Jeremiah 11 8

Jeremiah 11:8 kjv

Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do: but they did them not.

Jeremiah 11:8 nkjv

Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but everyone followed the dictates of his evil heart; therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but which they have not done.' "

Jeremiah 11:8 niv

But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubbornness of their evil hearts. So I brought on them all the curses of the covenant I had commanded them to follow but that they did not keep.'?"

Jeremiah 11:8 esv

Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but everyone walked in the stubbornness of his evil heart. Therefore I brought upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they did not."

Jeremiah 11:8 nlt

but your ancestors did not listen or even pay attention. Instead, they stubbornly followed their own evil desires. And because they refused to obey, I brought upon them all the curses described in this covenant.'"

Jeremiah 11 verses

Jeremiah 11 8 Meaning

The Lord sought to bring upon Judah disaster, as He had planned for them, because they had disregarded His words and followed their own wicked inclinations. Their actions had effectively rendered His spoken commands ineffective from their perspective.

Jeremiah 11 8 Context

Jeremiah 11:1-8 describes God's pronouncement of judgment against the people of Judah, and specifically their leadership, for breaking the covenant. Jeremiah is commanded by God to proclaim the curses written in the Law that will come upon them for their disobedience. The people and their leaders had turned away from the Lord, practicing idolatry and living unrighteously. This verse directly states the reason for the impending disaster: their refusal to listen to and obey God's words. The historical context is the period leading up to the Babylonian exile, a time when Judah's spiritual and moral state had significantly deteriorated despite Jeremiah's warnings.

Jeremiah 11 8 Word analysis

• "The Lord" (YHWH): Refers to the covenant-keeping God of Israel, emphasizing His authority and right to judge.
• "sought" (בִּקֵּשׁ - biqqēš): Implies active intention and purpose; God planned to bring disaster.
• "to bring" (לָתֵת - latēt): To give, to cause to happen; signifies a deliberate action.
• "disaster" (רָעָה - rā‘āh): Evil, calamity, misfortune; the outcome of their disobedience.
• "upon them": Directed specifically at the people of Judah.
• "as he had purposed" (כַּאֲשֶׁר זָמַם - ka’ăšer zamam): As He planned or intended. This highlights the sovereign nature of God's judgment, which was not a spontaneous reaction but a preordained consequence of their actions.
• "for they had turned aside" (כִּי מָאֲסוּ - kî mā’ĕsū): For they refused, rejected, despised. This verb signifies a willful turning away and rejection of something precious or required. It speaks to a conscious act of rebellion against God.
• "from following me" (מִימִי - mimî): From Me, away from Me. This phrase signifies abandoning allegiance and fellowship with God.
• "but they did not obey" (וְלֹא שָׁמְעוּ - wĕlo’ šām‘ū): And they did not listen/hearken/obey. This reiterates their defiance, a refusal to hear and act upon God's commands. "Listen" (šām‘a) in Hebrew often carries the implication of obedience.
• "words" (דְּבָרַי - dĕbāray): God's commands, pronouncements, and promises, as recorded in the Law and through His prophets.
• "my words" (דְּבָרַי - dĕbāray): Specifically the communication from God to them.
• "but they did not obey": This repetition reinforces the core issue – willful disregard for God's spoken will.

Words-group analysis:

• "sought to bring upon them disaster, as he had purposed": This phrase establishes the sovereign and planned nature of God's judgment. It is not arbitrary but a direct consequence of covenant violation, woven into His dealings with His people.
• "for they had turned aside from following me, but they did not obey my words": This group explains the causality. Their active rejection and refusal to listen to God's communication (His covenant obligations, prophetic warnings) were the direct reasons for His judgmental purpose being executed.

Jeremiah 11 8 Bonus Section

The concept of God "purposing" judgment underscores that His justice is not reactive in the sense of being surprised by sin, but rather it is a principled response inherent to His character and the covenant. His plans for them, as detailed in Leviticus 28, included severe consequences for breaking the covenant. Jeremiah was an instrument revealing these predetermined outcomes, which were initiated by the people's unfaithfulness, not by a change of mind in God concerning His justice. The deliberate choice to disregard God’s voice is paramount; it disconnects them from the source of blessing and places them under the consequence of sin.

Jeremiah 11 8 Commentary

Jeremiah 11:8 unequivocally states that God's intention to bring disaster upon Judah was a direct response to their persistent disobedience and rejection of His words. This verse highlights the reciprocal relationship in the covenant: obedience leads to blessing, while disobedience incurs judgment. God’s “purposing” disaster is not arbitrary; it is the inevitable outcome of Judah’s choice to abandon Him. Their refusal to "obey" (hear and do) God's "words" signifies a profound spiritual rebellion, effectively nullifying the relationship that depended on faithfulness. This demonstrates that God's actions are always in perfect alignment with His perfect justice and holiness, reacting to human sin.