What Does Jeremiah 42:2 Mean in the King James?
And 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:)
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The Hebrew word for “supplication” grows from the root for favor, so the plea itself names the gracious reception it seeks.
THE MEANING
When what remains is only a few, the verse names that smallness plainly and says the remnant is still beheld. Need appears here as a plea carried through another’s intercession before the LORD.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie that being reduced to a remnant means becoming unseen is undone by the words, “thine eyes do behold us.”
THE ROOT
תְּחִנָּתֵנוּ
teḥinnātenu
GROWS FROM
חנן
ḥanan
to show favor; to be gracious
The Hebrew word behind “supplication” comes from חנן (ḥanan, “to show favor; to be gracious”), so favor is carried inside the plea. They ask for a gracious reception before the prophet as he prays for them before the LORD.
ALSO GROWS
chen: favor
חֵן
This branch makes clear the kind of reception sought in the supplication.
ḥannun: gracious
חַנּוּן
This describes the quality of the favor the plea seeks.
taḥanun: supplication; plea for favor
תַּחֲנוּן
This related word makes explicit the same connection between pleading and favor.
שְׁאֵרִית
she’erit
GROWS FROM
שאר
sha’ar
to remain; to be left
“remnant / are left” in this verse is she’erit. The verse pairs שְׁאֵרִית (she’erit, “remnant”) with נִשְׁאַרְנוּ (nish’arnu, “we are left”), both from שאר (sha’ar, “to remain”). English gives them separate labels, while Hebrew repeats one seed: the remnant is precisely those who remain.
ALSO GROWS
she’ar: remainder; what is left
שְׁאָר
It names what remains, the same condition the speakers describe as being left few.
hish’ir: to leave behind; to preserve
הִשְׁאִיר
This related form shows the root can name the act by which something remains.
THE PATTERN
A vulnerable community names what remains and places its need before God through intercession.
Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.THE THREAD
And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.Jeremiah’s “supplication” is תְּחִנָּה (teḥinnah, “plea for favor”), from חנן (ḥanan, “to show favor; to be gracious”). Exodus uses that same root in “will be gracious,” joining the plea to the favor it seeks.
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