Jeremiah 13:11

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the LORD; that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear.

Complete Jewish Bible:

For just as a loincloth clings to a man's body, I made the whole house of Isra'el and the whole house of Y'hudah cling to me,' says ADONAI, 'so that they could be my people, building me a name and becoming for me a source of praise and honor. But they would not listen.

Berean Standard Bible:

For just as a loincloth clings to a man’s waist, so I have made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to Me, declares the LORD, so that they might be My people for My renown and praise and glory. But they did not listen.

American Standard Version:

For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith Jehovah; that they may be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

For as the girdle^{H232} cleaveth^{H1692} to the loins^{H4975} of a man^{H376}, so have I caused to cleave^{H1692} unto me the whole house^{H1004} of Israel^{H3478} and the whole house^{H1004} of Judah^{H3063}, saith^{H5002} the LORD^{H3068}; that they might be unto me for a people^{H5971}, and for a name^{H8034}, and for a praise^{H8416}, and for a glory^{H8597}: but they would not hear^{H8085}.

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Commentary for Jeremiah 13:11

Jeremiah 13:11 is a part of the prophetic book of Jeremiah, who was a prophet to the southern kingdom of Judah during a tumultuous period in its history, around the 7th to 6th centuries BCE. This verse is embedded within a larger passage where God instructs Jeremiah to use a linen girdle (a belt-like garment) as a symbolic act to illustrate His relationship with Israel and Judah. In the ancient Near East, a girdle was an essential item that clung closely to the body, symbolizing intimacy and loyalty.

In this verse, God, through the prophet Jeremiah, is expressing the intimate and inseparable relationship He desires to have with His people, likened to how a girdle adheres to a person's body. The Lord emphasizes that He has chosen both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah to be close to Him, to be His people, and to bring Him honor and glory. However, despite God's intentions for a mutual and faithful relationship, the people have been disobedient and have not listened to His voice. This reflects the broader theme of the book of Jeremiah, which often focuses on the consequences of the people's unfaithfulness to God, their disregard for His laws, and their worship of other gods, leading to judgment and ultimately to the exile of Judah.

The historical context of this verse is crucial to understanding its significance. Jeremiah's ministry occurred just before and during the Babylonian exile, a period when the people of Judah were facing severe political turmoil and the threat of foreign invasion. The verse captures the tension between God's desire for a close relationship with His people and their repeated failures to live up to their covenantal obligations, which ultimately led to devastating consequences for the nation. Jeremiah's message is one of both judgment and hope, as it also contains promises of restoration and a new covenant in the future.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H232
   There are 259 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֵזוֹר
   Transliteration: ʼêzôwr
   Pronunciation: ay-zore'
   Description: from אֲזִקִּים; something girt; a belt, also a band; girdle.
   
2. Strong's Number: H1692
   There are 52 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָּבַק
   Transliteration: dâbaq
   Pronunciation: daw-bak'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to impinge, i.e. cling or adhere; figuratively, to catch by pursuit; abide fast, cleave (fast together), follow close (hard after), be joined (together), keep (fast), overtake, pursue hard, stick, take.
   
3. Strong's Number: H4975
   There are 45 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֹתֶן
   Transliteration: môthen
   Pronunciation: mo'-then
   Description: from an unused root meaning to be slender; properly, the waist or small of the back; only in plural the loins; [phrase] greyhound, loins, side.
   
4. Strong's Number: H376
   There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אִישׁ
   Transliteration: ʼîysh
   Pronunciation: eesh
   Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה.
   
5. Strong's Number: H1004
   There are 1718 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בַּיִת
   Transliteration: bayith
   Pronunciation: bah'-yith
   Description: probably from בָּנָה abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.); court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out).
   
6. Strong's Number: H3478
   There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
   Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
   Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
   Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel.
   
7. Strong's Number: H3063
   There are 754 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהוּדָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhûwdâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-hoo-daw'
   Description: from יָדָה; celebrated; Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory; Judah.
   
8. Strong's Number: H5002
   There are 358 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נְאֻם
   Transliteration: nᵉʼum
   Pronunciation: neh-oom'
   Description: from נָאַם; an oracle; (hath) said, saith.
   
9. Strong's Number: H3068
   There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהֹוָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
   Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
   
10. Strong's Number: H5971
    There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עַם
    Transliteration: ʻam
    Pronunciation: am
    Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people.
    
11. Strong's Number: H8034
    There are 771 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שֵׁם
    Transliteration: shêm
    Pronunciation: shame
    Description: a primitive word (perhaps rather from through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; compare שָׁמַיִם); an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character; [phrase] base, (in-) fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.
    
12. Strong's Number: H8416
    There are 57 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: תְּהִלָּה
    Transliteration: tᵉhillâh
    Pronunciation: teh-hil-law'
    Description: from הָלַל; laudation; specifically (concretely) a hymn; praise.
    
13. Strong's Number: H8597
    There are 50 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: תִּפְאָרָה
    Transliteration: tiphʼârâh
    Pronunciation: tif-aw-raw'
    Description: or תִּפְאֶרֶת; from פָּאַר; ornament (abstractly or concretely, literally or figuratively); beauty(-iful), bravery, comely, fair, glory(-ious), honour, majesty.
    
14. Strong's Number: H8085
    There are 1072 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁמַע
    Transliteration: shâmaʻ
    Pronunciation: shaw-mah'
    Description: a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.); [idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, [idiom] surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.