Jeremiah 17:23

17:22 Neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers.

But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.

KJV

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But they didn’t listen, neither turn their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, and might not receive instruction.

But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.

17:24 And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith the LORD, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein;

What does Jeremiah 17:23 mean?

Jeremiah 17:23 is a verse in the book of Jeremiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ), נָטָה (nâṭâh), אֹזֶן (ʼôzen). It connects to 6 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

But

they

obeyedשָׁמַעshâmaʻ/shaw-mah'/H8085to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

not,

neither

inclinedנָטָהnâṭâh/naw-taw'/H5186to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application

their

ear,אֹזֶןʼôzen/o'-zen/H241broadness. i.e. (concrete) the ear (from its form in man)

but

made

their

neckעֹרֶףʻôreph/o-ref'/H6203the nape or back of the neck (as declining); hence, the back generally (whether literal or figurative)

stiff,קָשָׁהqâshâh/kaw-shaw'/H7185properly, to be dense, i.e. tough or severe (in various applications)

that

they

might

not

hear,שָׁמַעshâmaʻ/shaw-mah'/H8085to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

nor

receiveלָקַחlâqach/law-kakh'/H3947to take (in the widest variety of applications)

instruction.מוּסָרmûwçâr/moo-sawr'/H4148properly, chastisement; figuratively, reproof, warning or instruction; also restraint

Commentary on Jeremiah 17:23

HENRY_FULL · Jeremiah 17:23

" In this chapter, I. Christ, the royal bridegroom, goes on to describe the beauties of his spouse, the church, in many instances, and to express his love to her and the delight he has in her conversation, ver. 1-9 . II. The spouse, the church, expresses her great delight in him, and the desire that she had of communion and fellowship with him, ver. 10-13 . Such mutual esteem and endearment are there between Christ and believers. And what is heaven but an everlasting interchanging of loves between the holy God and holy souls!

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Psalms 45:16

Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.

Proverbs 3:8

It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. health: Heb. medicine marrow: Heb. watering, or, moistening

Isaiah 46:3

Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb:

Jeremiah 1:5

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. ordained: Heb. gave

Jeremiah 5:14

Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

Romans 7:4

Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

Topics

Sabbath, the

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Jeremiah 17:23.

Jeremiah 7:26

Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers.

Jeremiah 32:33

And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face: though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction. back: Heb. neck

2 Chronicles 36:13

And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the LORD God of Israel.

2 Kings 17:14

Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God.

Daniel 9:18

O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies. which: Heb. whereupon thy name is called present: Heb. cause to fall

Jeremiah 11:8

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. imagination: or, stubbornness

Jeremiah 19:15

Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon this city and upon all her towns all the evil that I have pronounced against it, because they have hardened their necks, that they might not hear my words.

Jeremiah 25:4

And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear.

Frequently asked questions

What does Jeremiah 17:23 say?

Jeremiah 17:23 (King James Version) reads: "But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction."

Is Jeremiah 17:23 in the Old or New Testament?

Jeremiah 17:23 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Jeremiah.

Reflect

As you read Jeremiah 17:23, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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