Jeremiah 13:5

KJV

So I went, and hid it by Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me.

KJV (with Strong's)

So I went {H3212}, and hid {H2934} it by Euphrates {H6578}, as the LORD {H3068} commanded {H6680} me.

Complete Jewish Bible

So I went and hid it in Parah, as ADONAI had ordered me.

Berean Standard Bible

So I went and hid it at Perath, as the LORD had commanded me.

American Standard Version

So I went, and hid it by the Euphrates, as Jehovah commanded me.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 13:5 records the prophet's faithful and immediate obedience to a peculiar divine command: to journey to the distant Euphrates River and hide a linen girdle there. This seemingly simple act is a pivotal moment in a profound prophetic parable, demonstrating Jeremiah's submission to God's will and setting the stage for a powerful visual message concerning Judah's impending exile and degradation due to their spiritual pride and unfaithfulness. The verse underscores the divine authority behind the prophet's actions and the certainty of the Lord's decreed judgment.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 13:5 is the direct fulfillment of the Lord's command given in [Jeremiah 13:4](/jeremiah/13-4 "Jeremiah 13:4 - Command to hide the girdle"). The preceding verses, [Jeremiah 13:1-4](/jeremiah/13-1 "Jeremiah 13:1-4 - The Command of the Girdle"), detail the initial instruction to acquire and wear a linen girdle, then to undertake a long journey to the Euphrates to hide it. This symbolic act is not fully explained until later in the chapter, particularly in [Jeremiah 13:9-11](/jeremiah/13-9 "Jeremiah 13:9-11 - The Meaning of the Girdle"), where the Lord reveals that the girdle represents the house of Judah and Israel, whom He had intended to cling to Him for glory and praise, but who had become ruined through their stubborn pride. Jeremiah's obedience in this verse is crucial, as it sets the stage for the subsequent revelation of the girdle's spoiled condition in [Jeremiah 13:7](/jeremiah/13-7 "Jeremiah 13:7 - The Girdle is Spoiled"), which vividly illustrates Judah's spiritual decay.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop is the late 7th and early 6th centuries BCE, a period of intense political and spiritual turmoil for the kingdom of Judah. The dominant world power was Babylon, whose empire was expanding rapidly under Nebuchadnezzar. The Euphrates River, located in Mesopotamia, was the lifeblood of the Babylonian empire and a clear geographical marker of the land of exile. For Jeremiah, a priest living in Anathoth, a journey of hundreds of miles to the Euphrates would have been arduous and dangerous, highlighting the extraordinary nature of God's command. Judah, despite repeated warnings from prophets like Jeremiah, continued in idolatry, covenant unfaithfulness, and moral corruption, leading to God's judgment manifested in the impending Babylonian captivity. The symbolic act thus served as a tangible, inescapable prophecy of their future.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes in the book of Jeremiah. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Command and Obedience**, as Jeremiah's immediate and unquestioning compliance with a difficult and unusual instruction underscores the prophet's faithfulness and the absolute authority of God's word. The act itself is a prime example of **Symbolic Prophecy**, where a physical action serves as a living parable to convey a spiritual truth; here, the journey to the Euphrates and the hiding of the girdle vividly prefigure the **Impending Judgment and Exile** of Judah to Babylon, a consequence of their persistent **Spiritual Degeneration and Pride**. The spoiled girdle, later retrieved in [Jeremiah 13:7](/jeremiah/13-7 "Jeremiah 13:7 - The Girdle is Spoiled"), symbolizes the nation's ruin, a direct result of their refusal to listen to God's voice and their pursuit of idolatry, as explained in [Jeremiah 13:9-10](/jeremiah/13-9 "Jeremiah 13:9-10 - God's Judgment on Judah's Pride").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **went (Hebrew, _yâlak'_):** This primitive root signifies movement, often with purpose or direction. In this context, it emphasizes Jeremiah's active and immediate compliance. It's not merely a passive state but a deliberate undertaking of a difficult journey, highlighting his obedience to the divine imperative. The word conveys the physical exertion and commitment involved in fulfilling the Lord's command.
* **hid (Hebrew, _ṭâman'_):** Meaning "to hide by covering over" or "to lay privily," this word describes the specific action Jeremiah performed with the girdle. The act of hiding implies concealment and removal from sight, which is central to the symbolism of the girdle's degradation and Judah's eventual "hiding" or removal from their land into exile, becoming unseen and forgotten in their former place of prominence.
* **commanded (Hebrew, _tsâvâh'_):** This root carries the intensive meaning "to constitute, enjoin," or "to give a charge." It denotes a definitive, authoritative directive from a superior to a subordinate. The use of this word underscores that Jeremiah's actions were not self-initiated but were directly ordained by the Lord (H3068, _Yᵉhôvâh'_), emphasizing the divine origin and binding nature of the prophetic instruction.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"So I went,"**: This opening phrase immediately establishes Jeremiah's prompt and unquestioning obedience. Despite the arduous nature of the journey to the Euphrates, a trip of hundreds of miles, the prophet does not hesitate or argue. His immediate action highlights his role as a faithful messenger, demonstrating a foundational aspect of prophetic ministry: submission to the divine will regardless of personal cost or apparent strangeness of the command.
* **"and hid it by Euphrates,"**: This clause specifies the precise action and location. "It" refers to the linen girdle, the central object of the symbolic prophecy. The Euphrates River is not merely a geographical marker but a potent symbol of Babylon, the empire that would soon conquer Judah and carry its people into exile. Hiding the girdle there signifies the removal of Judah from their land and their degradation in a foreign land, a place of shame and obscurity, mirroring the girdle's future spoiled state.
* **"as the LORD commanded me."**: This concluding phrase serves as a powerful affirmation of divine authority and Jeremiah's faithfulness. It unequivocally states that the entire act was not Jeremiah's idea or initiative but a direct, explicit instruction from Yahweh (H3068, _Yᵉhôvâh'_), the covenant God of Israel. This reinforces the prophetic nature of the act and the certainty of the judgment it foretold, as it originated from the sovereign will of the Almighty.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 13:5, within the broader context of the girdle narrative, is rich in **Symbolism** and functions as a **Prophetic Act** or living parable. The **Symbolism** is multifaceted: the linen girdle itself symbolizes the nation of Judah and Israel, whom God had intended to be intimately connected to Him, for His glory and praise, much like a girdle clings to a person's loins. The journey to the distant Euphrates River symbolizes the impending **Exile** to Babylon, a foreign land far from their homeland. Hiding the girdle in a cleft of the rock by the Euphrates symbolizes the nation's degradation, ruin, and removal from their place of honor and security. The entire event is a **Prophetic Act**, where Jeremiah's physical performance of the command serves as a tangible, visual sermon, making the abstract concept of judgment concrete and impactful for the people of Judah. This method of communication, common among Old Testament prophets, underscores the seriousness and inevitability of God's word.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 13:5, though brief, is profoundly theological, emphasizing the Lord's absolute sovereignty and the necessity of human obedience. It illustrates that God's commands, even when seemingly irrational or difficult, are purposeful and carry deep spiritual significance. The prophet's immediate compliance highlights the ideal response to divine instruction, contrasting sharply with Judah's persistent disobedience. This act of hiding the girdle by the Euphrates foreshadows the theological truth that persistent unfaithfulness leads to spiritual decay and divine judgment, resulting in a loss of glory and usefulness, much like the spoiled girdle. It underscores that God's covenant relationship with His people is not unconditional concerning their behavior, and He will act to preserve His holiness and justice.

* [John 14:15](/john/14-15 "John 14:15 - Obedience to God's Commands")
* [Ezekiel 4:1-3](/ezekiel/4-1 "Ezekiel 4:1-3 - Ezekiel's Symbolic Siege")
* [Isaiah 55:11](/isaiah/55-11 "Isaiah 55:11 - The Efficacy of God's Word")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 13:5 serves as a powerful call to radical obedience and a stark warning about the consequences of spiritual pride and distance from God. Jeremiah's willingness to undertake a long, arduous, and seemingly nonsensical task simply because "the LORD commanded me" challenges us to examine the depth of our own trust and submission to God's will. Are we willing to follow God's instructions even when they are inconvenient, counter-cultural, or when their full purpose is not immediately clear? This verse reminds us that God often communicates profound truths through actions, circumstances, and even difficulties. The degradation of the girdle, a direct result of being hidden away from its intended purpose, is a sobering metaphor for how spiritual neglect and pride can render individuals and communities useless for God's purposes. It compels us to consider how our own "girdle"—our identity, calling, and relationship with God—might be becoming spoiled through neglect or disobedience, urging us to return to a place of humility and vibrant connection with the Lord.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What seemingly "strange" or difficult commands might God be asking me to obey in my life today?**
* **How does Jeremiah's immediate obedience challenge my own tendencies to question or delay God's instructions?**
* **In what ways might spiritual pride or neglect be "spoiling" my effectiveness or relationship with God?**
* **How can I cultivate a deeper trust in God's wisdom, even when His purposes are not fully revealed?**

### FAQ
**Why did God command Jeremiah to hide the girdle specifically by the Euphrates River?**

Answer: The command to hide the linen girdle by the Euphrates River was deeply symbolic, serving as a powerful visual prophecy. The Euphrates was the major river flowing through Babylon, the dominant world power at the time and the very nation God would use as His instrument of judgment against Judah. By commanding Jeremiah to hide the girdle there, God was vividly illustrating the future exile of His people to Babylon. Just as the girdle, once close to Jeremiah, would be taken far away and hidden in a foreign land to become ruined, so too would Judah be forcibly removed from their homeland and suffer degradation and humiliation in exile, far from the presence of the Lord in Jerusalem. This specific location made the prophetic message unmistakable, tying their impending judgment directly to the Babylonian threat, as detailed in passages like [Jeremiah 25:9-11](/jeremiah/25-9 "Jeremiah 25:9-11 - Seventy Years of Babylonian Captivity").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah's obedient act of carrying the girdle to the Euphrates and hiding it, a symbol of Judah's future degradation and exile, finds its ultimate fulfillment in the perfect obedience and sacrificial work of Jesus Christ. While Jeremiah's journey foreshadowed the judgment on a disobedient nation, Christ's journey to the cross was the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan for all humanity. Jesus, the true Prophet, perfectly embodied obedience, not to a symbolic act, but to the ultimate divine command to lay down His life. As [Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Humility and Obedience") states, He "humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." Where Judah's pride led to their spoiling and removal, Christ's humility and obedience led to His exaltation and the restoration of humanity's relationship with God. He became the ultimate "spoiled girdle," taking on the shame, sin, and degradation that humanity deserved, being "hidden" in the tomb, only to rise again in glory, conquering death and offering true spiritual cleansing. The judgment foreshadowed for Judah found its culmination in the atoning sacrifice of the [Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), making a way for a new covenant where hearts of stone are replaced with hearts of flesh, and true intimacy with God is restored, as prophesied in [Jeremiah 31:31-34](/jeremiah/31-31 "Jeremiah 31:31-34 - The New Covenant").

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

Exodus 40:16

¶ Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD commanded him, so did he.

Exodus 39:42

According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work.

Exodus 39:43

And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the LORD had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.

2 Timothy 2:3

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

Acts 26:19

Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:

Acts 26:20

But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and [then] to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

Matthew 22:2

The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,