Jeremiah 35 17

Jeremiah 35:17 kjv

Therefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have pronounced against them: because I have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered.

Jeremiah 35:17 nkjv

"Therefore thus says the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel: 'Behold, I will bring on Judah and on all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the doom that I have pronounced against them; because I have spoken to them but they have not heard, and I have called to them but they have not answered.' "

Jeremiah 35:17 niv

"Therefore this is what the LORD God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: 'Listen! I am going to bring on Judah and on everyone living in Jerusalem every disaster I pronounced against them. I spoke to them, but they did not listen; I called to them, but they did not answer.'?"

Jeremiah 35:17 esv

Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing upon Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the disaster that I have pronounced against them, because I have spoken to them and they have not listened, I have called to them and they have not answered."

Jeremiah 35:17 nlt

"Therefore, this is what the LORD God of Heaven's Armies, the God of Israel, says: 'Because you refuse to listen or answer when I call, I will send upon Judah and Jerusalem all the disasters I have threatened.'"

Jeremiah 35 verses

Jeremiah 35 17 meaning

This verse is a solemn declaration of God's unyielding judgment against Judah and Jerusalem. It proclaims that God will execute all the calamities He has previously announced because the people have consistently ignored His divine warnings and refused to obey His words, directly following the stark example of the Rechabites' unwavering obedience.

Jeremiah 35 17 Context

Jeremiah 35 takes place during the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, shortly before the final Babylonian invasions. Chapter 35 specifically presents the Lord's command to Jeremiah to bring the Rechabite clan into the temple, offer them wine, and observe their response. The Rechabites, renowned for their ancestral vow to abstain from wine, building houses, sowing seed, and owning vineyards, steadfastly refused the wine, explaining their unwavering obedience to the command of their ancestor, Jonadab son of Rechab. This steadfast loyalty to a human progenitor's word, extending over centuries, stood in stark contrast to Judah's faithless and repeated disobedience to the divine word of God, their covenant Father. Verse 17 then directly applies this object lesson: because Judah has ignored countless divine warnings, the promised judgment is certain and imminent.

Jeremiah 35 17 Word analysis

• Therefore (לָכֵן - laken): This strong conjunction signifies a direct and unavoidable consequence, connecting the preceding Rechabite object lesson and Judah's faithlessness directly to the impending judgment. It underscores divine logic in action.

• thus says the LORD (כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה - koh amar Yahweh): This is a standard prophetic formula emphasizing absolute divine authority. It leaves no doubt that the following message is not Jeremiah's opinion but God's direct word. The word Yahweh refers to the personal covenant name of God, highlighting His faithfulness, even in judgment.

• the God of hosts (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת - Yahweh Tseva'ot): This title emphasizes God's sovereign power over all spiritual and earthly armies. It declares Him as the mighty warrior and supreme commander, indicating that His judgment is executed with irresistible might and cannot be thwarted. It brings a sense of awesome power and might, particularly in contexts of judgment or war.

• the God of Israel (אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - Elohei Yisra'el): This title highlights God's unique covenant relationship with His chosen people. It implies both intimacy and accountability. The fact that their own God, who delivered them and made promises to them, is bringing judgment makes their sin and His forthcoming action even more profound and sorrowful.

• Behold (הִנֵּה - hinneh): An interjection used to draw immediate and serious attention to what is about to be said, signaling something momentous, startling, or critically important is about to occur.

• I will bring upon (מֵבִיא - mevi'): Denotes an active, intentional, and certain action on God's part. It is not something that merely happens but is specifically initiated and executed by Him.

• Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem: These are the specific targets of the judgment. Judah represents the broader nation, while Jerusalem signifies the capital, the spiritual and political heart of the kingdom. Judgment will be comprehensive, affecting both the general populace and the leadership, urban and rural alike.

• all the disaster (כֹּל הָרָעָה - kol hara'ah): "All" implies comprehensiveness. It includes the entire range of previously prophesied calamities—famine, sword, pestilence, and exile. This is total, inescapable judgment, not partial. The word ra'ah means "evil," "calamity," or "harm," clearly indicating something negative and destructive.

• that I have pronounced against them (אֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתִּי עֲלֵיהֶם - asher dibbarti aleihem): This emphasizes that God's actions are not arbitrary or impulsive. They are the faithful execution of warnings and pronouncements given repeatedly through His prophets, especially rooted in the curses of the Mosaic covenant (Lev 26, Deut 28). God's word proves true, both in promise and warning.

• because they have not listened to my words (כִּי לֹא שָׁמְעוּ אֶת־דְּבָרָי - ki lo' sham'u et-devaray): This is the pivotal reason for the judgment. "Not listened" (from the root shama') means more than simply hearing; it implies a willful refusal to heed, obey, and respond. It's a failure of active, obedient hearing, contrasting sharply with the Rechabites' complete obedience. This negligence in hearing led to negligence in doing.

• declares the LORD (נְאֻם יְהוָה - neum Yahweh): A final, powerful authoritative stamp, sealing the pronouncement. It reinforces that the word is God's final and certain decree, echoing the "thus says the LORD" that opened the verse.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel": This triadic divine appellation conveys immense authority and gravity. It means the message comes from the personal covenant God (Yahweh), the all-powerful military commander (God of Hosts), and the specific God of His chosen nation (God of Israel). It highlights both intimacy and ultimate judgment from the one they were bound to obey.
  • "I will bring upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the disaster that I have pronounced against them": This passage specifies the extent (all disaster), the agent (God Himself), the target (Judah and Jerusalem), and the basis (previously declared words). It shows a deliberate, just, and comprehensive judgment as the fulfillment of prior warnings.
  • "because they have not listened to my words": This phrase articulates the central reason for the impending doom. It points to persistent, intentional disobedience and spiritual deafness, contrasting sharply with the Rechabites' keen adherence to their human ancestor's command. This refusal to heed God's voice broke the covenant and invoked its curses.

Jeremiah 35 17 Bonus section

This verse encapsulates the divine principle that the Creator is consistent in His communication and His actions. It reinforces God's attribute of faithfulness to His word: every warning, every covenant obligation, every promised curse for disobedience will be fulfilled just as surely as every blessing for obedience. The deliberate choice of words, especially the repeated "declares the LORD," signifies a decree from which there is no appeal. This episode with the Rechabites highlights the profound irony and the deeply tragic nature of Judah's spiritual blindness and hardened hearts. They valued the tradition of a distant ancestor more than the living commands of their present, covenant-keeping God. The implication extends beyond Israel to all who claim God's name: adherence to His word is not optional; it is the fundamental expectation of relationship and the determinant of divine favor or judgment.

Jeremiah 35 17 Commentary

Jeremiah 35:17 represents a definitive shift from patient warning to declared judgment. After demonstrating the simple yet profound obedience of the Rechabites to a human father, God directly contrasts this with the profound disobedience of Judah to their divine Father. The repeated, multi-faceted divine titles—"LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel"—underscore the undeniable authority and righteousness behind this pronouncement. It's not a hasty decision but a necessary outcome rooted in the character of a faithful God who keeps His word, whether in promise or in threat. The "all the disaster" is comprehensive and proportional, specifically targeting "Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem" because of their persistent and active "not listening to my words." This verdict highlights the gravity of neglecting divine instruction and serves as a solemn reminder that God's patience is not endless and that His justice will ultimately prevail when warnings are scorned. It emphasizes that true listening culminates in obedience, a lesson Judah tragically failed.