Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.

JEREMIAH 13:16KJV
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Jeremiah 13:16 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 13:16 mean?

Jeremiah 13:16 warns the people to honor and acknowledge the LORD their God before disaster comes, describing a time when darkness and danger will replace the light they hope for. The verse urges them to respond before it is too late, using vivid images of stumbling in darkness and searching for light that turns into deep gloom.

Jeremiah is speaking to the people of Judah, warning them about the consequences of ignoring God. The setting is one of urgent warning: if the people do not give proper respect and glory to God, they will face a time of confusion and distress, pictured as stumbling on dark mountains and being surrounded by "the shadow of death." The verse uses strong contrasts between light and darkness to emphasize the seriousness of the coming judgment.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 13:16

  • "Glory" (כָּבוֹד, kavod) refers to giving proper weight, honor, or respect. Here, it means recognizing God’s greatness before disaster strikes.
  • "Darkness" (חֹשֶׁךְ, choshekh) and "gross darkness" (אֲפֵלָה, aphelah) both describe not just physical darkness but a state of confusion, danger, or judgment. The use of both words intensifies the warning.
  • "Shadow of death" (צַלְמָוֶת, tsalmavet) is a Hebrew phrase often used for deep darkness or mortal danger, not just literal death. It highlights the seriousness of what is coming if the people do not respond.

Why Jeremiah 13:16 matters

  • This verse clears up the idea that God’s warnings are just empty threats; it shows that there is a real point of no return if people refuse to listen.
  • The emphasis on "before" highlights that there is still a chance to respond, but it will not last forever.
  • Jeremiah 13:16 connects to the wider passage by showing the urgency of repentance and the reality of judgment, using powerful imagery to make the danger clear to the people.

Where else these words appear

“dark” Hebrew H5399 · used in 12 verses

  • 1 Samuel 30:17 And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled.
  • Job 3:9 Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day:
  • Proverbs 7:9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:

“darkness” Hebrew H6205 · used in 15 verses

  • Exodus 20:21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
  • 1 Kings 8:12 Then spake Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
  • Psalms 97:2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.

“death” Hebrew H6757 · used in 17 verses

  • Job 3:5 Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.
  • Job 24:17 For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.
  • Psalms 44:19 Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.

“darkness” Hebrew H2821 · used in 18 verses

  • Exodus 10:15 For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt.
  • Psalms 105:28 He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word.
  • Lamentations 4:8 Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.