Jeremiah 42:14
New International Version
and if you say, ‘No, we will go and live in Egypt, where we will not see war or hear the trumpet or be hungry for bread,’

New Living Translation
instead, we will go to Egypt where we will be free from war, the call to arms, and hunger,’

English Standard Version
and saying, ‘No, we will go to the land of Egypt, where we shall not see war or hear the sound of the trumpet or be hungry for bread, and we will dwell there,’

Berean Standard Bible
and if you say, ‘No, but we will go to the land of Egypt and live there, where we will not see war or hear the sound of the ram’s horn or hunger for bread,’

King James Bible
Saying, No; but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor have hunger of bread; and there will we dwell:

New King James Version
saying, ‘No, but we will go to the land of Egypt where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor be hungry for bread, and there we will dwell’—

New American Standard Bible
saying, “No, but we will go to the land of Egypt, where we will not see war, or hear the sound of a trumpet, or hunger for bread, and we will stay there”;

NASB 1995
saying, “No, but we will go to the land of Egypt, where we will not see war or hear the sound of a trumpet or hunger for bread, and we will stay there";

NASB 1977
saying, “No, but we will go to the land of Egypt, where we shall not see war or hear the sound of a trumpet or hunger for bread, and we will stay there”;

Legacy Standard Bible
saying, “No, but we will go to the land of Egypt, where we will not see war or hear the sound of a trumpet or hunger for bread, and we will stay there,”

Amplified Bible
saying, “No, but we will go to the land of Egypt, where we will not see war or hear the sound of the [warrior’s] trumpet or hunger for bread, and we will stay there,”

Christian Standard Bible
and if you say, ‘No, instead we’ll go to the land of Egypt where we will not see war or hear the sound of the ram’s horn or hunger for food, and we’ll live there,’

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and if you say, ‘No, instead we’ll go to the land of Egypt where we will not see war or hear the sound of the ram’s horn or hunger for food, and we’ll live there,’

American Standard Version
saying, No; but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor have hunger of bread; and there will we dwell:

Contemporary English Version
We are going to Egypt, where there is plenty of food and no danger of war."

English Revised Version
saying, No; but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor have hunger of bread; and there will we dwell:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then you say, 'We'll go to Egypt, where we won't have to see war, hear the sound of a ram's horn, or be hungry. We'll stay there.'

International Standard Version
and you also say, "No, but we will go to the land of Egypt where we won't see war or hear the sound of the trumpet or hunger for bread, and there we will stay,"

Majority Standard Bible
and if you say, ‘No, but we will go to the land of Egypt and live there, where we will not see war or hear the sound of the ram’s horn or hunger for bread,’

NET Bible
You must not say, 'No, we will not stay. Instead we will go and live in the land of Egypt where we will not face war, or hear the enemy's trumpet calls, or starve for lack of food.'

New Heart English Bible
saying, 'No; but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor have hunger of bread; and there will we dwell':

Webster's Bible Translation
Saying, No; but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor hunger for bread; and there will we dwell:

World English Bible
saying, “No, but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we will see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor have hunger of bread; and there we will dwell;”’
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
saying, No; but we enter the land of Egypt, that we see no war, and do not hear the sound of a horn, and are not hungry for bread; and we dwell there—

Young's Literal Translation
saying, No; but the land of Egypt we enter, that we see no war, and the sound of a trumpet do not hear, and for bread be not hungry; and there do we dwell.

Smith's Literal Translation
Saying, No; for we will go to the land of Egypt where we shall not see war, and we shall not hear the voice of the trumpet, and for bread we shall not hunger: and there will we dwell.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Saying: No, but we will go into the land of Egypt: where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor suffer hunger: and there we will dwell.

Catholic Public Domain Version
saying: ‘Never! Instead, we will travel to the land of Egypt, where we will not see war, and we will not hear the blast of the trumpet, and we will not endure famine. And there we shall live.’

New American Bible
and saying, “No, we will go to the land of Egypt, where we will not see war, nor hear the trumpet alarm, nor hunger for bread. There we will live!”

New Revised Standard Version
and saying, ‘No, we will go to the land of Egypt, where we shall not see war, or hear the sound of the trumpet, or be hungry for bread, and there we will stay,’
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Saying, Not so; but we will go into the land of Egypt that we may not see war nor hear the sound of the trumpet nor have hunger for bread; and there will we dwell;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And you have said, ‘Not so! We shall enter the land of Egypt that we will not see war and the sound of the trumpet we will not hear, and we will not hunger for bread, and there we will dwell!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
saying: No; but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the horn, nor have hunger of bread; and there will we abide;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
for wee will go into the land of Egypt, and we shall see no war, and shall not hear the sound of a trumpet, and we shall not hunger for bread; and there we will dwell:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Warning Against Going to Egypt
13But if you say, ‘We will not stay in this land,’ and you thus disobey the voice of the LORD your God, 14and if you say, ‘No, but we will go to the land of Egypt and live there, where we will not see war or hear the sound of the ram’s horn or hunger for bread,’ 15then hear the word of the LORD, O remnant of Judah! This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you are determined to go to Egypt and reside there,…

Cross References
Isaiah 30:1-3
“Woe to the rebellious children,” declares the LORD, “to those who carry out a plan that is not Mine, who form an alliance, but against My will, heaping up sin upon sin. / They set out to go down to Egypt without asking My advice, to seek shelter under Pharaoh’s protection and take refuge in Egypt’s shade. / But Pharaoh’s protection will become your shame, and the refuge of Egypt’s shade your disgrace.

Isaiah 31:1
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in their abundance of chariots and in their multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD.

Ezekiel 29:6-7
Then all the people of Egypt will know that I am the LORD. For you were only a staff of reeds to the house of Israel. / When Israel took hold of you with their hands, you splintered, tearing all their shoulders; when they leaned on you, you broke, and their backs were wrenched.

Deuteronomy 17:16
But the king must not acquire many horses for himself or send the people back to Egypt to acquire more horses, for the LORD has said, ‘You are never to go back that way again.’

Hosea 7:11
So Ephraim has become like a silly, senseless dove—calling out to Egypt, then turning to Assyria.

2 Kings 18:21
Look now, you are trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff that will pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.

Isaiah 36:6
Look now, you are trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff that will pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.

Ezekiel 17:15
But this king rebelled against Babylon by sending his envoys to Egypt to ask for horses and a large army. Will he flourish? Will the one who does such things escape? Can he break a covenant and yet escape?’

Numbers 14:3-4
Why is the LORD bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” / So they said to one another, “Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt.”

Exodus 16:3
“If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt!” they said. “There we sat by pots of meat and ate our fill of bread, but you have brought us into this desert to starve this whole assembly to death!”

Acts 7:39
But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.

Matthew 2:13-15
When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.” / So he got up, took the Child and His mother by night, and withdrew to Egypt, / where he stayed until the death of Herod. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

Revelation 11:8
Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city—figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where their Lord was also crucified.

Acts 2:10
Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome,

Acts 18:24
Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, well versed in the Scriptures.


Treasury of Scripture

Saying, No; but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor have hunger of bread; and there will we dwell:

we will go.

Jeremiah 41:17
And they departed, and dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is by Bethlehem, to go to enter into Egypt,

Jeremiah 43:7
So they came into the land of Egypt: for they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: thus came they even to Tahpanhes.

Deuteronomy 29:19
And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:

nor hear.

Jeremiah 4:19,21
My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war…

Exodus 16:3
And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.

Exodus 17:3
And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?

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Jeremiah 42
1. Johanan desires Jeremiah to enquire of God, promising obedience to his will.
7. Jeremiah assures him of safety in Judea;
13. and destruction in Egypt.
19. He reproves their hypocrisy.














No, we will go to the land of Egypt
This phrase reflects a direct contradiction to God's guidance through the prophet Jeremiah. The Hebrew root for "Egypt" is "Mitzrayim," which historically and scripturally represents a place of bondage and reliance on human strength rather than divine provision. Egypt, in the biblical narrative, is often symbolic of a return to old ways and a lack of trust in God's promises. The Israelites' desire to return to Egypt signifies a spiritual regression and a lack of faith in God's ability to protect and provide for them in their own land.

where we will not see war
The desire to avoid war is understandable, yet it reveals a deeper issue of trust. The Hebrew word for "war" is "milchamah," which not only refers to physical battles but also spiritual struggles. The Israelites' wish to escape war by fleeing to Egypt shows a lack of faith in God's power to deliver them from their enemies. Historically, Egypt was seen as a powerful nation, but reliance on its strength rather than God's protection is a recurring theme of misplaced trust.

or hear the sound of the trumpet
The "sound of the trumpet" in Hebrew, "shofar," is often associated with calls to battle or significant religious events. It symbolizes alertness and readiness for action. By seeking to avoid the sound of the trumpet, the Israelites are expressing a desire to escape the responsibilities and challenges that come with being God's chosen people. This avoidance reflects a spiritual lethargy and a preference for comfort over obedience.

or hunger for bread
The fear of "hunger for bread" highlights a concern for physical sustenance. In Hebrew, "bread" is "lechem," a staple of life and a symbol of God's provision. The Israelites' fear of hunger indicates a lack of trust in God's promise to provide for their needs. Historically, God had provided manna in the wilderness, demonstrating His ability to sustain them. Their desire to seek sustenance in Egypt shows a preference for human solutions over divine provision.

and there we will stay
The decision to "stay" in Egypt signifies a finality and a turning away from God's plan. The Hebrew word "yashab" means to dwell or settle, indicating a long-term commitment. This choice represents a rejection of the land God promised to their ancestors and a refusal to trust in His future plans for them. It is a poignant reminder of the consequences of choosing comfort and security over faith and obedience.

(14) No; but we will go into the land of Egypt.--The thoughts that were in the hearts of the applicants are stated with dramatic vividness. Egypt, then under Apries (the Pharaoh-hophra of Jeremiah 44:30), seemed to them so safe and peaceful. As of old, it was still the granary of the East, and its plenteous harvests formed a bright contrast to the famine which they had experienced during the invasion of the Chaldaeans. Jeremiah, however, has simply to reject the plan, as from first to last he had resisted altogether the thought of an Egyptian alliance (Jeremiah 2:36; Jeremiah 37:7): there would be no safety nor peace nor plenty found in acting on it. Ezekiel's prophecies as to Egypt and her king were in this respect in harmony with Jeremiah's (Ezekiel 17:11-18; Ezekiel 29-32), and were, as nearly as possible, contemporary with them.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
and if you say,
לֵאמֹ֗ר (lê·mōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘No,
לֹ֚א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

but
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

we will go
נָב֔וֹא (nā·ḇō·w)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to the land
אֶ֤רֶץ (’e·reṣ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 776: Earth, land

of Egypt
מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ (miṣ·ra·yim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4714: Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa

and live
נֵשֵֽׁב׃ (nê·šêḇ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

there,
וְשָׁ֥ם (wə·šām)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither

where
אֲשֶׁ֤ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

we will not
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

see
נִרְאֶה֙ (nir·’eh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 7200: To see

war,
מִלְחָמָ֔ה (mil·ḥā·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4421: A battle, war

or hear
נִשְׁמָ֑ע (niš·mā‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

the sound
וְק֥וֹל (wə·qō·wl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6963: A voice, sound

of the trumpet,
שׁוֹפָ֖ר (šō·w·p̄ār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7782: A cornet, curved horn

or hunger
נִרְעָ֖ב (nir·‘āḇ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 7456: To be hungry

for food,’
וְלַלֶּ֥חֶם (wə·lal·le·ḥem)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 42:14 Saying No (Jer.)
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