Therefore thou shalt speak all these words unto them; but they will not hearken to thee: thou shalt also call unto them; but they will not answer thee.
JEREMIAH 7:27KJVWhat does Jeremiah 7:27 mean?
Jeremiah 7:27 describes God telling Jeremiah to deliver His message to the people, even though they will not listen or respond. The verse shows that Jeremiah’s warnings will be met with stubborn silence and rejection from his audience.
In this verse, God is speaking directly to Jeremiah, instructing him to keep proclaiming God’s words to the people of Judah. The situation is that the people have repeatedly ignored God’s calls to repentance. God makes it clear to Jeremiah that, despite his faithful speaking and calling out, the people will not "hearken" (listen) or "answer" him, highlighting their hardened hearts and unwillingness to change.
The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 7:27
- "Hearken" (שָׁמַע, shamaʿ): This word often means more than just hearing; it carries the sense of listening with the intent to obey. The verse emphasizes that the people are not just ignoring Jeremiah’s words, but are refusing to let them affect their actions.
- "Call" (קָרָא, qaraʾ): This word means to call out or summon. God tells Jeremiah to keep calling to the people, showing persistence, even though they will not respond.
- "Answer" (עָנָה, ʿanah): This word means to respond or reply. The people’s refusal to answer shows a deliberate rejection, not just a passive ignoring.
Why Jeremiah 7:27 matters
- Jeremiah 7:27 makes clear that God sometimes sends His message knowing it will be rejected, showing the seriousness of the people’s stubbornness.
- The verse highlights Jeremiah’s difficult role as a prophet: he must keep speaking God’s truth, even when there is no visible result or encouragement.
- This verse connects to the wider passage, where God is confronting Judah’s persistent disobedience and warning of coming judgment because they refuse to listen or change.