Jeremiah 13 11

Jeremiah 13:11 kjv

For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the LORD; that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear.

Jeremiah 13:11 nkjv

For as the sash clings to the waist of a man, so I have caused the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah to cling to Me,' says the LORD, 'that they may become My people, for renown, for praise, and for glory; but they would not hear.'

Jeremiah 13:11 niv

For as a belt is bound around the waist, so I bound all the people of Israel and all the people of Judah to me,' declares the LORD, 'to be my people for my renown and praise and honor. But they have not listened.'

Jeremiah 13:11 esv

For as the loincloth clings to the waist of a man, so I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, declares the LORD, that they might be for me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory, but they would not listen.

Jeremiah 13:11 nlt

As a loincloth clings to a man's waist, so I created Judah and Israel to cling to me, says the LORD. They were to be my people, my pride, my glory ? an honor to my name. But they would not listen to me.

Jeremiah 13 verses

Jeremiah 13 11 Meaning

Jeremiah 13:11 concludes the parable of the linen loincloth, succinctly stating God's original, intimate purpose for the nations of Israel and Judah. Like a close-fitting garment, God intended His people to cling tightly to Him, representing His character, carrying His name, and manifesting His praise and glory to the world. However, this divine intention was tragically thwarted by their persistent refusal to listen and obey, leading to their spiritual defilement and unsuitability for their intended glorious role. The verse underscores God's deep desire for an exclusive relationship and the severe consequences of human disobedience.

Jeremiah 13 11 Context

Jeremiah 13:11 is the climax and explanation of the "parable of the loincloth," spanning verses 1-11 of Jeremiah chapter 13. God commands Jeremiah to buy a linen loincloth, wear it, and then bury it in a crevice of a rock by the Euphrates for many days. When Jeremiah retrieves it, it is ruined, useless, and no longer good for anything. This vivid, personal prophetic action serves as a poignant visual metaphor for the spiritual condition of Judah and Jerusalem. Just as the clean loincloth worn intimately by a man signifies closeness, honor, and usefulness, God had drawn His people close to Himself through the covenant at Sinai. The subsequent defilement and ruin of the loincloth symbolize the spiritual corruption, moral decay, and stubborn idolatry that had rendered Judah useless and shameful in God's eyes. This context highlights the impending judgment of exile, where Judah would be taken far away, mirroring the buried loincloth, and be left ruined and degraded. The chapter further elaborates on inescapable judgment with the parable of the jars of wine (Jer 13:12-14), showing that the entire nation, from king to commoner, would be filled with the "wine" of God's wrath due to their unrepentant sin. Historically, Jeremiah ministered during the late 7th and early 6th centuries BCE, a period of severe moral and spiritual decline in Judah, shortly before its destruction by Babylon. The people, especially the leadership, persistently disregarded God's warnings through His prophets, cementing their fate.

Jeremiah 13 11 Word analysis

• For as the loincloth clings: This introduces a powerful simile.

  • Loincloth (Hebrew: אֵזוֹר, ʾêzôr): A belt or waistband, often made of linen, worn directly on the body. It signifies intimacy, closeness, and can be a symbol of honor or disgrace depending on its condition. Its purpose is to gird up one's strength or hold things close.
  • Clings (Hebrew: דָּבַק, dāḇaq): This verb means to cleave, stick fast, hold fast, be joined to. It denotes a strong, persistent, intimate attachment or bond. It's used in Gen 2:24 for a man clinging to his wife, in Deut 10:20 and 11:22 for adhering to the LORD, and even in negative contexts for a curse clinging (Deut 28:21) or an enemy pursuing closely (1 Sam 31:3). Its use here highlights God's desire for an unwavering, inseparable relationship with His people.
  • Clings to the waist of a man: The ʾêzôr is worn closest to the body's strength and generative core, emphasizing deep connection and personal involvement.

• So I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me:

  • I made...cling: Emphasizes God's sovereign initiative and intentional action in establishing the covenant relationship. He chose and drew them near.
  • The whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah: Refers to the totality of God's chosen people, even after the division into northern (Israel) and southern (Judah) kingdoms. God's covenant intent extended to all twelve tribes, emphasizing that their collective failure, not just one part, brought judgment.

• Declares the LORD: (Hebrew: נְאֻם יְהוָה, nəʾum Yahweh) This is a common prophetic formula, an authoritative stamp verifying that the words are a direct, undeniable utterance from the covenant-keeping God, Yahweh. It emphasizes the divine origin and truth of the message.

• That they might be for me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory: This phrase articulates God's fourfold purpose for His covenant people, representing the ideal state of their relationship and their mission to the world.

  • A people (Hebrew: עָם, ʿam): His special, chosen people, distinct from all other nations, belonging uniquely to Him (Ex 19:5).
  • A name (Hebrew: שֵׁם, shēm): To carry and bear His reputation, to be identified with Him. Their character and actions should reflect His holy name.
  • A praise (Hebrew: תְּהִלָּה, təhillâ): To be an object of praise and honor for God, or a people whose existence and life causes others to praise God. Their blessings and faithfulness would display God's greatness.
  • A glory (Hebrew: תִּפְאָרָה, tifʾārâ): To display God's splendor, majesty, and excellency to the nations, reflecting His radiant character. Their righteous lives and divine blessings were meant to be a radiant witness.

• But they would not listen: (Hebrew: וְלֹא שָׁמֵעוּ, wəlōʾ shāmēʿu) This concise phrase expresses the core reason for their failure and impending judgment. It's a recurrent tragic theme in Jeremiah. The verb shāmaʿ means "to hear," but in a covenantal context, it implicitly means "to hear and obey." Their failure was not just an auditory one, but an active, willful refusal to comply with God's commands and heed His warnings, breaking the covenant and ruining the intimate relationship He desired.

Jeremiah 13 11 Bonus section

The metaphor of "clinging" (דָּבַק, dāḇaq) in Jeremiah 13:11 finds its ultimate New Testament echo in the call for believers to "abide" (μένω, menō) in Christ, particularly articulated in John 15. Just as God intended Judah to be intimately bound to Him for bearing fruit, Jesus calls His disciples to abide in Him like branches in a vine to bear much fruit for God's glory. The parallel reinforces that true productivity and purpose in God's kingdom stem from a constant, inseparable communion with the divine source. Failure to abide leads to unfruitfulness and removal, mirroring the ruined loincloth. This also prefigures the new covenant, where God's law would be written on the heart (Jer 31:33), enabling true spiritual adherence that the old covenant, because of human sin, could not guarantee.

Jeremiah 13 11 Commentary

Jeremiah 13:11 serves as a profound theological summary of the "loincloth parable" and the historical trajectory of Israel and Judah. It reveals God's tender, purposeful initiative in choosing and drawing His people close to Himself, akin to an indispensable garment worn intimately against the body. His intention was for them to be utterly dependent on Him, their very identity intertwined with His, radiating His name, eliciting praise for His character, and showcasing His glory to a world in darkness. This divine vision wasn't just for their benefit, but for His redemptive plan on earth.

However, the devastating consequence, succinctly stated, was "they would not listen." This isn't merely an inability to hear but a defiant refusal to obey. This willful disobedience led to spiritual corruption, rendering them morally and functionally useless, just as the buried loincloth became ruined and defiled. The verse, therefore, highlights the essential reciprocity of the covenant: God's initiative requires human response. When that response is constant rebellion, the beautiful, purposeful relationship is shattered, transforming intimacy into alienation and glory into disgrace, resulting in inevitable judgment. It underscores a timeless truth: God's grace and calling do not negate human accountability.

Practical Examples:

• A relationship where one partner continuously expresses love and desire for closeness, but the other consistently disregards their words and wishes, ultimately straining and breaking the bond.
• A student given clear instructions and resources by a teacher for success, but who consistently ignores them, leading to academic failure and not reaching their potential.