Jeremiah 10 1

Jeremiah 10:1 kjv

Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:

Jeremiah 10:1 nkjv

Hear the word which the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel.

Jeremiah 10:1 niv

Hear what the LORD says to you, people of Israel.

Jeremiah 10:1 esv

Hear the word that the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel.

Jeremiah 10:1 nlt

Hear the word that the LORD speaks to you, O Israel!

Jeremiah 10 1 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Deu 4:1"Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching..."God's command to listen to His laws.
Deu 5:1"Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the rules that I declare in your hearing..."Call to obey the covenant law.
Deu 6:3-4"Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them... Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one."The Shema, central command to listen and worship.
Isa 1:10"Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God..."Prophetic call to listen to God's message.
Isa 28:14"Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers, who rule this people..."Call to those in power to hear God's judgment.
Isa 43:8"Bring out the people who are blind, yet have eyes—who are deaf, yet have ears!"Reproach for not hearing despite having ears.
Psa 33:9"For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm."Power and effectiveness of God's word.
Psa 119:105"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."Guidance and truth in God's word.
Amo 3:1"Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O people of Israel..."Similar prophetic introduction to a divine message.
Mic 1:2"Hear, you peoples, all of you; pay attention, O earth, and all that is in it..."Broad call to listen to God's testimony.
Eze 2:4"The people also are impudent and stubborn. I send you to them, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD.'"Israel's resistance to hearing God's word.
Zec 1:4"Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets cried out..."Warning against rejecting prophetic word.
Mt 13:9"He who has ears, let him hear."Jesus' call to understand His teachings.
Lk 11:28"But he said, 'Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!'"Blessing associated with hearing and obeying.
Jn 5:24"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life..."Hearing Christ's word brings salvation.
Act 2:22"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth..."Peter addressing Israel, urging them to listen.
Heb 4:12"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword..."Dynamic and penetrating nature of God's word.
Jas 1:22"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."Emphasizes acting upon what is heard.
Rev 1:3"Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear..."Blessing for hearing prophetic word.
Ex 19:5"Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant..."Early covenant call for obedience to God's voice.
1 Sam 15:22"Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice..."Importance of obedience over ritual.
Prov 1:33"But whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster."Wisdom's call to listen and find security.
Isa 55:3"Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live..."Invitation to listen for spiritual life.

Jeremiah 10 verses

Jeremiah 10 1 Meaning

Jeremiah 10:1 serves as a direct, imperative call to the people of Israel to actively listen and pay close attention to the message originating directly from Yahweh, the covenant God. It is a foundational command, establishing the divine authority and significance of the following prophecy. The verse sets the stage for a strong distinction between the living God and the lifeless idols.

Jeremiah 10 1 Context

Jeremiah 10:1 initiates a crucial segment of Jeremiah's prophecy that explicitly contrasts the living God (Yahweh) with the powerless idols worshiped by surrounding nations and increasingly, by Judah. This chapter directly follows pronouncements of impending judgment and the plea for repentance. Historically, Judah, the Southern Kingdom, was under the strong influence of pagan practices, leading them away from the covenant with Yahweh. Jeremiah prophesied in a period marked by political instability and moral decline, leading up to the Babylonian exile. The "house of Israel" here largely refers to Judah at the time, though it encompasses the collective identity of God's chosen people, including those from the Northern Kingdom already exiled, whose past failures serve as a warning. This opening verse is a foundational command, challenging the people to return to an active, obedient listening of God's word before detailing the futility of idol worship.

Jeremiah 10 1 Word analysis

  • Hear (שְׁמַע - Shema): More than merely perceiving sound, this Hebrew verb implies attentive listening, understanding, and, crucially, obedience. It is a fundamental covenant command, meaning to internalize and act upon.

  • the word (דָּבָר - dabar): Refers not just to a spoken utterance, but a substantive, effective pronouncement or message. In the Bible, God's "dabar" carries inherent power, often linked to His creative and redemptive actions. It is distinct from empty words.

  • that the LORD (יְהוָה - Yahweh) speaks: Emphasizes divine origin and ultimate authority. Yahweh is the personal, covenant name of God, revealing His self-existent and faithful nature. The message is not human wisdom but direct divine communication.

  • to you: Direct address, making the message personal and unavoidable for the audience.

  • O house of Israel: Specifies the collective addressee. "House" signifies the entire people, a family, or a nation, encompassing both their corporate identity and individual responsibility. While the Northern Kingdom ("Israel") was long exiled, Jeremiah's prophecy speaks to the remnant in Judah and the entire spiritual inheritance of the twelve tribes. It reminds them of their covenant relationship.

  • "Hear the word": This phrase is a powerful imperative demanding active and responsive listening, differentiating God's vital, authoritative message from idle chatter or human pronouncements. It's an injunction to pay ultimate heed.

  • "the LORD speaks to you": This clause highlights the immediate, direct, and personal nature of divine communication. God Himself is addressing His people, emphasizing His living presence and active engagement in their lives, in contrast to silent idols.

  • "O house of Israel": This collective address underlines their corporate responsibility and covenant identity. It's a call to the entire nation, reminding them of their unique relationship with Yahweh and the historical covenant obligations.

Jeremiah 10 1 Bonus section

The phrase "Hear the word that the LORD speaks" is a standard prophetic formula, used frequently across prophetic books (e.g., Isa 1:10, Eze 2:4, Amos 3:1). Its consistent use underscores the continuity of God's message and the consistent need for His people to pay attention. This opening verse also implicitly highlights Jeremiah's role as a prophet, acting as the divinely appointed mouthpiece for Yahweh. He is not speaking his own words but faithfully transmitting the dabar of God. This divine commissioning legitimizes his otherwise unpopular and challenging message to a stubborn people. The verse emphasizes that divine revelation is not something hidden or mystical, but a clear, audible, and comprehensible message delivered directly to His chosen people, requiring their intentional reception.

Jeremiah 10 1 Commentary

Jeremiah 10:1 acts as a crucial preamble, arresting the attention of the "house of Israel" before delivering a profound polemic against idolatry. It immediately establishes God's unique authority as the speaker, making His "word" paramount. The command "Hear" (Shema) is not a polite invitation but a fundamental summons to listen, understand, and obey the covenant Lord. This instruction directly counters the prevalent sin of the era: neglecting God's instructions while pursuing foreign deities. By demanding a hearing for Yahweh's word, Jeremiah implicitly challenges the validity and effectiveness of any other "word" or belief system, preparing the way for the vivid contrast between the living God and lifeless idols in the verses that follow. The power and reality of God are intrinsically linked to His spoken word, which unlike human speech, possesses creative and redemptive efficacy.