8 The prophets that have been before me and before thee of old prophesied both against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of evil, and of pestilence.
8 From early times the prophets who preceded you and me have prophesied war, disaster and plague against many countries and great kingdoms.
8 The prophets who preceded you and me from ancient times prophesied war, famine, and pestilence against many countries and great kingdoms.
8 The old prophets, the ones before our time, preached judgment against many countries and kingdoms, warning of war and disaster and plague.
8 The prophets who have been before me and before you of old prophesied against many countries and great kingdoms--of war and disaster and pestilence.
8 The ancient prophets who preceded you and me spoke against many nations, always warning of war, disaster, and disease.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 28:8
Commentary on Jeremiah 28:1-9
(Read Jeremiah 28:1-9)
Hananiah spoke a false prophecy. Here is not a word of good counsel urging the Jews to repent and return to God. He promises temporal mercies, in God's name, but makes no mention of the spiritual mercies which God always promised with earthly blessings. This was not the first time Jeremiah had prayed for the people, though he prophesied against them. He appeals to the event, to prove Hananiah's falsehood. The prophet who spake only of peace and prosperity, without adding that they must not by wilful sin stop God's favours, will be proved a false prophet. Those who do not declare the alarming as well as the encouraging parts of God's word, and call men to repentance, and faith, and holiness, tread in the steps of the false prophets. The gospel of Christ encourages men to do works meet for repentance, but gives no encouragement to continue in sin.