Jeremiah 19 3

Jeremiah 19:3 kjv

And say, Hear ye the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, the which whosoever heareth, his ears shall tingle.

Jeremiah 19:3 nkjv

and say, 'Hear the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem. Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Behold, I will bring such a catastrophe on this place, that whoever hears of it, his ears will tingle.

Jeremiah 19:3 niv

and say, 'Hear the word of the LORD, you kings of Judah and people of Jerusalem. This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Listen! I am going to bring a disaster on this place that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle.

Jeremiah 19:3 esv

You shall say, 'Hear the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem. Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing such disaster upon this place that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle.

Jeremiah 19:3 nlt

Say to them, 'Listen to this message from the LORD, you kings of Judah and citizens of Jerusalem! This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies, the God of Israel, says: I will bring a terrible disaster on this place, and the ears of those who hear about it will ring!

Jeremiah 19 verses

Jeremiah 19 3 Meaning

The Lord commands Jeremiah to go to the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, specifically to the east gate, and to proclaim God's judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem. This judgment is severe, leading to the people eating their flesh in distress and a thorough destruction, marking them as a place of God's intense displeasure.

Jeremiah 19 3 Context

Jeremiah 19 is part of a larger prophecy delivered during a time of extreme spiritual and political crisis for Judah. The nation is entrenched in idolatry and injustice, particularly during the reigns of Manasseh and Amon, and even continuing into Josiah's reign, despite his reforms. God instructs Jeremiah to enact a symbolic act of judgment by taking a potter's vessel and shattering it in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, a place historically associated with child sacrifice and pagan worship. This chapter vividly illustrates the impending and complete destruction of Jerusalem and its people as a consequence of their pervasive sin, particularly their abandonment of Yahweh for foreign gods and their shedding of innocent blood.

Jeremiah 19 3 Word Analysis

• "Hear" (Hebrew: שְׁמַ֫ע - shěmā‘)

  • Implies more than just auditory reception; it signifies active obedience and listening to divine counsel.
  • It is a foundational word in Hebrew understanding, emphasizing attentive receptivity to God's word.

• "the word of the Lord" (Hebrew: דְּבַר־יְהוָה - dĕḇār Yĕhvāh)

  • This phrase denotes a divine oracle, the authoritative pronouncement from God.
  • It signifies that the message Jeremiah delivers is not his own but a direct communication from the sovereign God.

• "O kings of Judah" (Hebrew: מֶ֠לֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֧ה - méleḵ yĕhûḏāh)

  • Specifically addresses the rulers of the southern kingdom, who bear significant responsibility for the nation's spiritual and moral state.
  • Highlights that leadership failure contributes to national judgment.

• "and inhabitants of Jerusalem" (Hebrew: וְיֹשְׁבֵ֤י יְרוּשָׁלִַם֙ - wĕyōšəḇê yĕrûšālaiëm)

  • Includes all levels of society within the capital city, indicating that the judgment affects the entire populace.
  • Underscores the corporate responsibility and collective consequence of sin.

• "Hear ye" (Hebrew: שָׁמַ֧ע - shāmaʻ)

  • A second imperative, reinforcing the urgency and importance of the message.
  • Emphasizes the need for a response of obedience, not just passive hearing.

• "the message of the Lord" (Hebrew: אֹ֚מֶר יְהוָה֙ - ’ōmĕr Yĕhvāh)

  • Similar to "word of the Lord," this emphasizes the spoken declaration and prophetic utterance from God.
  • Stresses the pronouncement of impending action and divine decree.

• "concerning this city" (Hebrew: אֶל־הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את - ’el hā‘îr hazō’ṯ)

  • Directly points to Jerusalem as the object of God's severe pronouncement and impending judgment.
  • Jerusalem, the holy city, becomes the locus of God's wrath due to its sin.

• "the Lord declares" (Hebrew: נְאֻם־יְהוָ֖ה - nə’um Yĕhvāh)

  • A formal prophetic closing or introduction, signifying an oracle spoken directly by God.
  • Adds solemnity and absolute authority to the message.

• "Behold, I am bringing upon this city such disaster" (Hebrew: הִנְנִ֥י בָאֵ֛ר עַל־הָעִ֥יר הַזֹּ֖את רָעָ֣ה - hinnĕnî ḇā’ēr ‘al hā‘îr hazō’ṯ rā‘āh)

  • "Behold" (Hebrew: הִנְנִי - hinnĕnî)
    • An attention-grabbing particle, urging immediate focus and awareness of the divine declaration.
    • Signifies that something significant and impactful is about to be revealed.
  • "I am bringing" (Hebrew: בָאֵ֛ר - ḇā’ēr)
    • Literally "I am causing to come," indicating active divine involvement in the bringing of judgment.
    • God is the sovereign agent behind the calamitous events about to unfold.
  • "disaster" (Hebrew: רָעָה - rā‘āh)
    • A comprehensive term for evil, calamity, or misfortune.
    • Refers to a sweeping devastation, not a minor inconvenience, implying complete ruin.

• Words/Phrases group analysis:

  • "Hear... the word of the Lord... Hear... the message of the Lord": This repetition emphasizes the imperative nature of Jeremiah's commission and the divine origin of the pronouncement against Jerusalem. It highlights the spiritual deafness of the intended recipients, necessitating the repeated command to listen.
  • "O kings of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem": This targets the leadership and populace, signifying that the entire city and its governance are implicated in the sin and will share in the consequences. The authority of the kings is juxtaposed with the responsibility of the inhabitants, demonstrating that all levels of society are accountable.
  • "Behold, I am bringing upon this city such disaster": The "Behold" grabs attention to a solemn, inevitable divine action. "Bringing" signifies God's active role in the judgment, not a random event. "Disaster" (rā‘āh) encapsulates the totality of the ruin, signifying total demolition and judgment for the city.

Jeremiah 19 3 Bonus Section

The Valley of the Son of Hinnom (Gehenna in the New Testament, Gr: Γέεννα) became a symbol of condemnation and hell in Jewish and Christian tradition, directly linked to the horrors associated with this specific location and the judgment God promised. Jeremiah's pronouncement foreshadows a literal, devastating judgment upon Jerusalem that would serve as a stark warning for all generations regarding the consequences of turning away from God and engaging in abhorrent practices. The utter devastation and desperate acts foreshadowed here reflect God's intense sorrow and anger over sin.

Jeremiah 19 3 Commentary

Jeremiah is commanded to go to the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, specifically to the East Gate. This location is profoundly symbolic; the valley was associated with child sacrifice (Topheth), a horrific practice adopted by some during the reigns of Manasseh and Amon, and against which God had previously warned extensively (Deut 12:31, Jer 7:31, Jer 32:35). By standing there and delivering God's word, Jeremiah confronts the spiritual defilement and apostasy that have taken root in Jerusalem. The message is a stark pronouncement from the Lord, directly addressing the kings and the people of Jerusalem. God is personally bringing severe disaster upon the city. This is not a passive observation of events but an active judgment from God Himself, due to the people's abandonment of Him, their embrace of idolatry, and the shedding of innocent blood. The severity is so great that the verse alludes to the consequences described elsewhere: extreme hunger and desperation leading people to consume their own flesh, a graphic illustration of utter collapse. This chapter functions as a strong polemic against the idolatrous practices that infiltrated Judah and as a prelude to the final destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians.