Jeremiah 13:10

This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.

This evil {H7451} people {H5971}, which refuse {H3987} to hear {H8085} my words {H1697}, which walk {H1980} in the imagination {H8307} of their heart {H3820}, and walk {H3212} after {H310} other {H312} gods {H430}, to serve {H5647} them, and to worship {H7812} them, shall even be as this girdle {H232}, which is good {H6743} for nothing.

I will ruin this evil people, who refuse to hear my words and live according to their own stubborn inclinations, who go after other gods to serve and worship them. They will be like this loincloth, which is useless for anything.

These evil people, who refuse to listen to My words, who follow the stubbornness of their own hearts, and who go after other gods to serve and worship them, they will be like this loincloth—of no use at all.

This evil people, that refuse to hear my words, that walk in the stubbornness of their heart, and are gone after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is profitable for nothing.

Commentary

Jeremiah 13:10 stands as a solemn explanation of the preceding object lesson of the ruined linen belt, revealing the profound spiritual condition of Judah that necessitated God's severe judgment. This verse directly links the nation's actions to their impending fate.

Context of Jeremiah 13:10

The prophet Jeremiah was called by God to deliver warnings to the kingdom of Judah before the Babylonian exile. Chapter 13 begins with a vivid prophetic act: God instructs Jeremiah to buy a linen belt, wear it, then hide it in a rock by the Euphrates, and later retrieve it to find it completely spoiled and useless (Jeremiah 13:1-7). This symbolic act represented how God had closely bound Israel to Himself, just as a belt clings to a man's waist, intending for them to be His glory and praise (Jeremiah 13:11). However, their persistent disobedience and idolatry would cause God to "mar" their pride and bring them to ruin, rendering them "good for nothing" in His sight, just like the spoiled girdle. Verse 10 serves as the divine commentary on why this judgment was necessary.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Stubborn Disobedience: The phrase "refuse to hear my words" highlights a deliberate and persistent rejection of God's commands and prophetic warnings. This was not ignorance, but active rebellion.
  • Self-Will and Hardness of Heart: "Which walk in the imagination of their heart" points to their reliance on their own evil desires and stubborn will, rather than submitting to God's will. The Hebrew word sheriruth (שְׁרִירוּת), often translated as "stubbornness" or "perverseness," emphasizes an unyielding, hard-hearted disposition that follows its own inclination. Jeremiah 17:9 further describes the deceitfulness of the human heart.
  • Idolatry and Spiritual Adultery: By "walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them," the people of Judah had broken the most fundamental covenant commands (Exodus 20:3). This spiritual unfaithfulness was a primary cause of God's wrath and judgment against His chosen people.
  • Loss of Purpose and Value: The consequence, "shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing," signifies that Judah would lose its unique status and divine purpose. Once intended to be a people for God's praise, their corruption rendered them useless and deserving of being cast away, leading to the devastating Babylonian captivity (Jeremiah 25:11).

Practical Application

Jeremiah 13:10 offers a timeless warning about the dangers of spiritual apathy and rebellion. It underscores that:

  • Listening to God is Crucial: Our spiritual vitality depends on heeding God's word, not rejecting it or living by our own desires.
  • Beware of a Hardened Heart: Allowing personal desires and stubbornness to dictate our path instead of God's truth leads to spiritual decay and ultimate ruin.
  • Idolatry Takes Many Forms: While ancient Judah worshipped physical idols, modern "gods" can include materialism, self-worship, power, or anything that takes precedence over God in our lives.
  • Consequences are Real: Persistent disobedience has consequences, both individually and collectively. God's desire is for His people to be useful for His kingdom, but rebellion makes one "good for nothing" in that divine purpose.

This verse calls us to humility, repentance, and a renewed commitment to walk in obedience to the Lord.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 9:14

    But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them:

  • Jeremiah 16:12

    And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me:

  • 2 Chronicles 36:15

    And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:

  • 2 Chronicles 36:16

    But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till [there was] no remedy.

  • Numbers 14:11

    ¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?

  • Jeremiah 11:7

    For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day [that] I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, [even] unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice.

  • 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.
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