Jeremiah 26 4

Jeremiah 26:4 kjv

And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you,

Jeremiah 26:4 nkjv

And you shall say to them, 'Thus says the LORD: "If you will not listen to Me, to walk in My law which I have set before you,

Jeremiah 26:4 niv

Say to them, 'This is what the LORD says: If you do not listen to me and follow my law, which I have set before you,

Jeremiah 26:4 esv

You shall say to them, 'Thus says the LORD: If you will not listen to me, to walk in my law that I have set before you,

Jeremiah 26:4 nlt

"Say to them, 'This is what the LORD says: If you will not listen to me and obey my word I have given you,

Jeremiah 26 verses

Jeremiah 26 4 meaning

Jeremiah 26:4 conveys a foundational conditional statement from the Lord to the people of Judah, delivered through the prophet Jeremiah. It warns that if they persistently refuse to heed God's instructions and walk in the covenant law He has explicitly laid before them, dire consequences will follow. This verse underscores that their continued existence and well-being as God's covenant people are contingent upon their obedience, not merely their presence in Jerusalem or ownership of the temple.

Jeremiah 26 4 Context

Jeremiah 26:4 is part of a pivotal prophetic sermon delivered by Jeremiah in the early reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, around 609-605 BC. This particular prophecy, known as the "Temple Sermon" (a more extensive version appears in chapter 7), takes place in the courtyard of the Lord's house, a public and highly charged setting. The people of Judah, particularly the residents of Jerusalem, had developed a dangerous complacency and false security, believing that because the Temple of the Lord stood in their city, God would never allow Jerusalem to be destroyed, regardless of their behavior. They trusted in the presence of the Temple, rather than the principles it represented. Jeremiah's message directly challenges this misplaced trust, warning them that if they did not turn from their evil ways and genuinely obey God's law, the Temple and the city would suffer the same fate as Shiloh. The immediate context of verse 4 is the condition attached to this severe warning: only true repentance and adherence to God's instruction can avert the looming disaster. His words provoked extreme anger among the priests, false prophets, and people, leading to a legal proceeding where Jeremiah's life was threatened (Jer 26:7-11).

Jeremiah 26 4 Word analysis

• And (וְ - ve): A conjunction, connecting this verse directly to the preceding command to Jeremiah (26:2-3). It indicates that this conditional statement is the content of the message Jeremiah is to proclaim.
• say (תֹּאמַר - to'mar): Second person singular imperfect verb, "you shall say." This reinforces that the message is not Jeremiah's personal opinion but a divine directive given to him for delivery.
• to them (אֲלֵיהֶם - aleihém): Refers to "all the people of Judah who come to worship in the house of the LORD" (26:2) and specifically the "priests and the prophets and all the people" mentioned later (26:7). It signifies the direct and public nature of the pronouncement.
• Thus (כֹּה - koh): An introductory particle, indicating that what follows is an authoritative, direct quote or pronouncement from God. It imbues the subsequent words with divine authority.
• says (אָמַר - amar): Perfect verb, "said/says," functioning here as a prophetic perfect, highlighting the certainty and immutability of the divine speaker's declaration.
• the LORD (יהוה - YHWH): The tetragrammaton, the personal and covenantal name of God. This emphasizes that the warning comes from the very God with whom Israel is in covenant, the one who established the law. It adds weight and authority to the entire declaration.
• If (אִם - im): Introduces a protasis (the "if" clause) of a first-class condition in Hebrew, indicating a condition assumed for the sake of argument, or considered likely to occur. It sets up a clear choice with definite consequences.
• you will not listen (לֹא תִשְׁמְעוּ - lo tishm'u): This phrase is profoundly significant. לֹא (lo) is the negative particle "not." תִשְׁמְעוּ (tishm'u) is the second person plural imperfect of the verb שָׁמַע (shamá), meaning "to hear," but crucially in biblical Hebrew, it implies much more than merely perceiving sound; it encompasses to heed, to obey, to respond obediently. Therefore, "you will not listen" means "you will not obey." This is a recurring charge against Israel throughout the Old Testament.
• to Me (אֵלַי - elay): Emphasizes that it is God's voice, His commands, and His instruction that are being ignored, not human tradition or opinion. The disobedience is personal to God.
• to walk (לָלֶכֶת - lalékhet): Infinitive construct, "to go, to walk." Metaphorically, "walking" in scripture signifies one's way of life, conduct, or behavior. It refers to the consistent pattern of living according to a certain path or principle.
• in My law (בְתוֹרָתִי - be-Torati): בְ (be) is the preposition "in." תּוֹרָתִי (Torati) is "My law/instruction." תּוֹרָה (Torah) derives from a root meaning "to teach, to guide, to instruct." It refers to God's divine instruction given primarily through Moses, encompassing all His commandments, statutes, and teachings for living a righteous and holy life. It is not merely a set of legal codes but a divine way of life. The suffix -ati "My" underscores its divine origin and ownership.
• which (אֲשֶׁר - asher): A relative pronoun, connecting the law to its source.
• I have set (נָתַתִּי - natati): First person singular perfect verb of נָתַן (natan), meaning "to give, to place, to set, to appoint." The perfect tense indicates a completed action in the past with ongoing relevance. God had definitively and clearly placed His law before them.
• before you (לִפְנֵיכֶם - lifneikhem): Literally "to your face" or "in your presence." This signifies that the law was made known openly, explicitly, and was easily accessible. There was no excuse for ignorance or misunderstanding of God's expectations.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Thus says the LORD": This powerful formula marks the speech as a direct, authoritative revelation from Yahweh, emphasizing that the prophet is merely His mouthpiece. It distinguishes divine pronouncement from human counsel.
• "If you will not listen to Me": This forms the crucial condition. "Listening" here is far more than auditory reception; it is the comprehensive act of hearing, understanding, internalizing, and obeying God's will. Their failure to truly listen means a failure to comply with their covenant obligations.
• "to walk in My law which I have set before you": This phrase specifies what they are failing to listen to and obey. "My law" refers to the entire covenantal instruction given by God for their life and flourishing. "Walk" denotes a continuous, lived-out commitment. The fact that God "set it before them" highlights its clarity, accessibility, and undeniable presence as their guiding principle. It's a testament to God's clear communication, leaving no room for excuses.

Jeremiah 26 4 Bonus section

The Hebrew word Torah (תּוֹרָה) has a broader meaning than just "law" in the legal sense. It encompasses instruction, teaching, guidance, and direction. Thus, "walking in My Torah" implies living holistically according to God's revealed will, not just adhering to a list of rules. This understanding underscores the personal and relational aspect of God's commands—they are for their good and reflect His character. Furthermore, the Temple Sermon in Jeremiah 26 directly references God's previous intervention at Shiloh (26:6). Shiloh was once the central place of worship with the Ark of the Covenant, but due to the people's wickedness (especially the corruption of Eli's sons, 1 Sam 2:12-17; 4:10-11), God allowed it to be destroyed. Jeremiah's prophetic message applies this historical precedent to Jerusalem, shattering the people's false security and demonstrating that God's presence in a physical location does not negate the consequences of disobedience. The choice of the temple courtyard as the setting for this message maximizes its impact and controversy, challenging the very source of the people's perceived invincibility head-on.

Jeremiah 26 4 Commentary

Jeremiah 26:4 encapsulates the very essence of the Old Covenant's conditional nature, articulating God's unchanging standard for His people: genuine obedience. This verse highlights a pivotal conflict in Jeremiah's ministry and Judah's spiritual state: the stark contrast between their ritualistic piety (trusting in the Temple) and their actual conduct (disobeying God's law). The emphasis on "not listening to Me" (shamá) is not about a physical inability to hear, but a wilful, hardened refusal to heed, obey, and put into practice God's comprehensive instruction (Torah). God had "set His law before them" clearly and openly, making their disregard for it a deliberate act of rebellion rather than an oversight. This declaration establishes the basis for the severe judgment threatened against Jerusalem, confirming that God's covenant blessings (and curses) are intrinsically tied to Israel's faithfulness in living according to the divine path He prescribed. The people were called to choose life through obedience, or judgment through rebellion, with God affirming His justice and faithfulness to His own declared principles.