Is this the most evil verse in the Bible?

Question

Jeremiah 42:6 Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God.

How can it be good to do evil? How can it be good to obey an evil command?

Sorry, cherry vala, but this forum is called Yahoo Answers. One person, in this case me, asks a question. Other people attempt to answer. You have failed to answer. At no point have I taken any verse out of context. I asked a question. That's all. Your inability to provide any substantive defense indicates that this verse very well may be an evil one.

Martin S: And yet the text does not say "We will go to Egypt or we will stay home, whatever you say God wants." The text clearly says good and evil.

Heron: That's a good theory, but it is hard to reconcile that with the end of the verse. The people are clearly saying they will do either good or evil so that it will go well with them. They are not saying they will do good whether it brings them good fortune or bad.

matt s: See what I addressed to Heron. It makes no sense to say "We will adopt a course of action disadvantageous to us so that it will go well for us."

rnwinter2000: The KJV

wku_cutie06: OK.


Jeremiah 42

1Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest, came near,

2And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:)

3That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do.

4Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard you; behold, I will pray unto the LORD your God according to your words; and it shall come to pass, that whatsoever thing the LORD shall answer you, I will declare it unto you; I will keep nothing back from you.

5Then they said to Jeremiah, The LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us.

wku_cutie06: Now that I have done the work of digging out the context, will you provide a serious answer? Or is all you have is insults?

Answer 1

yeah, that doesn't sound good, I agree.

But perhaps it means that they will follow God whether it brings bad things on themselves or not. For example, let us say that you have a business and it is going under. You could cheat and be dishonest and keep the business up and running, and prosper. But that would not be to obey the Lord. But if you say, "I refuse to cheat. I will obey God, even though it brings bad fortune upon me - even if I lose my business."

That's one way that I took the verse. I'd have to read it in context to see if that could work in context.

Answer 2

The context of that passage is that the Jews who are left in Jerusalem after the Babylonian take over are responding to the prophet Jeremiah who is going to inquire from God for them whether or not they should take off to Egypt. It has nothing to do with God telling them to do evil.

Answer 3

Not sure what translation your using, but they are saying favorable or unfavorable....and it is not in reference to God, rather they are saying that it does not matter how the people perceive what God tells them, they intend to do it regardless.

There are many things that God requires of us that; to our human sensibilities seem bad...such as "if a man strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also". Does God mean for you to really stand there and take it...and not only take it...but offer the chance for them to do it again? Most certianly, yes. But that is taken to the extreme...specifically to make a point that He expects us to act differently than the people of the world.

It is possible that people can perceive things God tells them as evil, but that comes from our unwillingness to realize that we were created by Him, and He gets to make decisions about us and our lives that we might not like.

But as your scripture points out, they still had the right attitude. No matter how God's command came across to them, the were going to do it.

Answer 4

did you read the WHOLE chapter in jeremiah? this is a hard verse, but it is not evil! It is telling us that God will show us the way.

An evil command might be like Go to join the milita in the Revolutionary War. That would be considered evil to the British, but Good to the people in America!

Answer 5

I see which you published incredibly some verses right here. the only concern is to comprehend a verse you incredibly ought to study the two until now and the two after to place it in context. notice: I did study the verses you pronounced. And as I pronounced in case you may study until now and after it would practice you how to comprehend. in case you do no longer opt to or refuse to objective to comprehend what's written why do you ask questions like this?

Answer 6

Maybe saying this way sounds better.
Whether it is favorable or unfavorable, we will obey the LORD our God, to whom we are sending you, so that it will go well with us, for we will obey the LORD our God."

Answer 7

Give this person a cigar! Congratulations! You have found one of the hypocacies in the bible. Also don't forget all the innocent children killed by the flood, in sodom and gamorrah, and other tribulations brought about by "god".

Answer 8

Is it fun taking things out of context because you don't know what you're talking about?
Try reading more than one verse, and things might make more sense.

Answer 9

Bible is corrupted. Don't believe every word in it. I think that verse is very clear and not out of context.

Answer 10

I won't say it was the worst.
Because according to scripture God, not Satan, creates evil.

“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.” (Isaiah 45:7)

"I make peace AND CREATE EVIL.