Jeremiah 25 8

Jeremiah 25:8 kjv

Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Because ye have not heard my words,

Jeremiah 25:8 nkjv

"Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Because you have not heard My words,

Jeremiah 25:8 niv

Therefore the LORD Almighty says this: "Because you have not listened to my words,

Jeremiah 25:8 esv

"Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: Because you have not obeyed my words,

Jeremiah 25:8 nlt

And now the LORD of Heaven's Armies says: Because you have not listened to me,

Jeremiah 25 verses

Jeremiah 25 8 Meaning

Jeremiah 25:8 declares God's righteous judgment upon Judah, specifically Jerusalem, because of their persistent and deliberate disobedience to His commands and prophetic warnings. It states that due to their refusal to heed His words, the LORD of hosts, the sovereign and powerful God, will execute the punitive actions detailed in the subsequent verses. This verse sets the foundational reason for the seventy-year Babylonian exile.

Jeremiah 25 8 Context

Jeremiah 25 opens by setting the time in the fourth year of Jehoiakim king of Judah (605/604 BC), a pivotal year in which Babylon, under Nebuchadnezzar, defeated Egypt at the Battle of Carchemish, solidifying their regional dominance. This period marked the beginning of Babylon's rise as the major world power and posed a direct threat to Judah. Jeremiah, who had been prophesying for 23 years (v. 3), recounts God's persistent efforts to call Judah to repentance through His prophets, all of which were consistently rejected. Verses 1-7 summarize Judah's long-standing rebellion. Jeremiah 25:8 specifically introduces the reason for the severe divine judgment that will now be enacted, culminating in the 70-year Babylonian captivity and the subsequent judgment of surrounding nations and Babylon itself. The entire chapter serves as a comprehensive divine declaration of judgment due to unrepentant sin and disobedience.

Jeremiah 25 8 Word analysis

• "Therefore" (לָכֵן - lāḵēn): This conjunctive adverb acts as a strong logical connector, indicating a direct consequence. It signifies that what follows is the inevitable result or conclusion drawn from Judah's preceding failure to respond to God's commands as outlined in the earlier verses (Jer 25:3-7). It emphasizes the justice of the forthcoming divine action, not merely as an arbitrary act, but a direct outcome of their choices.
• "thus says" (כֹּה אָמַר - kōh ’āmar): This is a formulaic expression widely used in prophetic literature to denote direct divine revelation. It conveys ultimate authority and divine origin for the pronouncement. The prophet is not speaking his own words, but literally "this is what [God] has said." It highlights that the subsequent judgment is God's decree.
• "the LORD of hosts" (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת - Yahweh tsᵉvā’ôṯ): This potent divine title translates to "Yahweh of armies" or "Yahweh of hosts." "Hosts" can refer to celestial armies, earthly armies, or the entire creation under God's command.
  • Significance: It emphasizes God's omnipotence, His sovereign control over all forces (heavenly and earthly), and His capacity to mobilize vast armies, including foreign nations, to accomplish His purposes. In the context of impending judgment, it underlines His power to execute His decree against His disobedient people and the nations.
  • Connection to judgment: The title often appears in contexts of war, judgment, and divine intervention.
• "Because" (יַעַן - ya‘an): This conjunction clearly states the direct cause or reason for the divine action. It grounds the impending judgment in a specific act of rebellion rather than being an arbitrary punishment.
• "you have not listened" (לֹא שְׁמַעְתֶּם - lō’ shᵉma‘tem): This is a pivotal phrase.
  • "not" (לֹא - lō’): A direct and unambiguous negative, highlighting a clear refusal.
  • "listened" (שְׁמַעְתֶּם - shᵉma‘tem): From the verb shama (שָׁמַע). In Hebrew, shama implies much more than mere auditory perception. It denotes "to hear and obey," "to pay attention," "to heed," or "to take action based on what is heard." Therefore, "you have not listened" means they not only heard God's words but actively chose not to heed or obey them, a deliberate act of disobedience. This refers to a long pattern of disregard.
• "to My words" (אֶל-דְּבָרָי - ’el-dibbərāy): This refers collectively to God's entire body of divine revelation: the Mosaic Law, the covenant stipulations, the warnings given through earlier prophets, and particularly the repeated messages and entreaties sent through Jeremiah himself over 23 years (Jer 25:3). These were words meant to guide, instruct, warn, and lead to repentance.
• Words-group analysis:
  • "Thus says the LORD of hosts": This majestic title, combined with the authoritative pronouncement, sets a tone of gravitas and undeniable certainty. The subsequent judgment is not a mere human prediction but a divine, immutable decree from the all-powerful Creator and Commander of the universe.
  • "Because you have not listened to My words": This phrase lays bare the indictment against Judah. It highlights a prolonged and active resistance to divine revelation. The consequence about to be described is therefore presented as entirely justified, not arbitrary, emphasizing divine justice and human responsibility. The refusal to listen constitutes a breaking of covenant loyalty and disrespect for God's authority.

Jeremiah 25 8 Bonus section

• God's Longsuffering and Forewarning: This verse comes after a powerful statement in Jeremiah 25:3-7, where God reiterates that He sent His servants the prophets "persistently" (lit. "rising up early and sending them"). This highlights God's immense longsuffering and His exhaustive efforts to prevent judgment, making Judah's "not listened" all the more egregious.
• Covenantal Basis of Judgment: The phrase "My words" points directly back to the covenant given at Sinai (Exodus 19-24, Deuteronomy), where blessings were promised for obedience and curses for disobedience (Deut 28, Lev 26). Judah's failure to listen to God's words represented a violation of this covenant, triggering the prescribed judgments.
• Divine Sovereignty over Nations: The upcoming verses in Jeremiah 25 make it clear that God will use Nebuchadnezzar, a pagan king, as His "servant" to execute this judgment. This highlights God's absolute sovereignty, capable of orchestrating historical events and using any nation as an instrument of His will, even if they do not acknowledge Him. This reinforces the power inherent in the title "LORD of hosts."
• Pattern of Biblical Judgment: Jeremiah 25:8 is an archetype of divine judgment rooted in humanity's rebellion. This pattern is observable from Eden (Gen 3), through the Flood (Gen 6-9), Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19), and is ultimately seen in the ultimate judgment upon all who reject Christ (Rev 20). The core principle remains: sin, when unrepentant, leads to separation and consequence.

Jeremiah 25 8 Commentary

Jeremiah 25:8 is a definitive statement that links Judah's consistent and willful disobedience to God's explicit words directly to the impending severe judgment of the Babylonian exile. God is portrayed as an authoritative, just, and sovereign ruler, "the LORD of hosts," who has patiently sent His "words" (through prophets like Jeremiah) to His people for over two decades. Their failure was not merely incidental oversight but an active, deliberate refusal to "listen" (meaning to heed and obey). This verse underscores the fundamental principle throughout Scripture: rejection of God's revealed will leads to certain and just divine repercussions. It signifies that divine judgment is not a rash act, but a final response to unrepentant sin and persistent defiance against divine authority, revealing both God's patience and His unwavering righteousness.