Jeremiah 29:19

I will do this because they have not listened to My words, declares the LORD, which I sent to them again and again through My servants the prophets. And neither have you exiles listened, declares the LORD.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The LORD addresses the Jewish exiles in Babylon immediately after pronouncing judgment of sword, famine, and plague upon the disobedient. He speaks to them directly to clarify that their current desolation is the direct result of rejecting His prophetic warnings.

The words — The Hebrew verb שָׁמְע֥וּ (sha.me.'U) literally means "they listened," combined with the negative particle לֹא־ (lo'-) to state "they have not listened." The conjunction תַּ֛חַת (Ta.chat) functions causally, meaning "because," to link their exile directly to their refusal to heed God's words.

The thread — This causal pattern of judgment following ignored prophecy appears in Jeremiah 6:19, 26:5, and 7:13, where repeated divine speech meets persistent human disregard. Each passage ties the rejection of God's spoken warnings to the arrival of the very disaster God declared.

Why it lands — The text requires the reader to recognize that prophetic declarations are binding divine utterances, not optional counsel. It demands a plain acknowledgment that ignoring repeated correction directly produces the stated consequences, leaving no room for self-justification.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

Because they have not hearkened to my words, saith the Lord, which I sent unto them by my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; but ye would not hear, saith the Lord.

Cross-references

Jeremiah 6:19 Hear, O earth! I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their own schemes, because they have paid no attention to My word and have rejected My instruction.
Jeremiah 26:5 and if you do not listen to the words of My servants the prophets, whom I have sent you again and again even though you did not listen,
Jeremiah 7:13 And now, because you have done all these things, declares the LORD, and because I have spoken to you again and again but you would not listen, and I have called to you but you would not answer,
Jeremiah 7:24 Yet 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.
Jeremiah 25:3 “From the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah until this very day—twenty-three years—the word of the LORD has come to me, and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened.
Jeremiah 34:17 Therefore this is what the LORD says: You have not obeyed Me; you have not proclaimed freedom, each man for his brother and for his neighbor. So now I proclaim freedom for you, declares the LORD—freedom to fall by sword, by plague, and by famine! I will make you a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth.
Jeremiah 35:14 The words of Jonadab son of Rechab have been carried out. He commanded his sons not to drink wine, and they have not drunk it to this very day because they have obeyed the command of their forefather. But I have spoken to you again and again, and you have not obeyed Me!
Zechariah 1:4 Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Turn now from your evil ways and deeds.’ But they did not listen or pay attention to Me, declares the LORD.
Zechariah 7:11 But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they stopped up their ears from hearing.
Hebrews 12:25 See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if the people did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns us from heaven?