Jeremiah 25:3 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 25:3 mean?

Jeremiah 25:3 means that the prophet Jeremiah has been faithfully delivering messages from God to the people of Judah for twenty-three years, starting from the thirteenth year of King Josiah’s reign, but the people have not listened to him. Jeremiah is emphasizing how long he has been warning them and how persistent he has been, yet the people have ignored his words.

Jeremiah himself is speaking here, addressing the people of Judah. He is reminding them that God’s word (“the word of the LORD”) has come to him over a long period, and he has made great effort (“rising early and speaking”) to share it with them. The verse highlights the seriousness of the people’s refusal to listen, setting the stage for the warnings and consequences that follow in the chapter.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 25:3

• “Rising early” (הִשְׁכַּ֥ם, hishkam): This word means to get up early or to act with urgency and diligence. Jeremiah uses it to show that he has been eager and persistent in delivering God’s message, not just doing it occasionally or half-heartedly.
• “Hearkened” (שָׁמַע, shama): This word means to listen or obey. The emphasis is not just on hearing the sound of Jeremiah’s words, but on responding and taking them seriously, which the people have not done.
• “Word” (דָּבָר, davar): This means a message or command. Jeremiah is not sharing his own ideas but what he believes is a direct message from God.

Why Jeremiah 25:3 matters

• Jeremiah 25:3 clears up any idea that the people did not have enough warning; it stresses that God’s message was repeated and urgent over many years.
• The verse highlights Jeremiah’s faithfulness and persistence, showing that the problem was not with the messenger or the message, but with the people’s unwillingness to listen.
• This verse sets the tone for the rest of the chapter, where Jeremiah will explain the consequences of ignoring God’s repeated warnings.