Jeremiah 16 12

Jeremiah 16:12 kjv

And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me:

Jeremiah 16:12 nkjv

And you have done worse than your fathers, for behold, each one follows the dictates of his own evil heart, so that no one listens to Me.

Jeremiah 16:12 niv

But you have behaved more wickedly than your ancestors. See how all of you are following the stubbornness of your evil hearts instead of obeying me.

Jeremiah 16:12 esv

and because you have done worse than your fathers, for behold, every one of you follows his stubborn, evil will, refusing to listen to me.

Jeremiah 16:12 nlt

And you are even worse than your ancestors! You stubbornly follow your own evil desires and refuse to listen to me.

Jeremiah 16 verses

Jeremiah 16 12 Meaning

Jeremiah 16:12 states that the current generation of Judah has not only replicated but exceeded the wickedness of their ancestors. God reveals the core reason: each individual is willfully choosing to follow the obstinate and corrupted desires of their own heart, thereby actively rejecting God's instruction and command. It emphasizes a pervasive and intentional rebellion, stemming from inner depravity and manifested as outright disobedience to the divine word.

Jeremiah 16 12 Context

Jeremiah chapter 16 delivers a severe message of impending judgment upon Judah for their pervasive idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness. God explicitly forbids Jeremiah from marrying or having children, as well as participating in mourning or feasting, to symbolize the dire future: a time when no one will mourn the dead, and the land will be consumed by famine and war. The people's inquiry about the cause of God's wrath in 16:10 directly leads to the indictment of 16:11-12. This verse (16:12) therefore functions as the divine justification for the unprecedented severity of the announced judgment, highlighting the deeply rooted and exacerbated sin of the present generation compared to their forebears, whose wickedness they have surpassed.

Jeremiah 16 12 Word analysis

• And because you have done worse: The conjunction "And" (וְGam) links this statement to the preceding explanation of judgment. The phrase "you have done worse" (הָרֵעֹ֥ת hā-rê‘ōt) carries the sense of "acted wickedly" or "dealt badly." The comparative degree "worse" implies not just repetition, but an escalation or intensification of sin, indicating a higher degree of guilt than their predecessors. It signifies a trajectory of moral decay.
• than your fathers: (אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם ’ă-ḇō-ṯê-ḵem). This explicitly connects the present generation's actions to those of past generations. Prophetic tradition often noted the sins of fathers, but here, the present generation is condemned for surpassing them. This underscores a greater culpability despite having seen God's previous judgments and received repeated warnings.
• for behold: (כִּי־הִנֵּה֙ kî-hin-nêh). "For" (kî) introduces the reason, while "behold" (hinneh) is an emphatic interjection, drawing attention to the ensuing explanation as the central point or proof of their aggravated wickedness. It says, "pay attention, because here is the core issue."
• every one of you follows: (אִישׁ֙ שְׁרִר֣וּת ’îš šə-ri-rūṯ). "Every one of you" (אִישׁ ’îš, lit. "each man") emphasizes the individual responsibility and pervasiveness of the sin. It's not just a few leaders but a widespread condition among the populace. "Follows" or "walks in" (from the context of "stubbornness of his heart") indicates a chosen course of life, a lifestyle rooted in personal inclination rather than divine guidance.
• his own stubborn, evil heart: (לִבּ֥וֹ הָרָ֖ע lib-bōw hā-rā‘).
  • "stubborn" (שְׁרִר֣וּת šə-ri-rūṯ): This critical Hebrew term refers to hardness, firmness, or obstinacy. In biblical usage, especially with "heart," it denotes a determined, unyielding will that resists divine command and spiritual counsel. It is an intentional, entrenched defiance.
  • "evil" (הָרָ֖ע hā-rā‘): Refers to moral corruption, badness, wickedness.
  • "heart" (לִבּ֥וֹ lib-bōw): In ancient Near Eastern thought, the heart is not merely the seat of emotion, but the center of one's entire inner being—intellect, will, intention, conscience, and moral decision. An "evil heart" indicates a core identity twisted away from God, making depraved choices its default.
• refusing to listen to me: (לְבִלְתִּי֙ שְׁמֹ֣עַ אֵלַ֔י lə-ḇil-tî šə-mō-a‘ ’ê-lay).
  • "refusing" (לְבִלְתִּי lə-ḇil-tî): Indicates an active, purposeful refusal or failure.
  • "to listen" (שְׁמֹ֣עַ šə-mō-a‘): The Hebrew verb shema implies more than just hearing sounds; it means to hear and, crucially, to obey, to heed. Their refusal to shema implies a deliberate non-compliance with God's commands, laws, and prophetic warnings.
  • "to me" (אֵלַ֔י ’ê-lay): The personal pronoun "me" (referring to Yahweh) highlights that their rejection is directly aimed at God, an affront to His authority and a breaking of their covenant relationship.

Words-group analysis

• "done worse than your fathers": This phrase encapsulates the idea of progressive generational spiritual decline and intensified guilt. It highlights a cycle of sin that not only continues but deepens, setting the stage for more severe judgment as divine patience wears thin.
• "every one of you follows his own stubborn, evil heart": This section precisely diagnoses the spiritual disease. It points to radical individualism in sin, where each person, driven by a deeply corrupt and obstinate inner core, establishes their own moral compass apart from God. This widespread internal rebellion is the fundamental cause of their escalated wickedness.
• "refusing to listen to me": This group of words describes the ultimate outcome and demonstration of the "stubborn, evil heart." The internal depravity is not merely passive; it actively manifests as a deliberate, collective, and pervasive rejection of God's revealed will and His call to covenant faithfulness. It underscores a defiant self-reliance that rejects divine sovereignty.

Jeremiah 16 12 Bonus section

The concept of the "heart" (lev) in the Hebrew Bible is much broader than the modern understanding, encompassing the totality of one's inner being: mind, will, affections, and conscience. Therefore, a "stubborn, evil heart" signifies not merely emotional resistance but a full, cognitive, and volitional commitment to evil and rebellion against God. The repetitive nature of this phrase ("stubborn heart," "not listening") throughout Jeremiah (e.g., Jer 7:24; 11:8; 13:10) indicates that it's a foundational theological problem and a primary driver of Judah's downfall. This verse starkly contrasts with the promise of a "new heart" (Ezek 36:26) where God will supernaturally enable obedience. The personal address "to me" highlights the relational aspect of their sin; it's a direct betrayal of their covenant Lord, making the judgment intensely personal.

Jeremiah 16 12 Commentary

Jeremiah 16:12 delivers a powerful indictment: Judah has exceeded the wickedness of prior generations. The reason isn't superficial; it's rooted in a profound internal corruption where individuals choose to walk according to their "stubborn, evil heart." This describes a spiritual condition of persistent, deliberate defiance, where the very core of their being – intellect, will, and desires – is alienated from God and inclined towards self-centered disobedience. The phrase "refusing to listen to me" clarifies that this internal depravity results in active rejection of divine revelation and covenant obligations. It's a testament to the tragic human tendency towards spiritual apostasy and provides a strong biblical precedent for personal accountability in the face of collective sin, illustrating how individual hardened hearts fuel widespread societal godlessness, warranting severe divine judgment.