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

Jeremiah 19:3 is a direct, urgent divine pronouncement to the leaders and people of Judah and Jerusalem, delivered amidst a symbolic act of impending judgment. It warns of an unparalleled disaster originating from the Lord, the all-powerful God of Israel, that will cause utter shock and horror, eliciting a physical, visceral reaction of dread from all who hear about it. The message signifies the inescapable consequences of their pervasive idolatry and wickedness.

Jeremiah 19 3 Context

Jeremiah chapter 19 describes a dramatic prophetic act mandated by God. Jeremiah is commanded to take an earthenware flask, bring the elders of the people and the priests to the Valley of Ben Hinnom (Tophet) outside Jerusalem's Potter's Gate, and deliver a message before shattering the jar. This specific verse (v.3) is part of that pronouncement, establishing the divine authority and the shocking nature of the coming judgment. Historically, this period saw Judah under severe spiritual decline, marked by rampant idolatry, particularly child sacrifice in Tophet (Jer 7:31). Jerusalem faced imminent destruction from Babylon as divine judgment, a fate the people stubbornly refused to believe or repent from, despite Jeremiah's persistent warnings. The context emphasizes their deep spiritual rebellion, leadership failure, and God's absolute resolve to execute justice.

Jeremiah 19 3 Word analysis

• And say: Marks the transition to direct speech, the imperative nature of Jeremiah's prophetic task.
• 'Hear (שִׁמְעוּ, shim'u): An emphatic imperative. Not merely passive listening, but active, attentive, obedient hearing. It signifies a solemn call to heed and consider the gravity of the divine message.
• the word (דְּבַר, devar): Refers to a specific, authoritative divine utterance, a message from God.
• of the LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): The personal, covenantal name of God, emphasizing the divine origin and unbreakable nature of the message, despite Israel's broken covenant.
• O kings of Judah: Directly addresses the highest political authority. Implies their failure in leading the nation in righteousness and their culpability in the nation's sin. This encompasses successive kings, particularly Jehoiakim at this time, who defied God.
• and inhabitants of Jerusalem: Broadens the audience to include all people within the capital city. Highlights widespread corruption and accountability beyond just leadership.
• Thus says: Standard prophetic formula, establishing absolute divine authority. It brooks no argument or dissent.
• the LORD of hosts (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת, YHWH Tsva'ot): A majestic title, emphasizing God's supreme power as the commander of heavenly armies and all creation. This highlights the irresistible nature of His judgment.
• the God of Israel: Reaffirms God's covenant relationship with His people, reminding them who is speaking and implying His holiness and justice within that relationship. Even in judgment, He acts as their God.
• Behold (הִנֵּה, hinneh): An interjection signaling imminent action, calling for immediate attention to a dramatic disclosure.
• I am bringing: Active, decisive divine agency. God Himself is the cause of the disaster.
• disaster (רָעָה, ra'ah): Meaning evil, calamity, catastrophe, affliction. It denotes a severe and devastating event as a consequence of their sin.
• upon this place: Refers specifically to Jerusalem, including its temple, structures, and people. It underscores the localized, targeted nature of the judgment.
• at which whoever hears it will his ears tingle (תְּצַלֶּינָה, tettsallèynâ): An idiomatic expression for extreme shock, horror, and profound astonishment. It describes a physical sensation of dread and revulsion evoked by truly terrifying news of an unprecedented and unparalleled catastrophe. It conveys a depth of fear beyond mere fright, an existential shudder.

Jeremiah 19 3 Bonus section

The choice of the Valley of Ben Hinnom (Tophet) as the setting for this prophecy carries significant polemical weight. It was the notorious site of child sacrifice to the god Molech, a heinous practice explicitly condemned by YHWH. By performing this sign-act in Tophet, God directly challenges the very center of their apostasy. The destruction announced for Jerusalem and its inhabitants serves as a powerful demonstration that YHWH, the God of Israel, utterly abhors and judges the worship of pagan deities and their vile rituals, affirming His absolute sovereignty over these false gods. The prophetic act of shattering the flask is a visceral rejection of their trust in human traditions and pagan rituals, declaring their system utterly broken beyond repair, foreshadowing the Temple's desolation.

Jeremiah 19 3 Commentary

Jeremiah 19:3 is a pivotal moment in the prophetic drama, underscoring the severity of God's impending judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem. By invoking the full authority of "the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel," the message establishes its divine origin and irrefutable nature. The explicit address to "kings of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem" ensures accountability across all societal levels for the widespread idolatry and moral depravity, epitomized by child sacrifice in the very valley where Jeremiah delivered this word. The pronouncement of "bringing disaster" leaves no doubt that God actively ordains these consequences for their persistent sin, moving from long-suffering patience to righteous retribution. The concluding idiom, "his ears tingle," vividly portrays the unimaginable horror and shock of the coming destruction, signifying a level of calamity previously unheard of. It is a divine assurance that their impending suffering will be so profound and unprecedented that its mere report will send shivers of terror through all who hear it, echoing earlier judgments (e.g., 1 Sam 3:11, 2 Ki 21:12).