Jeremiah 7 13

Jeremiah 7:13 kjv

And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the LORD, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not;

Jeremiah 7:13 nkjv

And now, because you have done all these works," says the LORD, "and I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking, but you did not hear, and I called you, but you did not answer,

Jeremiah 7:13 niv

While you were doing all these things, declares the LORD, I spoke to you again and again, but you did not listen; I called you, but you did not answer.

Jeremiah 7:13 esv

And now, because you have done all these things, declares the LORD, and when I spoke to you persistently you did not listen, and when I called you, you did not answer,

Jeremiah 7:13 nlt

While you were doing these wicked things, says the LORD, I spoke to you about it repeatedly, but you would not listen. I called out to you, but you refused to answer.

Jeremiah 7 verses

Jeremiah 7 13 Meaning

Jeremiah 7:13 declares the Lord's indictment against the people of Judah. It reveals that God, in His steadfast mercy, had repeatedly and earnestly communicated His warnings and instructions to them through His prophets. However, despite His diligent efforts to reach them, the people remained obdurate, refusing to listen or respond to His calls. This verse highlights their profound disobedience and willful ignorance of divine counsel, setting the stage for the judgment that follows in the Temple Sermon.

Jeremiah 7 13 Context

Jeremiah 7:13 is part of Jeremiah's pivotal "Temple Sermon," delivered at the gate of the Temple in Jerusalem. Chapters 7-10 form a powerful oracle condemning Judah's superficial worship and false security. The people believed that the physical presence of the Temple within their city guaranteed God's protection, uttering "The temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD are these!" (Jer 7:4). However, their lives were riddled with egregious sins—stealing, murdering, committing adultery, perjury, burning incense to Baal, and worshipping other gods (Jer 7:9-10). They presumed they could engage in these detestable practices and then seek refuge in God's house, making it a "den of robbers" (Jer 7:11).

Verse 13 directly follows God's indictment of these wicked "works" (v. 8-11) and His warning that He would treat their Temple as He treated Shiloh (v. 12)—a place of former divine dwelling that was ultimately destroyed due to Israel's sin (1 Sam 4). Thus, the verse serves as God's exasperated declaration of His patient, persistent efforts to call them back to righteousness, contrasted with their unyielding rebellion and deliberate deafness, solidifying the justification for the impending judgment of destruction and exile.

Jeremiah 7 13 Word analysis

• And now (וְעַתָּה, wə‘attāh): This phrase signals a transition or a conclusion. It introduces the consequence of the previously stated actions (their "works") and sets the stage for God's coming judgment. It’s an emphatic "therefore."

• because you have done all these works (כִּי עֲשִׂיתֶם אֶת־כָּל־הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵ֗לֶּה, ki-‘aśîṯem ‘et-kol-haḍ-dābārîm hā-’ēlleh): "Works" (דְּבָרִים, dābārîm) here refers specifically to the evil deeds outlined in Jeremiah 7:9-10 (idolatry, injustice, violence). This phrase asserts God's observation and documentation of their covenant violations, providing the direct basis for His complaint and subsequent judgment.

• says the Lord (נְאֻם־יְהוָ֖ה, nə’um YHWH): This is a prophetic formula that validates the preceding and following statements as a direct, authoritative utterance from God, emphasizing the divine origin and incontrovertible truth of the message.

• and I spoke to you (וָאֲדַבֵּר֙ אֲלֵיכֶ֔ם, wā’ăḏabbēr ’ălêḵem): Signifies God's active engagement and personal communication with His people, not leaving them in ignorance but actively teaching and warning.

• rising up early and speaking (הַשְׁכֵּם֙ וְדַבֵּ֔ר, haškkēm wāḏabbēr): The verb haškkēm (from šākam) implies "to rise early, to do something diligently or persistently, with effort." This is a crucial expression in Jeremiah, frequently used to emphasize God’s earnest, continuous, and patient efforts to communicate His word to Judah through His prophets. It reflects God’s immense love and desire for His people to repent, going to extraordinary lengths to warn them.

• but you would not hear (וְלֹא שְׁמַעְתֶּ֑ם, wəlo’ šəma‘tem): šāma‘ (שָׁמַע) means to "hear, listen, understand, and obey." The negation wəlo’ means their refusal was comprehensive—they neither paid attention to the words nor did they obey the commands within them. This highlights their deep spiritual rebellion.

• and I called you (וָאֶקְרָא֙ לָכֶ֔ם, wā’eqrā’ lāḵem): qārā’ (קָרָא) signifies a direct and urgent summon or appeal, often implying a personal invitation to respond. This suggests God's direct interaction, a personal call for reconciliation.

• but you would not answer (וְאֵ֣ין עֹנֶֽה, wə’ên ‘ōneh): ‘ānāh (עָנָה) means "to answer, respond, testify." The phrase wə’ên ‘ōneh indicates an absolute lack of response, not merely an inability but a willful refusal to engage or acknowledge God's call. It points to a complete and utter disconnect.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "And now, because you have done all these works": This directly links the consequence to their actions. God's impending action is not arbitrary but a righteous response to their continuous rebellion and blatant disregard for the covenant. It portrays God as a judge who meticulously reviews the evidence before rendering a verdict.
  • "I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking": This phrase emphasizes God's tireless, repeated, and urgent communication through the prophets. It paints a picture of divine patience and persistent effort to avert judgment, underscoring the severity of their later judgment by showing how much God sought to prevent it. It suggests God was not merely speaking, but acting with diligence and intention, waking up 'early' metaphorically to engage with His people.
  • "but you would not hear, and I called you, but you would not answer": This pair of contrasting statements encapsulates Judah's profound spiritual deafness and stubborn refusal to engage with their God. It highlights the willful nature of their disobedience, which went beyond simply not understanding, to actively resisting and ignoring divine initiatives. This willful blindness makes their sin far more egregious.

Jeremiah 7 13 Bonus section

• The use of wəlo’ šəma‘tem (you would not hear/obey) and wə’ên ‘ōneh (you would not answer) creates a powerful parallelism, emphasizing a double aspect of their rejection: internal refusal to heed God's words and external refusal to engage with His call. This suggests a comprehensive spiritual insensitivity.
• This verse contributes to a common prophetic theme known as the "covenant lawsuit" (rîḇ pattern). God presents His case against His people, citing their breach of covenant stipulations (their "works") and their rejection of His repeated warnings, justifying His forthcoming judgment.
• The "rising up early" motif (הַשְׁכֵּם) is highly characteristic of Jeremiah's message (e.g., Jer 25:3, 26:5, 32:33, 35:14, 44:4). It highlights God's indefatigable and unrelenting effort to warn His people before disaster strikes, underscoring the tragic nature of their ultimate destruction, which could have been averted if only they had listened. It's a testament to divine mercy stretched to its limits.

Jeremiah 7 13 Commentary

Jeremiah 7:13 is a powerful expression of divine lament and righteous indignation. It articulates God's immense patience and tireless efforts to engage with His covenant people, juxtaposed against their unyielding defiance. God, through His prophets, had persistently and urgently warned Judah of the consequences of their actions, rising "early" in His metaphorical diligence to offer counsel and call them to repentance. This "rising up early" motif is not merely about the timing but underscores God's deep commitment, love, and earnest desire for His people to choose life. Yet, Judah's response was a tragic rejection: they would not "hear" in the sense of both listening and obeying, and they would not "answer" God's direct and urgent call. This verse essentially portrays a divine lawsuit where the judge (God) presents the evidence of His faithful efforts and the defendant's (Judah's) utter and deliberate non-cooperation. Their unresponsiveness makes the subsequent judgment both necessary and just. It illustrates the solemn principle that persistent rejection of divine truth, despite abundant warning, inevitably leads to devastating consequences, transforming a place once guaranteed by divine presence into a target of divine judgment.