Jeremiah 28: Hananiah Breaks the Yoke

In Jeremiah 28 a prophet named Hananiah says God will break the yoke of Babylon within two years. Jeremiah says Amen, he wishes it were true, but a prophet of peace is proven when his word comes true. Hananiah takes the wooden yoke off Jeremiah's neck and breaks it. Then God tells Jeremiah that the wooden bars will be replaced by bars of iron. Hananiah had made the people trust in a lie.

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Read Jeremiah 28

World English Bible · 17 verses

¹ That same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, in the fifth month, Hananiah the son of Azzur, the prophet, who was of Gibeon, spoke to me in Yahweh’s house, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² “Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says, ‘I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ Within two full years I will bring again into this place all the vessels of Yahweh’s house that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place and carried to Babylon.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, who went to Babylon,’ says Yahweh; ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ Then the prophet Jeremiah said to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests, and in the presence of all the people who stood in Yahweh’s house,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ even the prophet Jeremiah said, “Amen! May Yahweh do so. May Yahweh perform your words which you have prophesied, to bring again the vessels of Yahweh’s house, and all those who are captives, from Babylon to this place.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ Nevertheless listen now to this word that I speak in your ears, and in the ears of all the people:This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ The prophets who have been before me and before you of old prophesied against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, of evil, and of pestilence.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ As for the prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet happens, then the prophet will be known, that Yahweh has truly sent him.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ Then Hananiah the prophet took the bar from off the prophet Jeremiah’s neck, and broke it.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, “Yahweh says: ‘Even so I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from off the neck of all the nations within two full years.’” Then the prophet Jeremiah went his way.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² Then Yahweh’s word came to Jeremiah, after Hananiah the prophet had broken the bar from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ “Go, and tell Hananiah, saying, ‘Yahweh says, “You have broken the bars of wood, but you have made in their place bars of iron.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ For Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel says, “I have put a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they will serve him. I have also given him the animals of the field.”’”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, “Listen, Hananiah! Yahweh has not sent you, but you make this people trust in a lie.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ Therefore Yahweh says, ‘Behold, I will send you away from off the surface of the earth. This year you will die, because you have spoken rebellion against Yahweh.’”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

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Jeremiah 28 · Preschool

God's True Word

Name Date

Color Jeremiah and the broken wooden yoke. God's word is always true!

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

As for the prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet happens, then the prophet will be known, that Yahweh has truly sent him.”

Jeremiah 28:9 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Then explain that a man named Hananiah said things God did not say. Jeremiah waited for God. God's word always comes true. Talk about why it matters to tell the truth.

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Jeremiah 28 · Grade 4

Bars of Iron

Name Date

Read and Think

In the same year, the prophet Hananiah confronted Jeremiah in the temple in front of the priests and the people. He announced in God's name that the yoke of Babylon was broken. Within two full years the temple vessels, King Jeconiah, and the captives would return.

Jeremiah's response was humble and wise. Amen! May Yahweh do so. He did not want his people to suffer. But he pointed out that earlier prophets had usually warned of war and trouble. As for the prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet happens, then the prophet will be known, that Yahweh has truly sent him.

Hananiah then broke the wooden yoke from Jeremiah's neck. Jeremiah simply went his way. Later God sent him back. You have broken the bars of wood, but you have made in their place bars of iron. Rejecting God's word only made the burden heavier. Jeremiah told Hananiah that God had not sent him, and that he would die that year. Hananiah died in the seventh month.

Show What You Know

What did Hananiah announce?
Why did Jeremiah say Amen?
How is a prophet of peace proven true?
What did the bars of iron show?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

KingGodJeremiahprophetHananiah

In the same year, the prophet confronted Jeremiah in the temple in front of the priests and the people.
Within two full years the temple vessels, Jeconiah, and the captives would return.
As for the who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet happens, then the prophet will be known, that Yahweh has truly sent him.
simply went his way.
Later sent him back.

Think About It

Jeremiah wished Hananiah was right. How can someone hope for good things and still accept hard truth?
Why might people prefer a message of quick peace?

Memory Verse

As for the prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet happens, then the prophet will be known, that Yahweh has truly sent him.”

Jeremiah 28:9 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for always telling the truth. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Why do people like easy messages?
How can we test what we hear?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Jeremiah 28 · Grade 5

True and False Prophecy

Name Date

Read and Think

Jeremiah 28 stages a public clash between two prophets in the temple. Hananiah son of Azzur used the same formula Jeremiah used. Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. He promised that within two years the temple vessels, Jeconiah, and the exiles would return. To the crowd, both men sounded like prophets.

Jeremiah answered with grace and a test. Amen! May Yahweh do so. He shared the hope but not the claim. He noted that true prophets of old had often spoken of war, evil, and pestilence against nations. As for the prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet happens, then the prophet will be known, that Yahweh has truly sent him. This applied Deuteronomy 18, where a prophet is tested by whether his word comes true.

Hananiah responded with a dramatic act, breaking the yoke from Jeremiah's neck. Jeremiah did not argue but went his way, waiting for God's word. When it came, it was stronger. You have broken the bars of wood, but you have made in their place bars of iron. Jeremiah then told Hananiah that God had not sent him, but you make this people trust in a lie. Jeremiah announced that Hananiah would die that year for teaching rebellion against God. The chapter closes by noting that Hananiah died in the seventh month, two months later.

Show What You Know

Why was the clash confusing to the crowd?
What test from Deuteronomy 18 did Jeremiah apply?
How did Jeremiah respond when Hananiah broke the yoke?
What showed Jeremiah's word was true?

Crossword

Across

____ spoke in the presence of all the people.

Down

That they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of ____.
Even the prophet ____ said.
When the word of the ____ happens.
That they may serve Nebuchadnezzar ____ of Babylon.

Think About It

Jeremiah waited for God before answering. What can we learn from his patience?
How can people test messages that claim to come from God?

Memory Verse

As for the prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet happens, then the prophet will be known, that Yahweh has truly sent him.”

Jeremiah 28:9 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for always telling the truth. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Why does truth matter?
How can you be patient like Jeremiah?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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Jeremiah 28: Hananiah Breaks the Yoke

Read Jeremiah 28

Worksheets

God's True Word

Prayer

Take It Home

True or False

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

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Wood and Iron

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True Words

Prayer

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A Wooden Yoke Breaks

Read the Story

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Word Search

Prayer

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A Prophet Who Was Not Sent

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Answer the Questions

True Words

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Prayer

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Bars of Iron

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

True and False Prophecy

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

More print options