Jeremiah 13:12

KJV

¶ Therefore thou shalt speak unto them this word; Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Every bottle shall be filled with wine: and they shall say unto thee, Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine?

KJV (with Strong's)

Therefore thou shalt speak {H559} unto them this word {H1697}; Thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068} God {H430} of Israel {H3478}, Every bottle {H5035} shall be filled {H4390} with wine {H3196}: and they shall say {H559} unto thee, Do we not certainly {H3045} know {H3045} that every bottle {H5035} shall be filled {H4390} with wine {H3196}?

Complete Jewish Bible

So you are to tell them, "This is what ADONAI the God of Isra'el says: 'Every bottle is filled with wine.'" Then when they ask you, "Don't we already know that every bottle is filled with wine?"

Berean Standard Bible

Therefore you are to tell them that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Every wineskin shall be filled with wine.’ And when they reply, ‘Don’t we surely know that every wineskin should be filled with wine?’

American Standard Version

Therefore thou shalt speak unto them this word: Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Every bottle shall be filled with wine: and they shall say unto thee, Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 13:12 introduces a seemingly obvious statement from the LORD God of Israel: "Every bottle shall be filled with wine." This simple declaration, met with the people's dismissive affirmation of its self-evident truth, serves as a profound prophetic riddle. It sets the stage for God's impending judgment, using the common reality of wineskins being filled to foreshadow the inevitable filling of Judah with divine wrath, confusion, and spiritual stupor due to their persistent rebellion and spiritual blindness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within a series of symbolic actions and prophetic pronouncements that Jeremiah delivers to Judah, aiming to awaken them to their impending doom. It immediately follows the striking parable of the [linen girdle](/jeremiah/13-1 "Jeremiah 13:1 - The Parable of the Linen Girdle"), which illustrated Judah's defilement and God's rejection of them due to their idolatry and pride. The "wine bottle" prophecy builds on this theme of defilement and inevitable judgment, moving from a symbol of close relationship (the girdle clinging to the body) to one of overflowing wrath. The seemingly innocuous statement in [Jeremiah 13:12](/jeremiah/13-12 "Jeremiah 13:12 - The Wine Bottle Prophecy") is a setup for the chilling revelation in the subsequent verse, [Jeremiah 13:13](/jeremiah/13-13 "Jeremiah 13:13 - God's Judgment as Drunkenness"), where the metaphorical "wine" is explicitly identified as divine judgment and "drunkenness" as the state of confusion and despair that will engulf the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. This progression from a simple, undeniable truth to a terrifying prophetic declaration underscores the people's spiritual dullness.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jeremiah prophesied during a tumultuous period in Judah's history, spanning the reigns of several kings, leading up to the Babylonian exile. The nation was steeped in idolatry, moral corruption, and a false sense of security, believing that God would not allow Jerusalem or the Temple to fall. Culturally, "bottles" (Hebrew: _nebel_) in this context refer to wineskins, typically made from animal hides, which were indeed used for storing and fermenting wine. The process of filling these wineskins was a common, everyday activity, making the Lord's initial statement an undeniable fact of life. The people's response reflects their complacency and their inability to perceive deeper spiritual truths beyond the obvious, a common characteristic of a society that has grown spiritually numb to prophetic warnings. The impending threat from Babylon was a tangible reality, yet Judah remained largely unrepentant, clinging to their idols and false prophets.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 13:12 contributes significantly to several major themes woven throughout the book of Jeremiah. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Divine Judgment and Wrath**. The "wine" in the bottles, as clarified in [Jeremiah 13:13](/jeremiah/13-13 "Jeremiah 13:13 - The Drunkenness of Judgment"), is a powerful metaphor for God's impending and unavoidable wrath upon Judah for their persistent rebellion and spiritual unfaithfulness. Just as bottles are inevitably filled, so too would their fate be filled with God's righteous anger. Secondly, the verse underscores the theme of **Spiritual Blindness and Complacency**. The people's expected response, "Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine?", reveals their profound spiritual apathy and superficial understanding. They are confident in their grasp of common truths but utterly oblivious to the profound, life-altering prophetic warning embedded within the simple statement, echoing the broader theme of Judah's hardened hearts seen throughout Jeremiah's ministry, as in [Jeremiah 5:21](/jeremiah/5-21 "Jeremiah 5:21 - The People's Deafness and Blindness"). Lastly, it exemplifies God's use of **Symbolic Prophecy and Parable**. God frequently employed tangible objects and everyday scenarios to convey profound spiritual truths, forcing His people to look beyond the obvious and consider His deeper message, a method also seen in the prophet's life and actions, such as his unmarried status in [Jeremiah 16:2](/jeremiah/16-2 "Jeremiah 16:2 - Jeremiah's Unmarried Status as a Sign"). This approach aimed to pierce their complacency and provoke genuine reflection and repentance.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **word (Hebrew, _dâbâr'_):** From H559 (_ʼâmar_), this term signifies more than just a spoken utterance; it encompasses a matter, a thing, an affair, a decree, or a message. In this context, it is "this word" from the LORD, indicating a divine pronouncement that carries significant weight and consequence, not merely a casual statement. It is the authoritative message that Jeremiah is commanded to deliver.
* **bottle (Hebrew, _nebel'_):** From H5035 (_nebel_), this refers to a skin-bag for liquids, typically a wineskin, or sometimes a vase. The choice of "bottle" (wineskin) is crucial to the metaphor, as it is a common, everyday object whose purpose is to be filled. The imagery relies on the universal understanding of a wineskin's function to set up the unexpected prophetic meaning.
* **know (Hebrew, _yâdaʻ'_):** From H3045 (_yâdaʻ_), this primitive root means "to know" in a wide variety of senses, including to ascertain by seeing, to comprehend, to be aware, or to understand. The people's rhetorical question, "Do we not certainly know?", highlights their intellectual understanding of a simple fact, contrasting sharply with their spiritual ignorance and inability to "know" or discern the deeper, prophetic truth God is conveying through this common observation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Therefore thou shalt speak unto them this word; Thus saith the LORD God of Israel,"**: This opening clause establishes the divine origin and authority of the message. Jeremiah is merely the messenger, commanded by the sovereign God of Israel to deliver a specific "word" (_dâbâr_). This emphasizes that the subsequent statement is not a human observation but a direct revelation from the one true God, who holds ultimate authority over His people and their destiny.
* **"Every bottle shall be filled with wine:"**: This is the core statement delivered by Jeremiah. On the surface, it is a simple, undeniable truth—wineskins are made to be filled with wine. It presents an obvious, universally acknowledged fact about the natural order of things, setting up a seemingly innocuous premise. The power of the prophecy lies in what this mundane truth *symbolizes* and *foreshadows*.
* **"and they shall say unto thee, Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine?"**: This final clause reveals the anticipated response of the people. Their rhetorical question, delivered with a tone of dismissive certainty, underscores their spiritual dullness and complacency. They acknowledge the obvious physical truth but remain utterly blind to the profound, ominous spiritual truth that God is attempting to convey. Their "knowing" is superficial, failing to grasp the deeper, metaphorical meaning of inevitable judgment that the "wine" represents.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 13:12 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its powerful message. The primary device is **Symbolism**, where the "bottle" (wineskin) and "wine" are not merely literal objects but represent deeper realities. The wineskin symbolizes Judah itself, and the wine, as revealed in the subsequent verse, symbolizes God's wrath and judgment. The verse also functions as a **Riddle** or a **Parabolic Setup**, presenting a seemingly simple statement that conceals a profound and unsettling truth, designed to provoke thought and reveal the people's spiritual state. This creates a powerful sense of **Irony**: the people confidently affirm their knowledge of a common truth, yet their very affirmation highlights their profound ignorance of the divine message hidden within it. Their "knowing" is precisely their undoing, as they fail to discern the impending doom.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 13:12 serves as a pivotal moment in God's escalating warnings to Judah, demonstrating His patient yet firm approach to judgment. The seemingly simple analogy of the wine bottle underscores the inevitability and fullness of divine judgment when a nation persists in rebellion and spiritual idolatry. It reveals God's sovereignty over history and His commitment to upholding His covenant, which includes both blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. The people's spiritual blindness in this passage highlights a recurring theme in prophetic literature: humanity's tendency to ignore clear divine warnings, mistaking common knowledge for spiritual wisdom. This passage foreshadows the ultimate "filling" of Judah with the consequences of their sin, culminating in exile and destruction, a stark reminder that God's justice is as certain as the filling of a bottle.

* [Isaiah 51:17](/isaiah/51-17 "The Cup of God's Wrath")
* [Psalm 75:8](/psalms/75-8 "The Cup of Indignation")
* [Revelation 14:10](/revelation/14-10 "The Wine of God's Wrath")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 13:12 stands as a potent warning against spiritual complacency and superficial understanding of God's truth. In an age saturated with information, it is easy to "know" facts about God or the Bible without truly comprehending their profound implications for our lives. This passage challenges us to move beyond mere intellectual assent to spiritual truths and to actively seek the Holy Spirit's illumination, allowing God's Word to penetrate our hearts and transform our perspectives. Are we, like the people of Judah, so confident in our surface-level understanding that we miss the deeper, more urgent messages God is speaking to us? The inevitability of the bottle being filled with wine serves as a timeless reminder that spiritual consequences are just as certain as natural ones. We are called to humility, vigilance, and a willingness to truly hear and heed God's warnings, lest we find ourselves filled with the bitter fruit of unaddressed sin and spiritual apathy.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life might you be spiritually complacent, assuming you "know" God's truth without truly applying it or seeking deeper understanding?**
* **How can you cultivate a greater sensitivity to the subtle or metaphorical ways God might be speaking to you through His Word or through circumstances?**
* **What "obvious truths" in your life might be masking deeper spiritual warnings or calls to repentance that you are currently overlooking?**
* **How does the inevitability of the "bottle being filled" challenge your perspective on the consequences of unaddressed sin in your own life or in society?**

### FAQ
**What is the meaning of "every bottle shall be filled with wine" in Jeremiah 13:12?**

Answer: On the surface, this is a simple, undeniable statement of fact: wineskins (bottles) are designed to be filled with wine. However, in the context of Jeremiah's prophecy, it serves as a riddle or parable. The "wine" is a metaphor for God's impending wrath and judgment, and the "bottles" represent the people of Judah and Jerusalem. Just as a bottle is inevitably filled with its intended contents, so too would Judah inevitably be "filled" with God's righteous anger and the consequences of their persistent sin, leading to confusion, despair, and eventual exile. The people's dismissive response in the latter half of the verse highlights their spiritual blindness to this deeper, ominous meaning.

**Why did the people respond, "Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine?"**

Answer: Their response indicates their spiritual complacency and superficial understanding. They grasped the literal, obvious truth of the statement but completely missed its profound prophetic significance. They were confident in their everyday knowledge, but this very confidence prevented them from discerning the divine warning. Their rhetorical question was likely intended to convey a sense of "Of course we know that, Jeremiah! What's your point?" revealing their hardened hearts and inability to perceive God's deeper message of impending judgment. This highlights a common human tendency to be spiritually dull to divine warnings.

**How does this verse relate to Jeremiah's other prophecies of judgment?**

Answer: Jeremiah 13:12 is part of a series of symbolic actions and pronouncements that God commanded Jeremiah to deliver to Judah to illustrate their coming judgment. It immediately follows the parable of the [linen girdle](/jeremiah/13-1 "The Parable of the Linen Girdle"), which symbolized Judah's defilement and God's rejection. The "wine bottle" prophecy builds on this theme, explicitly leading to the declaration in [Jeremiah 13:13](/jeremiah/13-13 "God's Judgment as Drunkenness") that God would fill "all the inhabitants of this land... with drunkenness." This "drunkenness" signifies a state of confusion, despair, and spiritual stupor brought about by divine judgment, demonstrating the inescapable nature of the consequences of their sin.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Jeremiah 13:12 speaks directly to the judgment awaiting unrepentant Judah, its Christ-centered fulfillment lies in the ultimate resolution of God's wrath and the provision of a new "wine." The "wine" of God's wrath, which Judah was destined to drink, finds its most profound expression in the person of Jesus Christ. He, as the perfect Lamb of God, willingly drank the "cup of wrath" on behalf of humanity, bearing the full measure of divine judgment for sin. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, "My Father, if it be possible, let this [cup] pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will" ([Matthew 26:39](/matthew/26-39 "Jesus' Prayer in Gethsemane")). This cup was the concentrated essence of the judgment due to humanity, a judgment prefigured by the "wine" filling the bottles in Jeremiah. Through His crucifixion, Jesus emptied the cup of God's wrath for all who believe, offering instead the "new wine" of the New Covenant, symbolized by the wine at the Last Supper ([Matthew 26:27-29](/matthew/26-27 "The Institution of the Lord's Supper")). This new wine represents His shed blood, which brings forgiveness, reconciliation, and eternal life, fulfilling the promise of a new covenant where God's people are no longer filled with judgment but with the Spirit of adoption ([Romans 8:15](/romans/8-15 "The Spirit of Adoption")). Thus, the terrifying inevitability of Jeremiah's "filled bottle" of wrath is transformed by Christ into the glorious certainty of salvation and grace for those who trust in Him.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Ezekiel 24:19

And the people said unto me, Wilt thou not tell us what these [things are] to us, that thou doest [so]?