Therefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have pronounced against them: because I have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered.

JEREMIAH 35:17KJV
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Jeremiah 35:17 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 35:17 mean?

Jeremiah 35:17 means that God is declaring He will bring disaster on Judah and all who live in Jerusalem because they have ignored His warnings and refused to respond when He called out to them. This verse is a statement of consequence for their ongoing disobedience and unwillingness to listen to God’s messages.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Jeremiah to the people of Judah and Jerusalem. The situation is one of repeated warnings: God has spoken to them and called them, but they have not listened or answered. The verse sums up why judgment is coming—because the people have persistently refused to heed God’s voice, despite His patience and repeated outreach.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 35:17

  • LORD (יְהוָה, Yahweh): This is the personal name of God, emphasizing that the message comes from the God who has a covenant relationship with Israel.
  • evil (רָעָה, ra‘ah): This word often means “disaster” or “calamity” in this context, not moral evil, but the real trouble or hardship God is about to bring as a consequence.
  • pronounced (דִּבֶּר, dibber): This word means “spoken” or “declared,” showing that the coming disaster is not random but something God has already warned about.
  • heard (שָׁמַע, shama‘): This word means more than just hearing sounds—it carries the sense of listening with the intent to obey, which the people have not done.

Why Jeremiah 35:17 matters

  • Jeremiah 35:17 clarifies that the disaster coming on Judah and Jerusalem is not sudden or without warning; it is the result of many ignored messages from God.
  • The verse highlights the seriousness of refusing to listen to God, showing that repeated rejection of His calls eventually leads to real consequences.
  • In the context of Jeremiah 35, this verse contrasts the obedience of the Rechabites (who listened to their ancestor’s command) with the disobedience of the rest of Judah, making the reason for judgment even clearer.