And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the LORD, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not;

JEREMIAH 7:13KJV
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Jeremiah 7:13 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 7:13 mean?

Jeremiah 7:13 describes how God, through the prophet Jeremiah, tells the people of Judah that they have ignored His repeated warnings and calls to change their ways, even though He persistently reached out to them. Because they did not listen or respond, God is now declaring consequences for their actions.

In this verse, God is speaking directly to the people of Judah during a time when they were turning away from Him and practicing wrongdoing. The verse emphasizes that God made many efforts to communicate with them—He "rose up early," meaning He was eager and persistent in sending messages through His prophets. Despite these efforts, the people did not "hear" or "answer," showing a pattern of stubborn refusal to respond to God’s guidance.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 7:13

  • "Early" (שָׁכַם, shakam): This word often means to do something eagerly or persistently, especially early in the day. Here, it highlights how God was not passive but actively and repeatedly tried to reach the people.
  • "Heard" (שָׁמַע, shama): This word means more than just hearing sounds; it often implies listening with the intent to obey. The people’s failure was not just ignoring noise, but refusing to heed God’s instructions.
  • "Called" (קָרָא, qara): This word carries the sense of summoning or inviting. God’s call was a genuine invitation for the people to return to Him, not just a command.
  • "Answered" (עָנָה, anah): This word means to respond or reply. The people’s lack of answer shows a deliberate choice to ignore God’s outreach.

Why Jeremiah 7:13 matters

  • Jeremiah 7:13 clears up the idea that God was distant or silent; instead, it shows God’s active and repeated attempts to reach His people before judgment.
  • The verse emphasizes personal responsibility: the people were not ignorant of God’s will, but chose not to respond, making their accountability clear.
  • This verse ties into the larger message of Jeremiah 7, where God warns that religious rituals are empty if people ignore His voice and persist in wrongdoing.