Jeremiah 21 11

Jeremiah 21:11 kjv

And touching the house of the king of Judah, say, Hear ye the word of the LORD;

Jeremiah 21:11 nkjv

"And concerning the house of the king of Judah, say, 'Hear the word of the LORD,

Jeremiah 21:11 niv

"Moreover, say to the royal house of Judah, 'Hear the word of the LORD.

Jeremiah 21:11 esv

"And to the house of the king of Judah say, 'Hear the word of the LORD,

Jeremiah 21:11 nlt

"Say to the royal family of Judah, 'Listen to this message from the LORD!

Jeremiah 21 verses

Jeremiah 21 11 meaning

Jeremiah 21:11 conveys a direct and authoritative command from God, delivered through the prophet Jeremiah, to the reigning monarch and the entire royal household of Judah. It instructs them to "Hear the word of the LORD," emphasizing that profound attention and obedience to God's divine message are required, particularly concerning the forthcoming instructions regarding justice and righteous governance, upon which their future depends. This verse serves as an imperative introduction to the subsequent divine decrees of judgment or mercy for the king and his administration.

Jeremiah 21 11 Context

Jeremiah chapter 21 opens with King Zedekiah, then reigning in Judah, sending delegates Pashhur and Zephaniah to Jeremiah. The King is seeking an oracle from the LORD concerning Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian army, which is besieging Jerusalem. He hopes the LORD will intervene as He had in the past, performing a miracle to repel the Babylonians (21:1-2). In response, Jeremiah first delivers a message of grim judgment directly from the LORD, stating that God Himself is fighting against Jerusalem and will hand the city and its inhabitants, including the king, over to the Babylonians (21:3-10). Verse 11 then shifts from a general declaration of judgment to a specific, direct command to the "house of the king of Judah," serving as an imperative preface to the specific moral instructions that follow in verses 12-14. These subsequent verses detail the specific actions—administering justice and righteousness—that could yet offer a narrow path of survival for the remnant, highlighting that even in the face of judgment, God still calls for repentance and adherence to His righteous standards, particularly from the nation's leaders. This oracle underscores God's sovereignty over nations and His holding of human authorities accountable.

Jeremiah 21 11 Word analysis

• And (וְאֶל - ve'el): This Hebrew conjunction introduces a new recipient and directive, linking this specific command to the prior pronouncements. It indicates a direct address to the royal house following the general message concerning Jerusalem's fate.
• to the house of the king (אֶל-בֵּית מֶלֶךְ - el-beit melekh): "Beit" (house) signifies not just the physical palace, but primarily the entire royal household, the ruling dynasty, and its administration. This directs the message with supreme authority to those in power, holding them personally accountable for the nation's moral and spiritual state.
• of Judah (יְהוּדָה - Yehudah): Specifies the southern kingdom, distinguishing it from the defunct northern kingdom of Israel. The oracle is exclusively for the monarchy in Jerusalem, the last bastion of God's people before exile.
• say (תֹאמַר - tomar): An imperative verb commanding Jeremiah to speak. It emphasizes the prophetic duty to declare God's message unequivocally and directly to the highest earthly authority. The prophet is merely the messenger, but the message carries divine weight.
• Hear (שִׁמְעוּ - Shim'u): This is a crucial imperative verb, plural, meaning "listen attentively," "heed," and "obey." It carries the profound spiritual significance of Shema (Deut 6:4), which demands active hearing that leads to understanding, belief, and practical action. It's more than passive reception; it's a call to obedient response from the entire royal court.
• the word (דְּבַר - devar): Refers to the divine utterance, an authoritative message or decree. It's not human counsel but God's revealed truth, possessing inherent power and demanding reverent reception. This is the very essence of prophecy.
• of the LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): Identifies the absolute source of the message as Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. This designation establishes the supreme and undeniable authority of the word, placing it above any royal edict or human wisdom. It underscores the message's divine origin and non-negotiable character.

Word-groups analysis:

• "And to the house of the king of Judah, say": This phrase establishes the specific target and the mode of delivery. It emphasizes that the divine message is aimed directly at the ruling elite, signifying their supreme responsibility before God. The king and his administration are singled out, indicating that their leadership directly impacts the nation's destiny and their accountability is paramount.
• "Hear the word of the LORD": This powerful injunction is a core theme throughout the prophetic literature. It highlights the non-negotiable imperative for not just listening, but also understanding, internalizing, and obeying God's authoritative message. It serves as a stark reminder that true wisdom and salvation are found in heeding divine revelation, rather than human strategies or political alliances, particularly in times of crisis. It implies that their response to this word will determine their fate.

Jeremiah 21 11 Bonus section

The recurrence of the phrase "Hear the word of the LORD" (or similar variations) is a significant motif throughout the book of Jeremiah, serving as a desperate and persistent divine plea to an increasingly recalcitrant people and their leaders (e.g., Jer 2:4; 7:2; 10:1; 13:15; 17:20; 19:3; 22:2; 29:20; 31:10; 34:2; 42:15; 44:24). This consistent reiteration emphasizes God's patience, His desire for His people to repent, and the absolute clarity of the message being sent. The prophet Jeremiah's unwavering courage in delivering such confrontational messages directly to the kings and officials (often at great personal risk) exemplifies the integrity and demanding nature of true biblical prophecy, challenging the contemporary royal and religious establishment directly from God. The expectation of obedience from rulers reflected the Ancient Near Eastern understanding that a king's rule derived its legitimacy and success from divine favor, often mediated through the state god or, in Israel's case, Yahweh.

Jeremiah 21 11 Commentary

Jeremiah 21:11 stands as a potent preamble within a critical oracle delivered to King Zedekiah's failing monarchy. It underscores God's enduring expectation for His people's leadership to prioritize divine directives over all human counsel. The command to "Hear the word of the LORD" is a foundational call within Israel's covenant relationship, demanding not just auditory perception but profound spiritual attentiveness, intellectual understanding, and above all, active, transformative obedience. This verse highlights the prophet's unique role as God's direct messenger, even to kings, demonstrating that earthly power is always subordinate to divine authority. In a moment of national peril and encroaching judgment, God reminds the rulers of Judah that their survival hinges on their response to His word, setting the stage for specific instructions concerning justice and righteousness, the very fabric of covenant loyalty. Their failure to heed this message, echoed repeatedly throughout Jeremiah, tragically sealed their downfall.