Jeremiah 11:8
in Jeremiah 11Yet they would not obey or incline their ears, but each one followed the stubbornness of his evil heart. So I brought on them all the curses of this covenant I had commanded them to follow but they did not keep.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the stubbornness of their evil heart: therefore I brought upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they did them not.
KJV
Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do; but they did them not.
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This verse in Jeremiah 11
Commentary
9 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
I will bring - Rather, I have brought. The breach of the covenant upon their part had always brought temporal calamity. The last examples were the deportation of the ten tribes by Salmanezer, and the leading of Manasseh prisoner to Babylon in chains (2Ch 33:11).
This site's exposition
Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah
on Jeremiah 11:6-8
The command to proclaim is doubled by the record of how long the warning had run, “I strongly warned them again and again”. Verse 8 gives the verdict the covenant predicted, “each one followed the stubbornness of his evil heart”. The curses now falling are the covenant's own words returning.
This site's exposition
Yet they would not obey or incline
The charge opens with what Judah left undone. Charles Spurgeon calls these sins of omission, placed ahead of the sins committed that the next verses name. Albert Barnes reads the curses as already brought on Israel, in the fall of the ten tribes and in Manasseh led to Babylon.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
(Verses 7, 8.) For I solemnly warned your fathers on the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, warning them persistently, even to this day, saying, 'Obey my voice.' Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but everyone walked in the stubbornness of his evil heart. Therefore I brought upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they did not do.'
When he was giving the law, he added this to the law, for he said, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all the things written in the book of the law, to do them," and he also promises there and again here how …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
What then could they expect, but to fall under the curse of the covenant, since they would not comply with the commands and conditions of it? Therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, that is, all the threatenings contained in it, because they did not what they were commanded. Note, The words of the covenant shall not fall to the ground.
Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
JEREMIAH was commissioned of God to bring a solemn accusation against rebellious Israel and he commences by solemnly mentioning their sins of omission. Observe that neglect of the Divine command is the charge brought in the text. In the next verses, the Prophet goes on to mention their sins of commission, but he very properly gives the first place to their shortcomings in positive service. He reminds them of what they had not done which they ought to have done and how constantly and persistently they had refused to render active obedience to the righteous will of the Most High.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
JEREMIAH was commissioned of God to bring a solemn accusation against rebellious Israel and he commences by solemnly mentioning their sins of omission. Observe that neglect of the Divine command is the charge brought in the text. In the next verses, the Prophet goes on to mention their sins of commission, but he very properly gives the first place to their shortcomings in positive service. He reminds them of what they had not done which they ought to have done and how constantly and persistently they had refused to render active obedience to the righteous will of the Most High. Brothers and Sisters, it is well for us to have our sins brought to our remembrance. This morning we may spend a little time most profitably by looking into the glass of Holy Scripture to discover the spots upon our countenances. Perhaps some of your sins have never been forgiven because you have never sought to have them pardoned—you may have never been sufficiently conscious of the danger in which they placed you—may you be, by the Holy Spirit, this morning convicted of sin and led to Jesus! While I shall be trying to speak of your great omissions, perhaps conscience may be at work, and the Holy Spirit may work through conscience so that you may be led to repentance, and to faith, and through faith to salvation. "It is a consummation devoutly to be wished." Others here who have been pardoned—who rejoice everyday in the perfect forgiveness which they have found at the foot of Christ's Cross—will, nevertheless, be benefited by being reminded of their sins, for thus they will be humbled. Thus they will be led to prize more the great atoning sacrifice. Thus they will be driven again to renew the simplicity of their faith as they look to Him on whom Jehovah made to meet the iniquities of all His people.
The words behind it
23 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְלֹ֤א | velo' | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| שָֽׁמְעוּ֙ | shameu | they listened | H8085 → | 1159 times |
| וְלֹֽא־ | velo'- | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| הִטּ֣וּ | hitu | they inclined | H5186 → | 214 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| אָזְנָ֔ם | ʾazenam | ear their | H241 → | 187 times |
| וַיֵּ֣לְכ֔וּ | vaiyelekhu | and they walked | H1980 → | 1546 times |
| אִ֕ישׁ | ʾish | everyone | H376 → | 1663 times |
| בִּשְׁרִיר֖וּת | bishrirut | in [the] stubbornness of | H8307 → | 10 times |
| לִבָּ֣ם | libam | own heart their | H3820 → | 595 times |
| הָרָ֑ע | hara' | <the> evil | H7451 → | 662 times |
| וָאָבִ֨יא | vaavi' | and I brought | H935 → | 2568 times |
| עֲלֵיהֶ֜ם | ʾaleihem | on them | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| אֶֽת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| כָּל־ | kol- | all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| דִּבְרֵ֧י | divrei | [the] words of | H1697 → | 1440 times |
| הַבְּרִית־ | haberit- | the covenant | H1285 → | 284 times |
| הַזֹּ֛את | hazot | <the> this | H2063 → | 603 times |
| אֲשֶׁר־ | ʾasher- | which | H834 → | 5497 times |
| צִוִּ֥יתִי | tziviti | I commanded | H6680 → | 494 times |
| לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת | laasot | to do | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| וְלֹ֥א | velo' | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| עָשֽׂוּ׃ ס | ʾasu | they did | H6213 → | 2628 times |
וְלֹ֤אand not
velo'H3808 →5168 times
שָֽׁמְעוּ֙they listened
shameuH8085 →1159 times
וְלֹֽא־and not
velo'-H3808 →5168 times
הִטּ֣וּthey inclined
hituH5186 →214 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
אָזְנָ֔םear their
ʾazenamH241 →187 times
וַיֵּ֣לְכ֔וּand they walked
vaiyelekhuH1980 →1546 times
אִ֕ישׁeveryone
ʾishH376 →1663 times
בִּשְׁרִיר֖וּתin [the] stubbornness of
bishrirutH8307 →10 times
לִבָּ֣םown heart their
libamH3820 →595 times
הָרָ֑ע<the> evil
hara'H7451 →662 times
וָאָבִ֨יאand I brought
vaavi'H935 →2568 times
עֲלֵיהֶ֜םon them
ʾaleihemH5921 →5755 times
אֶֽת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
כָּל־all
kol-H3605 →5413 times
דִּבְרֵ֧י[the] words of
divreiH1697 →1440 times
הַבְּרִית־the covenant
haberit-H1285 →284 times
הַזֹּ֛את<the> this
hazotH2063 →603 times
אֲשֶׁר־which
ʾasher-H834 →5497 times
צִוִּ֥יתִיI commanded
tzivitiH6680 →494 times
לַעֲשׂ֖וֹתto do
laasotH6213 →2628 times
וְלֹ֥אand not
velo'H3808 →5168 times
עָשֽׂוּ׃ סthey did
ʾasuH6213 →2628 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Jeremiah 3:17At that time Jerusalem will be called The Throne of the LORD, and all the nations will be gathered in Jerusalem to honor the name of the LORD. They will no longer follow the…
it leads to
- Ezekiel 43:7
and He said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place for the soles of My feet, where I will dwell among the Israelites forever. The house…
- Jeremiah 17:12
A glorious throne, exalted from the beginning, is the place of our sanctuary.
- Micah 4:1–5
In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and the peoples will stream to…
- Zechariah 2:11
“On that day many nations will join themselves to the LORD, and they will become My people. I will dwell among you, and you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent Me…
- Ezekiel 43:7
Through
Jeremiah 35:15Again and again I have sent you all My servants the prophets, proclaiming: ‘Turn now, each of you, from your wicked ways, and correct your actions. Do not go after other gods to serve…
it leads to
- Jeremiah 18:11
Now therefore, tell the men of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says: ‘Behold, I am planning a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. Turn…
- Ezekiel 18:30–32
Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that your iniquity will not become your downfall.
- Jeremiah 18:11
Through
Jeremiah 7:24Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but they followed the stubborn inclinations of their own evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.
it leads to
- Psalms 81:11–12
But My people would not listen to Me, and Israel would not obey Me.
- Jeremiah 7:26
Yet they would not listen to Me or incline their ear, but they stiffened their necks and did more evil than their fathers.
- Psalms 81:11–12
Where this verse is studied
About Jeremiah
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 838: “Sins of Omission” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Jerome, Commentary on Jeremiah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theodoret of Cyrus, ON JEREMIAH 3:11.