And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear.

JEREMIAH 25:4KJV
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Jeremiah 25:4 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 25:4 mean?

Jeremiah 25:4 says that God repeatedly sent His prophets to warn the people, but they refused to listen or pay attention. The verse highlights the people's ongoing unwillingness to hear God's messages, despite His persistent efforts to reach them through His servants.

In this verse, the prophet Jeremiah is speaking to the people of Judah. He is reminding them that God (referred to as "the LORD") has not only sent Jeremiah but also many other prophets ("his servants") over the years. The phrase "rising early and sending them" shows how diligent and persistent God has been in trying to get their attention. Despite all these warnings, the people have ignored the messages, showing a pattern of stubbornness and disregard for what God was saying.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 25:4

  • "the LORD" (יְהוָה, Yahweh): This is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing that the message comes from Israel’s covenant God, not a generic deity.
  • "servants" (עֶבֶד, ʿeved): This word means "servant" or "slave," and here it refers to the prophets as those who serve God by delivering His messages, highlighting their role as faithful messengers.
  • "early" (שָׁכַם, shakam): This word means "to rise early," and it is often used in Hebrew to show eagerness or urgency. The idea is that God did not delay but acted promptly and repeatedly to warn the people.
  • "hearkened" (שָׁמַע, shamaʿ): This means "to listen" or "to obey." The verse points out that the people did not just fail to hear the words, but they refused to respond or act on them.

Why Jeremiah 25:4 matters

  • Jeremiah 25:4 clears up the idea that God was silent or absent; instead, it shows He was actively reaching out through many prophets over a long period.
  • The verse emphasizes the seriousness of ignoring God’s repeated warnings, setting the stage for why judgment is coming in the following verses.
  • This verse connects to the larger theme in Jeremiah of God’s patience and the people’s persistent refusal to change, helping readers understand the context of Judah’s coming exile.