And say, Hear ye the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, the which whosoever heareth, his ears shall tingle.
JEREMIAH 19:3KJVWhat does Jeremiah 19:3 mean?
Jeremiah 19:3 records God’s warning, spoken through the prophet Jeremiah, to the leaders and people of Jerusalem and Judah: God is about to bring such a disaster on this place that everyone who hears about it will be shocked and disturbed. The message is meant to get the attention of both the rulers and the ordinary people, emphasizing the seriousness of what is coming.
In this verse, Jeremiah is told to deliver God’s message directly to the “kings of Judah” and the “inhabitants of Jerusalem.” The situation is urgent: God, described as the “LORD of hosts, the God of Israel,” announces a coming judgment so severe that it will make people’s ears “tingle”—a phrase that suggests a reaction of alarm or horror. This sets the stage for the explanation of why such judgment is coming in the following verses.
The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 19:3
- “Hear” (שָׁמַע, shamaʿ): This word means more than just listening; it often carries the sense of paying close attention or obeying. Here, it underscores that the message is not just for information but demands a response.
- “Evil” (רָעָה, raʿah): In Hebrew, this word can mean disaster, calamity, or harm, not just moral evil. The verse is about a coming catastrophe, not just general wickedness.
- “Tingle” (צָלַל, tsalal): This word describes a physical reaction—ears tingling or ringing—used in the Hebrew Bible to express shock or dread at terrible news. It highlights how overwhelming the coming judgment will be.
Why Jeremiah 19:3 matters
- The verse clarifies that God’s warning is not limited to religious leaders but is directed at all levels of society, including rulers and ordinary citizens.
- The phrase about ears tingling is a vivid way to show the intensity of the coming disaster, connecting this prophecy to other moments in the Bible where similar language signals a major turning point.
- Jeremiah 19:3 sets up the rest of the chapter, where the reasons for this severe judgment are explained, helping readers understand the seriousness of turning away from God’s ways.