Jeremiah 13:5

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

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

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

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

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

Context of Jeremiah 13:5

Jeremiah 13:5 marks a crucial point in one of the prophet Jeremiah's most significant symbolic actions, illustrating God's impending judgment on Judah. The preceding verses (Jeremiah 13:1-4) describe the LORD's peculiar command to Jeremiah: first, to acquire a linen girdle and wear it, and then, after some time, to take it on a long journey to the great river Euphrates and hide it there in a cleft of the rock. This verse confirms Jeremiah's immediate and faithful execution of this arduous task.

The journey to the Euphrates, a major river in Mesopotamia, would have been a considerable undertaking for Jeremiah, symbolizing the distant land of Babylon where the people of Judah would eventually be exiled. His obedience underscores his role as a true messenger of God, willing to perform even the most inconvenient or perplexing commands.

Key Themes

  • Unquestioning Obedience: Jeremiah 13:5 highlights the prophet's complete submission to God's will. Despite the physical demands of the journey and the seemingly strange nature of the command, Jeremiah "went, and hid it... as the LORD commanded me." This demonstrates a foundational principle of faith: obedience even when understanding is incomplete.
  • Symbolic Prophecy: The entire act of the linen girdle is a powerful visual sermon. The girdle, once close to Jeremiah's loins, symbolized the nation of Judah and Israel, whom God had intended to cling to Him and be for His glory (Jeremiah 13:11). Hiding it by the Euphrates, a river associated with Babylon, vividly foreshadowed their forced removal from their homeland and subsequent degradation through sin and exile.
  • Divine Command and Judgment: The phrase "as the LORD commanded me" emphasizes the divine origin of the instruction. This was not Jeremiah's idea but God's, signifying that the coming judgment was a direct consequence of Judah's persistent idolatry and pride, orchestrated by the Almighty.

Linguistic Insights

The simplicity of the KJV phrase "So I went, and hid it by Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me" powerfully conveys Jeremiah's direct and unhesitating action. There are no complex linguistic nuances in this specific verse, but the emphasis lies on the word "commanded," highlighting the divine authority behind the prophet's task and his immediate compliance. The act itself was the message, and Jeremiah's faithfulness in carrying it out was crucial to its prophetic impact.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 13:5 offers several timeless lessons for believers today:

  • The Importance of Obedience: Just as Jeremiah obeyed a difficult and symbolic command, believers are called to obey God's Word, even when the path is unclear or challenging. Our willingness to follow God's instructions, no matter how unusual, demonstrates trust and faithfulness.
  • Understanding God's Methods: God often uses tangible actions or difficult circumstances to convey profound spiritual truths. This verse encourages us to look for God's messages not only in words but also in circumstances and actions, both in Scripture and in our lives.
  • Consequences of Spiritual Decay: The subsequent spoiling of the girdle (revealed in Jeremiah 13:7) serves as a stark reminder that spiritual pride and distance from God can render a person or nation useless for divine purposes. This underscores the need for constant spiritual renewal and humility before the LORD.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 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,

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