peace. Scholarly and ecclesial tradition places the composition of Jeremiah around Jeremiah's ministry about 627-580 BC.

Who Wrote It

The prophet Jeremiah, with his scribe Baruch

When It Was Written

Jeremiah's ministry about 627-580 BC

Catholic Commentary

The prophetic discourse in this chapter speaks to a community facing the consequences of its choices before God. A pivotal line is verse 1: "And it came to pass, that when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking to the people all the words of the Lord their God, for which the Lord their God had sent…" The passage repeatedly touches on family and covenant relationships.

Catholic exegesis reads Jeremiah 43 within the unity of Scripture and Tradition. Jeremiah's new covenant prophecy is fulfilled in Christ (CIC 1965). St. Bernard of Clairvaux and other Fathers of the Church saw in texts like this a preparation for or reflection of Christ, the center of revelation (CIC 791).

The moral and spiritual import remains timely: The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.. St. Jerome insisted that ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ; this chapter offers material for meditation, examination of conscience, and deeper love of God.

Main Teachings

  • ✓The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • ✓God's kingdom is not of this world; every earthly throne stands under His eternal reign.
  • ✓The Lord is a refuge and deliverer for all who call upon Him in trouble.

People in This Chapter

Jeremiah4 mentionsBaruch2 mentionsNebuchadnezzar1 mentionPharaoh1 mention

Reflection for Today

Jeremiah Chapter 43 belongs to the Old Testament and forms part of the Catholic canon proclaimed in the liturgy of the Word.

Through typology, the Church often reads Old Testament passages as preparing for Christ, while New Testament passages reveal Him explicitly. Jeremiah's new covenant prophecy is fulfilled in Christ (CIC 1965). Here the believer is invited to ponder the beatitudes as a program of life.

May your reading of Jeremiah Chapter 43 become true lectio divina: read the words, meditate on their meaning, respond in prayer, and rest in God's presence. Ask the Holy Spirit to show how God writes His law on our hearts applies to your life today.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Jeremiah Chapter 43 about?

Jeremiah 43 contains 13 verses. It opens with "And it came to pass, that when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking to the people all the words of the Lord their God,…" and closes with "And he shall break the statues of the house of the sun, that are in the land of Egypt; and the temples of the gods of…". The book as a whole is prophetic oracles, biography, and laments.

What is a key verse in Jeremiah 43?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "And it came to pass, that when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking to the people all the words of the Lord their God, for which the Lord their God had sent him to them, all these…" It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Jeremiah Chapter 43?

This chapter mentions Jeremiah, Baruch, Nebuchadnezzar, Pharaoh.

Who wrote Jeremiah and when?

The prophet Jeremiah, with his scribe Baruch. Jeremiah's ministry about 627-580 BC.

Related Chapters

2 Kings 23Shares people and themes with this chapter2 Chronicles 36Shares people and themes with this chapterEzra 1Shares people and themes with this chapter

Prayers Related to This Chapter

🙏Prayer for the Family🙏Novena to the Holy Family🙏The Our Father🙏Novena to Christ the King

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