Jeremiah 13 15

Jeremiah 13:15 kjv

Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken.

Jeremiah 13:15 nkjv

Hear and give ear: Do not be proud, For the LORD has spoken.

Jeremiah 13:15 niv

Hear and pay attention, do not be arrogant, for the LORD has spoken.

Jeremiah 13:15 esv

Hear and give ear; be not proud, for the LORD has spoken.

Jeremiah 13:15 nlt

Listen and pay attention!
Do not be arrogant, for the LORD has spoken.

Jeremiah 13 verses

Jeremiah 13 15 Meaning

Jeremiah 13:15 is a direct, urgent appeal to the people of Judah to listen attentively and humbly to God's word. It acts as a critical pivot, offering a final opportunity for the nation to avert disaster by turning from their spiritual pride and accepting the Lord's authoritative message. The verse emphasizes that genuine hearing involves not only auditory reception but also deep reflection, acknowledgment of divine authority, and humble obedience, with the powerful justification that the Lord Himself has unequivocally declared His message.

Jeremiah 13 15 Context

Jeremiah 13:15 stands within a larger discourse of warning and judgment directed towards the unrepentant kingdom of Judah. Chapter 13 begins with the symbolic act of the linen belt, signifying Judah's former closeness to God and their subsequent defilement and ruin due to their pride and idolatry (Jer 13:1-11). This is followed by the parable of the wine jars (Jer 13:12-14), which illustrates that just as wine jars are filled and then dashed, so too will all the inhabitants of the land, from king to priest, be filled with the "wine" of God's wrath and dashed against one another, broken beyond repair. Immediately following this grim prophecy of inevitable judgment, verse 15 serves as a desperate plea or a final, stern warning before the full manifestation of God's wrath. Historically, Judah, under kings like Jehoiakim, was deeply entrenched in idol worship and disregarded Jeremiah's prophetic warnings, clinging to a false sense of security based on their status as God's chosen people and the presence of the Temple in Jerusalem. Their national pride blinded them to the impending Babylonian invasion, causing them to mock or ignore the divine messages.

Jeremiah 13 15 Word analysis

• Hear ye, (שִׁמְעוּ - shim'u): This is an imperative verb, plural, derived from the Hebrew root šāma'. It means to listen, pay attention, and significantly, to obey. It's not merely auditory perception but denotes understanding and an intention to act. This connects to the fundamental biblical concept of Shema (Deut 6:4), emphasizing obedience. It addresses the collective nation of Judah.
• and give ear; (וְהַאֲזִינוּ - v'ha'azinu): Also an imperative verb, plural, from the root ʾāzan, meaning to hear attentively, to listen intently, often with an emphasis on personal consideration. This phrase acts as a intensifier or a pleonasm, reinforcing "hear" and indicating a deeper, more intentional act of listening—like leaning in to catch every word. This emphasizes the gravity of the message and the need for thorough understanding.
• be not proud: (אַל־תִּגְבָּהוּ - 'al-tiggav'hu): This is a negative imperative. ʾal is a prohibitive particle ("do not"), and tiggav'hu comes from the root gāḇah (גָּבַהּ), meaning to be high, exalted, lifted up, or arrogant. This specifically condemns a spiritual and intellectual pride that rejects divine instruction and authority, valuing human wisdom or self-sufficiency above God's word. This pride often leads to arrogance, stubbornness, and disobedience, which was characteristic of Judah's state at the time.
• for (כִּי - ki): A conjunction meaning "because," "for," "indeed," or "surely." It introduces the crucial justification for the command to listen and avoid pride, presenting it as an undeniable truth. It marks the foundation of the divine appeal.
• the LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): The sacred covenant name of God, revealing His self-existence, eternal nature, and personal relationship with His people. The use of YHWH here asserts the divine origin and absolute authority of the message. It is the personal God who made a covenant with Israel who is speaking, thus their rejection is not merely rejecting a prophet but rejecting their own covenant Lord.
• hath spoken. (דִּבֵּר - dibber): This is a verb in the Qal Perfect tense from the root dāḇar (דָּבַר), meaning "to speak, to say, to declare." The perfect tense emphasizes a completed action with continuing relevance; God has definitively spoken, and His word stands firm and final. It's not a mere suggestion or future possibility, but a divine decree that has been issued, demanding an immediate response. This underlines the finality and gravity of the warning.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "Hear ye, and give ear": This repetitive phrasing serves as a forceful double injunction, emphasizing the profound importance and urgency of the message. It suggests a deliberate effort to overcome spiritual dullness or apathy. The command moves beyond mere physical hearing to deep internal reception and understanding.
• "be not proud": This clause directly addresses the core issue hindering Judah's spiritual reception. Pride acts as a barrier, preventing an open and humble heart from receiving divine truth. It implies a stiff-necked attitude of rebellion against God's will.
• "for the LORD hath spoken": This phrase forms the authoritative bedrock for the entire appeal. The divine utterance is the non-negotiable ground for humility and attentiveness. It declares that the word comes not from human speculation but from the sovereign, covenant-keeping God, making all excuses for disregard void.

Jeremiah 13 15 Bonus section

• Polemics against false prophets: This verse indirectly confronts the deceptive messages of false prophets who spoke smooth words and predicted peace, contradicting God's true warning of judgment (e.g., Jer 6:14; 8:11; 14:13). Jeremiah's exhortation to hear the LORD implies a stark contrast with those who speak "from their own imagination" (Jer 14:14).
• A "too late" sentiment in context: While presented as a plea, coming after the harsh parables, some scholars interpret it with a tone of "even now, after all I've shown you..." This might imply that while the choice is still there, the previous actions of pride and rebellion have made true repentance incredibly difficult, foreshadowing their ultimate failure to heed the warning.
• Connection to Deuteronomy's themes: The call to "hear" (Shema) resonates strongly with Deuteronomy, the foundational book for the covenant relationship between YHWH and Israel. Deuteronomy repeatedly emphasizes hearing and obeying as key to life and blessing (Deut 4:1; 5:1; 6:3). Judah's failure here is a failure of their covenant obligation.
• Significance of "spoken": The Hebrew "hath spoken" (dibber) is emphatic; it is a done deal, not merely a consideration. God's word is resolute and active, not passive. Their only hope lies in acknowledging this undeniable truth.

Jeremiah 13 15 Commentary

Jeremiah 13:15 delivers a poignant, urgent plea in the face of impending judgment. It underscores that Judah's primary problem was not ignorance of God's will, but rather spiritual pride and an arrogant unwillingness to humbly listen to His spoken word. The dual command to "hear" and "give ear" reflects the desperate need for an attentive, responsive heart, challenging a mere superficial listening. This pride made them unreceptive to prophetic warnings, leading to self-destruction. The authority "for the LORD hath spoken" elevates the message beyond human counsel to an irrevocable divine decree, highlighting the absolute necessity of repentance and the dire consequences of defiance. It is a timeless call to choose humility and obedience over arrogance and rebellion when confronted with God's clear word.