The interpretation timeline

Jer 42:2

How this passage has been read — the sources, oldest to newest.

From the early Church Fathers to now.

Jer 42:2 · Douay-Rheims

“And they said to Jeremias the prophet: Let our supplication fall before thee: and pray thou for us to the Lord thy God for all this remnant, for we are left but a few of many, as thy eyes do behold us.”

Patristic before A.D. 750

457

A.D.

Theodoret of Cyrus Patristic

c. A.D. 393–457

“Their words are full of piety but do not agree with their actions. When ten days had passed, the prophet obtained his reply. But I think that the delay of the response was for the benefit of those who had made the request, so that they might know how God barely received the supplication of the prophet. Accordingly, the prophet says that God had ordered for them to stay in that land. He says, "I will deem you worthy of all care."”

Source

Modern · 1953 →

The in-app commentary runs from the Fathers to the early-modern record, then stops — that's where the public-domain sources end, not where the reading does. For the modern reading, follow the sources directly.