Jeremiah 25:4 kjv
And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear.
Jeremiah 25:4 nkjv
And the LORD has sent to you all His servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, but you have not listened nor inclined your ear to hear.
Jeremiah 25:4 niv
And though the LORD has sent all his servants the prophets to you again and again, you have not listened or paid any attention.
Jeremiah 25:4 esv
You have neither listened nor inclined your ears to hear, although the LORD persistently sent to you all his servants the prophets,
Jeremiah 25:4 nlt
"Again and again the LORD has sent you his servants, the prophets, but you have not listened or even paid attention.
Jeremiah 25 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 25:4 | ...neither have you listened to the words which my servants the prophets sent to you, my servants the prophets... | Disobedience to God's messengers |
| 2 Chr 36:15 | The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place. | God's persistent concern |
| Neh 9:30 | Yet you bore with them for many years and warned them by your Spirit through your prophets. | Divine patience and warnings |
| Psa 50:16 | But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips? | Condemnation of willful sin |
| Prov 1:24 | Because I called and you refused to answer, because I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention... | Rejection of God's call |
| Isa 5:11 | Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may pursue strong drink... | Indifference to divine will |
| Isa 30:9 | For they are rebellious children, says the Lord, who disappoint the children who are near Me, and they have a heart without instruction. | Rebellious hearts |
| Isa 58:1 | Cry aloud; do not spare; lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their transgression, and to the house of Jacob their sins. | Prophet's call to the people |
| Jer 1:17 | But you, gird up your loins and arise, and speak to them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them. | Divine commission to Jeremiah |
| Jer 2:27-28 | They say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ and to a stone, ‘You gave birth to me.’ For they have turned their backs to me and not their faces. But in the time of their trouble they say, ‘Arise and save us.’ | Idolatry and turning away |
| Jer 7:23-26 | But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the ways that I command you, that it may be well with you.’ Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked according to the counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward. | Israel's consistent disobedience |
| Jer 11:8 | Yet they did not obey the voice of the Lord their God, but stubbornly resisted. | Stubborn resistance |
| Jer 17:23 | But they did not obey or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck, that they might not hear and receive instruction. | Unwillingness to learn |
| Jer 18:11 | Now therefore say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, ‘Thus says the Lord: Behold, I am shaping disaster against you and devising a plan against you. Turn back, each from his evil way, and reform your ways and your deeds.’ | God's plan for restoration |
| Jer 19:3 | 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 am bringing upon this city such disaster as will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle. | Prophecy of disaster |
| Jer 32:33 | They have turned their backs to me and not their faces. Though I taught them persistently, yet they did not listen to receive instruction. | Persistent teaching rejected |
| Jer 35:13 | “Have you not seen what these people have done? These very cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem are desolate today… | Consequences of disobedience |
| Jer 36:3 | ...you shall read them aloud to the people in the house of the Lord on the day of fasting. You shall also read them to all the people of Judah who come from their cities. | Reading of God's word |
| Jer 44:16 | As for the message that you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord, we will not listen to you. | Direct rejection of prophecy |
| Ezek 18:31 | Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? | Call for repentance |
| Ezek 33:7-9 | You, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked person, you shall surely die,’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked of his way to turn from it, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity, but you have delivered your life. | Prophet as a watchman |
| Zech 7:11-13 | But they refused to listen and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears, so that they might not hear. They made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the law and the words that the Lord of hosts sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Great anger therefore came from the Lord of hosts. | Stiff-necked rebellion |
| Matt 23:37 | O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! | Jesus' lament over Jerusalem |
| Acts 7:51 | You stiff-necked people! With uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. | Resisting the Holy Spirit |
| Heb 1:1 | Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke in time past to our fathers by the prophets... | God's historical communication |
| Rev 2:20 | But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. | Tolerating false teaching |
Jeremiah 25 verses
Jeremiah 25 4 Meaning
Jeremiah 25:4 declares that the Lord sent His prophets, repeatedly and persistently, to warn the people. Despite these earnest efforts, the people refused to listen or pay attention. This refusal is not a minor oversight but a deliberate defiance against God's divine communication.
Jeremiah 25 4 Context
Jeremiah 25 is a pivotal chapter where the prophet is commanded to deliver a stern message of judgment to Judah and Jerusalem. This prophecy follows the Babylonian victory at Carchemish, a significant turning point in the geopolitical landscape. God's judgment, initiated through the actions of Babylon, is a direct consequence of Judah's persistent sin and refusal to heed His warnings. This particular verse highlights the core reason for this impending judgment: their unwavering disobedience to God's prophets. The chapter foretells a 70-year period of exile and desolation for Jerusalem and surrounding nations, emphasizing God's comprehensive plan to discipline and ultimately restore His people, albeit through severe means.
Jeremiah 25 4 Word Analysis
- "has sent": (Hebrew: שָׁלַח - shalach) Implies an active, deliberate dispatching. God commissioned and sent out His messengers with His specific message. This signifies a purposeful action by God, not a random occurrence. It underscores divine initiative in seeking to communicate with humanity.
- "servants": (Hebrew: עֲבָדִים - avadim) This is a plural form, indicating multiple individuals. It also carries the connotation of devoted obedience and service. These prophets were not acting on their own accord but as God's authorized representatives, entrusted with His vital messages. Their designation as "servants" emphasizes their role as instruments of God's will.
- "prophets": (Hebrew: נְבִיאִים - nevi'im) Individuals chosen and empowered by God to speak His word. Their role was to convey divine revelation, warn of consequences, and offer guidance or promises. The repetition emphasizes the continuous nature of God's efforts through various prophetic voices over time.
- "sent to you": (Hebrew: שָׁלַח - shalach) Repetition of "shalach" again stresses the directed and intentional nature of the message delivery. It wasn't general; it was specific and aimed at them, the people of Judah.
- "early and often" / "diligently and persistently": (Hebrew: מַשְׁכִּים וּמְשַׁלֵּחַ - mashkim u'meshalieach) This idiomatic phrase signifies an ongoing, unflagging effort. "Mashkim" literally means "rising early," suggesting diligence and eagerness in beginning their tasks. "Meshalieach" reiterates the act of sending. Together, they portray a tireless, consistent ministry. God was not giving up easily.
- "you have not listened": (Hebrew: לֹא הִקְשַׁבְתֶּם - lo hiqshavtem) This verb denotes a deliberate refusal to give heed or attention. It's more than just not hearing; it's actively tuning out and ignoring. It highlights their active choice in their own spiritual deafness.
- "nor inclined your ear": (Hebrew: וְלֹא הִטּוֹתֶם אֶת אָזְנְכֶם - v'lo hitotem et oznechem) This is a further elaboration of their refusal. "To incline the ear" is an idiom for giving close attention and willing obedience. By refusing to "incline their ear," they demonstrated a complete rejection of God's communication and His authority.
Word Group Analysis:
- "sent ... servants ... prophets": This triad emphasizes God's structured approach to revelation. He utilizes authorized human agents, highlighting His desire for His people to know His will and respond to it through faithful intermediaries. The plurality indicates a consistent pattern of divine communication throughout generations.
- "early and often" / "diligently and persistently": This phrase encapsulates God's unwavering commitment to His people, despite their unresponsiveness. It highlights God's patient love and desire for their repentance, contrasting sharply with the people's stubborn rejection. It portrays a consistent, deliberate effort on God's part.
- "not listened ... nor inclined your ear": This paired statement portrays the depth of their rejection. They not only failed to hear the message but actively refused to obey it. This signifies a hardened heart and a willful turning away from God's guidance and correction, pointing towards spiritual indifference and defiance.
Jeremiah 25 4 Bonus Section
The phrase "early and often" encapsulates the tireless, persistent nature of God's ministry through His prophets. Scholars note this imagery often relates to a farmer rising early to sow seed or tend the fields, highlighting diligent labor. This shows God's investment in His people, sowing His word and messages repeatedly, expecting a harvest of righteousness. Their refusal signifies a barren spiritual field due to unresponsiveness. This verse lays the foundation for understanding the ultimate judgment that will befall Jerusalem, stemming not from God's lack of effort, but from Judah's stubborn lack of response. It mirrors the spiritual posture of many today who ignore divine counsel, whether through biblical teaching or the inner prompting of the Holy Spirit.
Jeremiah 25 4 Commentary
Jeremiah 25:4 serves as a crucial diagnostic for the spiritual condition of Judah. God's patience is evident in His relentless sending of prophets, "early and often." These were not random pronouncements but carefully dispatched messages from God's own "servants." The people’s response, however, was one of utter neglect – "you have not listened, nor inclined your ear." This isn't just passive non-hearing; it’s active, intentional resistance to divine truth and authority. This willful deafness led directly to the foretold judgments. The verse serves as a timeless reminder that God actively communicates with humanity, and rejection of His messengers and their messages is rejection of God Himself, carrying severe consequences. It echoes Jesus' lament in Matthew 23:37, where He speaks of Jerusalem's consistent killing of prophets and refusal to be gathered. The lesson is clear: responsiveness to God's word through His appointed channels is vital for spiritual well-being and averting judgment.