Book of Jeremiah - Chapter 42 - Verse 20

The meaning of this verse is that the people were being deceptive in their request for the prophet to pray to God on their behalf. They claimed they would follow whatever God instructed through the prophet, but their hearts were not truly sincere in this promise. The Israelites were not seeking genuine guidance from God; instead, they were trying to manipulate the situation to appear righteous while still intending to do as they pleased. This verse serves as a reminder that God sees beyond our words and into our hearts. It teaches us the importance of genuine repentance and obedience to God's will rather than simply going through the motions to appear righteous. It highlights the importance of sincerity and integrity in our relationship with God, showing that true faith and obedience come from a genuine desire to follow His will.

In this verse, the term "dissembled" refers to the act of deceitfully pretending or concealing one's true intentions. The Israelites had asked Jeremiah to pray to the Lord on their behalf, promising to obey whatever instructions they received. However, their request was not genuine, as they did not intend to follow God's commands. This demonstrates the danger of pretending to seek God's guidance while harboring disobedient hearts. The word "dissembled" conveys the idea of hypocrisy and insincerity in seeking God's will. It serves as a reminder to approach God with honesty and humility, truly seeking His guidance and committing to following His word. Through a theological interpretation, we can understand the importance of genuine repentance and obedience in our relationship with God, rather than mere lip service or deceptive intentions.