Jeremiah 35:13 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 35:13 mean?

Jeremiah 35:13 records God, through Jeremiah, challenging the people of Judah and Jerusalem to listen and learn from His words, questioning why they refuse to accept His instruction. The verse highlights God’s frustration that His people are not willing to be taught or to obey what He says.

In this scene, God is speaking to Jeremiah, instructing him to confront the men of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem. The context is a lesson drawn from the obedience of the Rechabites (described earlier in the chapter), contrasting their faithfulness with Judah’s stubbornness. God’s question is pointed: if the Rechabites can follow their ancestor’s command, why won’t God’s own people listen to Him?

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 35:13

• "instruction" (מּוּסָר, musar): This word often means discipline, correction, or training, not just information. God is not only offering advice but calling for a change in attitude and behavior.
• "hearken" (שָׁמַע, shama): This word carries the sense of both hearing and obeying. God is not just asking for His words to be heard, but for them to be acted upon.
• "receive" (לָקַח, laqach): This verb means to take or accept. The people are being asked to actively take hold of God’s correction, not just passively listen.

Why Jeremiah 35:13 matters

• The verse clarifies that God’s main concern is not just that His words are heard, but that they are received with a willingness to change.
• Jeremiah 35:13 sets up a sharp contrast between the obedience of the Rechabites and the disobedience of Judah, making the people’s refusal to listen even more striking.
• This verse helps readers see the heart of the wider passage: God’s call is not just for ritual or tradition, but for genuine, responsive listening and obedience.