Jeremiah 13 10

Jeremiah 13:10 kjv

This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.

Jeremiah 13:10 nkjv

This evil people, who refuse to hear My words, who follow the dictates of their hearts, and walk after other gods to serve them and worship them, shall be just like this sash which is profitable for nothing.

Jeremiah 13:10 niv

These wicked people, who refuse to listen to my words, who follow the stubbornness of their hearts and go after other gods to serve and worship them, will be like this belt?completely useless!

Jeremiah 13:10 esv

This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who stubbornly follow their own heart and have gone after other gods to serve them and worship them, shall be like this loincloth, which is good for nothing.

Jeremiah 13:10 nlt

These wicked people refuse to listen to me. They stubbornly follow their own desires and worship other gods. Therefore, they will become like this loincloth ? good for nothing!

Jeremiah 13 verses

Jeremiah 13 10 Meaning

Jeremiah 13:10 proclaims God's verdict upon Judah, His chosen people. Because of their inherent moral depravity, their persistent rejection of His divine word, their willful pursuit of their own rebellious desires, and their devoted worship of idols, they have rendered themselves spiritually worthless and unfit for God's intended purpose, becoming like a discarded, ruined waistband. The verse signifies the culmination of their corporate apostasy leading to divine judgment and utter degradation.

Jeremiah 13 10 Context

Jeremiah 13 is set against the backdrop of Judah's deep spiritual decline preceding the Babylonian exile. The chapter opens with the prophetic object lesson of the linen waistband (vv. 1-9). Jeremiah is instructed to buy a linen belt, wear it for a period, then hide it in a rock crevice by the Euphrates River, and finally retrieve it after many days. Upon retrieval, the belt is ruined and completely useless, soiled, and rotted. This visual aid dramatically represents Judah's spiritual state. Verse 10 explicitly explains the meaning of this object lesson, revealing why Judah has become like the ruined belt. Their stubborn rebellion and idolatry have severed their once-close relationship with God, making them spiritually good for nothing, destined for exile and humiliation.

Jeremiah 13 10 Word analysis

• This evil people:

  • "This": Refers to Judah and Jerusalem, the covenant people, currently living in profound moral degradation.
  • "evil" (Hebrew: ra'): Denotes moral wickedness, spiritual corruption, depravity, and harmfulness in God's sight. It describes a deep-seated state, not just isolated acts.
  • "people" (Hebrew: 'am): Highlights that this is a collective judgment upon the nation, God's chosen community. It underscores their unique status and consequent greater accountability.

• who refuse to hear My words,

  • "refuse" (Hebrew: me'anim): Signifies a deliberate, willful, and persistent rejection, a hardened resolve against listening or obeying. It's not ignorance, but obstinate defiance.
  • "to hear" (Hebrew: lishmo'a, from shama'): Encompasses not just audibly receiving sound, but understanding, internalizing, and obeying God's commands and instructions. It's a key term in covenant loyalty (Deut 6:4).
  • "My words" (Hebrew: devaray): Refers to God's direct revelation, His covenant demands, laws, prophetic warnings, and instructions, communicated through prophets like Jeremiah. It signifies their rejection of divine authority.

• who follow the dictates of their own heart,

  • "follow": Implies active pursuit, aligning one's life, choices, and actions with.
  • "dictates of their own heart" (Hebrew: b'shrirut libbam): Translates as "in the stubbornness/firmness of their heart." This is a profound state of inner obstinacy, self-will, and rebellion, where one trusts their own distorted judgment over God's. The "heart" (lev) in Hebrew thought is the center of intellect, will, and emotion, thus indicating a total inner resolve.

• and walk after other gods,

  • "walk after": A common biblical idiom for following, serving, and being devoted to. It denotes allegiance and lifestyle.
  • "other gods" (Hebrew: Elohim acherim): Directly points to idolatry. These are not merely foreign deities but competing spiritual loyalties that detract from exclusive worship of Yahweh, often associated with Baal and Asherah worship prevalent in Judah.

• to serve them and worship them,

  • "serve them" (Hebrew: leshar'tam): Implies active dedication, rituals, and providing for the supposed needs of these false deities.
  • "worship them" (Hebrew: ulehishtachavot lahem): Refers to acts of homage, prostration, and veneration – giving ultimate honor and submission that rightfully belongs to God alone. This solidifies their deep spiritual adultery.

• shall be like this waistband which is good for nothing.

  • "shall be like": A declarative simile, directly linking Judah's fate to the object lesson.
  • "this waistband" (Hebrew: ḥagorah hazzot): The ruined linen belt from Jer 13:1-9, symbolizing Judah's former closeness and potential usefulness to God.
  • "good for nothing" (Hebrew: lo titzlaḥ): Means "it will not profit," "it will not succeed," "it is useless," or "it is rotten/corrupted." It denotes a complete loss of function, integrity, and purpose, making it fit only to be discarded.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "This evil people... who refuse to hear My words...": Establishes their foundational character (evil) and primary action against God (stubborn rejection of His revelation), forming the basis for their downfall.
  • "...who follow the dictates of their own heart, and walk after other gods...": Presents a cause-and-effect spiral: internal rebellion (self-will) directly leads to external rebellion (idolatry), a betrayal of covenant love.
  • "...to serve them and worship them...": Emphasizes the totality and devotion of their idolatry, demonstrating a committed spiritual infidelity, not just passive error.
  • "...shall be like this waistband which is good for nothing.": Concludes with the pronouncement of judgment: a state of utter worthlessness, representing divine abandonment and spiritual ruin due to their choices.

Jeremiah 13 10 Bonus section

The profound disappointment expressed in this verse resonates deeply with God's original purpose for His people, as detailed in Jer 13:11 (the very next verse). There, the Lord states He caused Israel and Judah to cling to Him "that they might become My people, for renown, for praise, and for glory." Jeremiah 13:10 reveals the tragic outcome of their failure to fulfill this high calling; instead of bringing glory to God, their sin rendered them utterly without glory and praise, effectively stripping them of their unique identity and usefulness as a consecrated nation. This object lesson serves not only as a specific prophecy for Judah's exile but also as a timeless warning against the spiritual decay that results from refusing God's word, relying on one's own desires, and seeking satisfaction in false gods or anything other than the Creator.

Jeremiah 13 10 Commentary

Jeremiah 13:10 powerfully explains the spiritual tragedy unfolding in Judah. The nation, intended to be a people close to God and glorifying Him, has, through its persistent rebellion, become utterly useless in His eyes. Their spiritual "rotting" is attributed to a threefold pattern of sin: inherent moral evil, deliberate deafness to God's instruction, and active idolatry stemming from a self-willed heart. This isn't just about mistakes, but about a deep, pervasive stubbornness that makes them irredeemable for their original purpose. The consequence, depicted by the spoiled belt, signifies their loss of dignity, usefulness, and honor, leading directly to the foretold judgment of exile and humiliation. The verse underscores God's justice in holding His covenant people accountable when they systematically forsake their relationship with Him for other gods and self-determination.