Jeremiah 9 13

Jeremiah 9:13 kjv

And the LORD saith, Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein;

Jeremiah 9:13 nkjv

And the LORD said, "Because they have forsaken My law which I set before them, and have not obeyed My voice, nor walked according to it,

Jeremiah 9:13 niv

The LORD said, "It is because they have forsaken my law, which I set before them; they have not obeyed me or followed my law.

Jeremiah 9:13 esv

And the LORD says: "Because they have forsaken my law that I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice or walked in accord with it,

Jeremiah 9:13 nlt

The LORD replies, "This has happened because my people have abandoned my instructions; they have refused to obey what I said.

Jeremiah 9 verses

Jeremiah 9 13 Meaning

The Lord declares that because Israel has forsaken His covenant and commandments, they will experience divine judgment, reaping the consequences of their disobedience.

Jeremiah 9 13 Context

Jeremiah 9:12-16 speaks of impending judgment upon Judah. The prophet Isaiah had previously declared similar pronouncements against Israel. The historical context is during the reigns of Judah's kings, leading up to the Babylonian exile. The people, despite God's repeated warnings and covenants, persisted in idolatry, apostasy, and a lack of genuine righteousness. Jeremiah 9 itself addresses the nation's deep-seated sin, its self-deception, and its rejection of God's word, which will inevitably lead to desolation and captivity. This chapter fits within Jeremiah's broader prophetic ministry, characterized by God's patient but firm call to repentance in the face of severe consequences for national disobedience.

Jeremiah 9 13 Word Analysis

• "For it hath happened" - "Kī-pā qā'râ" (כִּי־פָקַד) - "For it has happened," "for it has come to pass." This signifies a fulfilled reality or an inevitable event that God has ordained or allowed due to prior actions.
• "while they were departed" - "bᵉšeth-yāza'bū" (בְּשֶׁת־יָזְבוּ) - "when they forsook" or "because they abandoned." This highlights the action of forsaking and abandoning God's commands and covenant. The Hebrew word implies a wilful desertion.
• "from the LORD their God" - "mîm-YHWH 'ĕlōhêhem" (מֵיִhovah אֱלֹהֵיהֶם) - "from Yahweh their God." Emphasizes their severance from their unique covenant relationship with the personal God of Israel, Yahweh. It’s a rejection of their covenant Lord.
• "and assembled themselves" - "wayyiqāhēlū" (וַיִּקָהֲלוּ) - "and gathered themselves," "and assembled." This refers to the collective action of the people in coming together.
• "by the graves of the dead" - "bə qabrê mĕthîm" (בְּקִבְרֵי מֵתִים) - "by the graves of the dead." This can be interpreted in several ways: it might refer to rituals performed at graves, a form of idolatry associated with the dead or spiritism, or the very consequences of sin being death itself that would accumulate graves.
• "and have joined themselves" - "wayeḥde lāh" (וַיֶּחְדְּלוּ) - "and have ceased" or "and have stopped." However, a common alternative reading for similar constructs is related to joining or allying with. The Masoretic text uses a term implying stopping or ceasing from what is right, and beginning something else. However, contextually, "joined themselves" to their wicked practices or the dead.
• "to all them that forsake thee" - "la·kol-mə rabrîm 'ōþōkā" (לְכֹל־מְרָעִים עֹזְבֶךָ) - "to all the evil ones forsaking you." This implies a solidarity or participation in the rejection of God with others who have also turned away from Him. It suggests an alignment with rebellion.
• "gathered themselves together" - "yāḥdav" (יַחְדָּו) - "together." Underscores the communal and unified nature of their apostasy and engagement in prohibited practices.

Word Groups Analysis

• "Departed from the LORD their God": This phrase signifies a turning away from divine relationship and covenant faithfulness. It encompasses the abandonment of God's commandments and presence, leading to spiritual alienation.
• "Assembled by the graves of the dead": This refers to engaging in idolatrous or forbidden practices related to the dead, possibly involving necromancy or ancestor worship. It represents a substitution of true worship with the worship of the deceased or pagan rituals that violate God’s law.
• "Joined themselves to all them that forsake thee": This signifies a fellowship and active participation in sin with other apostate individuals or nations. It points to a collective agreement in rebellion against God and a rejection of His authority and truth.

Jeremiah 9 13 Bonus Section

The phrase "assembled by the graves of the dead" echoes a wider prophetic condemnation of necromancy and idolatry practiced by ancient Israel. Practices involving seeking messages or favor from the deceased were strictly forbidden in the Law of Moses (Leviticus 19:31; Deuteronomy 18:10-11), as they usurped God's unique authority and drew people away from true dependence on Him. This verse is part of a lament over Judah's persistent infidelity, illustrating the devastating consequences when a people abandons their divine source of life and truth, choosing instead the company of spiritual death.

Jeremiah 9 13 Commentary

This verse is a direct indictment of the people of Judah for their profound departure from their covenant obligations with Yahweh. It is not merely a lapse but a conscious decision to turn away from Him. Their act of "gathering by the graves of the dead" points to the pervasive influence of pagan worship and idolatry, which was often associated with seeking guidance or appeasement from the deceased. This substitution of God’s truth for spiritualistic practices, and their joining with others who had likewise abandoned God, demonstrates the depth of their apostasy. The consequence is inevitable: divine judgment, as declared by the Lord. The Lord highlights their culpability, tracing their sin to their deliberate abandonment of Him and their embrace of detestable practices taught by their fathers, perpetuating a cycle of disobedience.