Jeremiah 13 17

Jeremiah 13:17 kjv

But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD's flock is carried away captive.

Jeremiah 13:17 nkjv

But if you will not hear it, My soul will weep in secret for your pride; My eyes will weep bitterly And run down with tears, Because the LORD's flock has been taken captive.

Jeremiah 13:17 niv

If you do not listen, I will weep in secret because of your pride; my eyes will weep bitterly, overflowing with tears, because the LORD's flock will be taken captive.

Jeremiah 13:17 esv

But if you will not listen, my soul will weep in secret for your pride; my eyes will weep bitterly and run down with tears, because the LORD's flock has been taken captive.

Jeremiah 13:17 nlt

And if you still refuse to listen,
I will weep alone because of your pride.
My eyes will overflow with tears,
because the LORD's flock will be led away into exile.

Jeremiah 13 verses

Jeremiah 13 17 Meaning

Jeremiah 13:17 expresses the prophet's profound, personal grief over the stubborn pride and disobedience of the people of Judah, which he foresees will inevitably lead to their severe punishment, specifically their exile and captivity by their enemies. His sorrow is so intense that it is a secret, continuous weeping, emphasizing the depth of his lament for the destruction awaiting "the Lord's flock."

Jeremiah 13 17 Context

Jeremiah chapter 13 serves as a series of visual aids and prophetic declarations illustrating Judah's spiritual corruption and impending judgment. It begins with the sign of the linen belt, first clinging closely to Jeremiah, then becoming marred and useless, symbolizing Judah's former intimacy with God being corrupted by their sin and pride (Jer 13:1-11). This is followed by the metaphor of wine jars, alluding to inevitable shattering of every "jar" – king, priest, and common people – in drunkenness and mutual destruction (Jer 13:12-14).

Verse 17 immediately follows an exhortation to humble themselves and give glory to the LORD before darkness falls (Jer 13:15-16). Jeremiah recognizes that this warning will likely be ignored. The historical backdrop is the late 7th to early 6th century BCE, a period of decline for the kingdom of Judah, facing the rising power of Babylon. Despite repeated warnings and calls to repentance through Jeremiah, the people, particularly the leadership, persisted in idolatry, moral decay, and political trust in alliances rather than God. This obstinate pride ("gevah") sets the stage for the devastating exile that Jeremiah foresees and laments. His sorrow here is not for an "if" but a "when," underscoring the certainty of the judgment due to the people's hardened hearts.

Jeremiah 13 17 Word analysis

• But if you will not listen (וְאִם-לֹא תִשְׁמְעוּ - ve'im-lo' tishme'u):
  • listen: From the Hebrew שָׁמַע (shama), which means much more than merely hearing sound. It signifies "to hear and obey," "to heed," "to give attention," and "to respond in action."
  • Significance: This emphasizes their deliberate choice of disobedience. The conditional "if" implies a real choice, but Jeremiah's weeping reveals the prophet's certainty they will not choose correctly. It links their lack of obedience directly to the ensuing judgment.
• my soul will weep (תִּבְכֶּה נַפְשִׁי - tivkeh nafshi):
  • soul: From the Hebrew נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh), which broadly refers to the whole self, one's life, person, or vital being. It indicates the deepest part of one's being.
  • Significance: The weeping is not superficial or mere sadness; it is a profound, whole-person lamentation. Jeremiah identifies deeply with the coming suffering of his people, reflecting God's own sorrow over their stubbornness.
• in secret (בְּמִסְתָּרִים - b'mistarim):
  • From the root סָתַר (satar), meaning "to hide," "to conceal." This means "in hidden places," or "privately."
  • Significance: This private sorrow indicates Jeremiah's profound personal pain, distinct from his public prophetic duties. It also suggests a depth of grief beyond public display, or perhaps his anguish for a disaster so total there will be no one left to witness or console him.
• for your pride (מִפְּנֵי גֵוָה - mipp'ney geivah):
  • pride: From the Hebrew גֵּוָה (gevah), referring to haughtiness, arrogance, exaltedness, or majesty. Here, it denotes stubbornness, defiance, and self-sufficiency against God.
  • Significance: This identifies the root cause of Judah's downfall. It's not external enemies but internal rebellion and self-exaltation that fuel God's judgment. This spiritual "stiff-neckedness" blocks their response to divine warnings.
• my eyes will weep bitterly and flow with tears (וְדָמֹעַ תִּדְמַע עֵינִי וְתֵרֶד דִּמְעָה - v'damoa tidma' eyni v'tered dim'ah):
  • weep bitterly: The repetition דָמֹעַ תִּדְמַע (damoa tidma') uses an infinitive absolute, a Hebrew literary device that strongly intensifies the verb. It signifies continuous, overflowing, uncontrollable weeping.
  • flow with tears: Literally, "and a tear will descend."
  • Significance: This creates a vivid image of unrelenting and abundant sorrow. It emphasizes the absolute certainty and the profound magnitude of the impending disaster that prompts such extreme grief.
• because the LORD’s flock has been taken captive (כִּי נִשְׁבָּה עֵדֶר יְהוָה - ki nishbah eder YHWH):
  • the LORD's flock: From עֵדֶר יְהוָה (eder YHWH). עֵדֶר (eder) means a "flock" or "herd," commonly referring to God's people in scripture. יְהוָה (YHWH) is the covenant name of God.
  • has been taken captive: From the root שָׁבָה (shavah), meaning "to take captive," "to lead into exile." The Niphal perfect indicates a completed action with lasting effect, highlighting the certainty.
  • Significance: This is the direct consequence and the cause of Jeremiah's weeping. It underscores God's proprietary relationship with Judah, making their capture not just a political defeat but a divine tragedy. The shepherd (God, and by extension Jeremiah) weeps over the lost sheep. It ties their disobedience directly to the catastrophic outcome of exile.

Jeremiah 13 17 Bonus section

Jeremiah's deep personal grief as expressed here is why he is often known as the "weeping prophet." His tears are not a sign of weakness, but a powerful reflection of God's own broken heart over His rebellious children. While Jeremiah faithfully delivers God's harsh judgments, he does so with profound agony, demonstrating true prophetic character that deeply connects with the plight of the people even in their sin. This sorrow also prefigures the ultimate divine lament of Jesus over Jerusalem centuries later, who also grieved over His chosen people's refusal to recognize their path to peace. Jeremiah's weeping highlights the immense spiritual cost of pride and persistent disobedience, not only to those who suffer the consequences but also to the God who loves them.

Jeremiah 13 17 Commentary

Jeremiah 13:17 encapsulates the heart of "the weeping prophet" – a figure caught between God's unwavering justice and His profound love for His errant people. This verse reveals Jeremiah's empathetic identification with God's sorrow, a unique personal grief felt "in secret" because of Judah's unyielding "pride." This pride, deeply rooted in their refusal to truly "listen and obey" Yahweh, has rendered their destruction unavoidable. Jeremiah's extreme weeping ("weep bitterly and flow with tears") is not for the enemies, but for his own people, whom he recognizes as "the LORD’s flock," now certainly destined for the horrors of exile. It speaks to the tragic consequences when humanity's arrogance clashes with divine will, illustrating how a covenant people can fall so far through their own choices that even divine judgment is mixed with profound sorrow for their loss. It serves as a somber warning that disobedience stemming from pride ultimately leads to devastating separation from God's protection and presence.