Jeremiah 13:9

KJV

Thus saith the LORD, After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem.

KJV (with Strong's)

Thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068}, After this manner will I mar {H7843} the pride {H1347} of Judah {H3063}, and the great {H7227} pride {H1347} of Jerusalem {H3389}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"Here is what ADONAI says: 'This is how I will ruin what makes Y'hudah so proud and Yerushalayim so very proud:

Berean Standard Bible

“This is what the LORD says: In the same way I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem.

American Standard Version

Thus saith Jehovah, After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 13:9 serves as the divine interpretation of the preceding object lesson of the ruined linen girdle, unequivocally declaring the LORD's intention to humble and destroy the arrogant pride that had permeated both the people of Judah and the leadership of Jerusalem. This pronouncement reveals God's active judgment against their self-sufficiency, idolatry, and persistent rebellion, which had corrupted their covenant relationship and rendered them spiritually useless, much like the spoiled belt.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse directly follows the vivid and dramatic prophetic action detailed in [Jeremiah 13:1-8](/jeremiah/13-1 "Jeremiah 13:1-8 - The Linen Girdle Object Lesson"). In this passage, the prophet Jeremiah is commanded by God to purchase a linen belt, wear it for a time, then hide it in a crevice by the Euphrates, and later retrieve it. Upon retrieval, the belt is found to be "marred" and "profitable for nothing," symbolizing the spiritual decay and corruption of the nation of Judah and its capital, Jerusalem. Just as the once-clean and useful belt became ruined and useless through neglect and exposure, so too had Judah, once closely bound to God as a priestly nation, become spiritually defiled and unfit for His purposes due to their persistent idolatry, rebellion, and moral compromise. Jeremiah 13:9 acts as the explicit divine explanation, linking the symbolic act to its intended meaning: God's judgment on their pride.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jeremiah prophesied during a tumultuous period in Judah's history, spanning the reigns of several kings, from Josiah to Zedekiah, leading up to the Babylonian exile. The nation had a long history of covenant unfaithfulness, oscillating between periods of revival and deep apostasy. Despite the reforms under King Josiah, the people often reverted to idolatry and social injustice, mirroring the spiritual decline described in the book of [Jeremiah](/jeremiah/1 "The Book of Jeremiah"). Jerusalem, as the capital and religious center, was particularly implicated, as its leaders and inhabitants often fostered a false sense of security based on the presence of the Temple, believing God would never allow their city to fall. This pride and misplaced trust, coupled with their political alliances and moral decay, made them ripe for the impending judgment at the hands of the Babylonian Empire, which would culminate in the destruction of Jerusalem and the [exile of its people](/jeremiah/25-11 "Jeremiah 25:11 - Prophecy of the Babylonian Exile").
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 13:9 powerfully encapsulates several major themes prevalent in the book of Jeremiah and the broader prophetic literature. The most prominent is **Divine Judgment on Pride**, emphasizing God's active role in "marring" or destroying the arrogance and self-sufficiency of Judah and Jerusalem. Their haughtiness had led them away from their covenant relationship with the LORD, making them susceptible to His corrective judgment, a truth echoed throughout Scripture, as seen in [Proverbs 16:18](/proverbs/16-18 "Proverbs 16:18 - Pride Before Destruction"). This verse also highlights the **Consequences of Disobedience**, illustrating that persistent unfaithfulness and spiritual corruption inevitably lead to severe divine discipline. Furthermore, it underscores **God's Sovereignty and Justice**, as the phrase "Thus saith the LORD" asserts His absolute authority and unwavering commitment to upholding His righteous standards, actively intervening in the affairs of nations based on their moral and spiritual condition. Finally, the verse, in conjunction with the girdle lesson, speaks to the theme of **Spiritual Decay**, where the nation, once intended for glory, becomes defiled and unfit for God's purposes.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** From H3068, "the self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God." This emphasizes the covenant God of Israel, the one who is eternally present and faithful to His promises, even when those promises include judgment for unfaithfulness. The declaration "Thus saith the LORD" underscores the divine authority and certainty of the pronouncement, indicating that this is not Jeremiah's opinion but a direct word from the sovereign God.
* **mar (Hebrew, _shâchath'_):** From H7843, "to decay, i.e. (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively); batter, corrupt, destroy, lose, mar, perish, spill, spoil." This powerful verb directly links back to the condition of the linen girdle in [Jeremiah 13:7](/jeremiah/13-7 "Jeremiah 13:7 - The Marred Girdle"), which was "marred" or "spoiled." Here, it signifies God's deliberate act of bringing ruin, corruption, and destruction upon the pride of Judah and Jerusalem. It implies a process of decay and ultimate ruin, not just a superficial damage, but a profound spoiling that renders something useless or abhorrent.
* **pride (Hebrew, _gâʼôwn'_):** From H1347, "arrogance or majesty; by implication, (concretely) ornament; arrogancy, excellency, majesty, pomp, pride, proud, swelling." While _gâʼôwn_ can sometimes denote positive majesty or glory (especially God's), in this context, particularly when associated with Judah and Jerusalem's actions, it unequivocally refers to haughtiness, arrogance, and self-exaltation. This is a dangerous, rebellious pride that resists God's authority, trusts in human strength or false gods, and leads to spiritual blindness and destruction. The repetition and addition of "great pride" further emphasize the pervasive and deeply entrenched nature of this sin.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Thus saith the LORD,"**: This opening phrase is a prophetic formula, asserting the divine origin and absolute authority of the message. It signifies that the following declaration is not merely Jeremiah's words but a direct, authoritative pronouncement from Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. It establishes the weight and certainty of the impending judgment.
* **"After this manner will I mar"**: This clause explicitly connects the prophetic word to the preceding object lesson of the linen girdle. "After this manner" refers to the way the girdle was spoiled and rendered useless. God declares His intention to actively "mar" or ruin, using the same verb (שָׁחַת, _shâchath_) as used for the girdle, indicating a deliberate, destructive act that will render the object of His judgment useless or bring it to decay.
* **"the pride of Judah,"**: God specifies the target of His "marring" – the pride of the southern kingdom of Judah. This "pride" (גָּאוֹן, _gâʼôwn_) encompasses their arrogance, self-sufficiency, reliance on human strength or political alliances rather than God, and their haughty disregard for His covenant commands. It represents the spiritual and moral corruption that had permeated the nation.
* **"and the great pride of Jerusalem."**: This phrase reiterates and intensifies the previous statement, specifically naming the capital city, Jerusalem, and emphasizing the "great" extent of its pride. Jerusalem, as the religious and political heart, often symbolized the nation's spiritual condition. Its "great pride" suggests a particularly entrenched and egregious form of arrogance, perhaps due to its status as the "holy city" and the location of the Temple, leading to a false sense of invincibility and divine favor despite their sin.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 13:9, in conjunction with the preceding narrative, employs several potent literary devices. The primary device is **Symbolism**, where the linen girdle in [Jeremiah 13:1-8](/jeremiah/13-1 "Jeremiah 13:1-8 - The Linen Girdle Object Lesson") serves as a powerful symbol. The girdle, once clean and closely bound to the prophet, represents the close relationship God intended with His people, Israel. Its subsequent ruin symbolizes the spiritual decay and corruption that had rendered Judah and Jerusalem "useless" or "spoiled" in God's eyes. The act of "marring" the pride is a **Metaphor**, comparing the destruction of their arrogance to the physical ruin of the girdle. This makes the abstract concept of pride's downfall tangible and visceral. Furthermore, the phrase "Thus saith the LORD" and the declaration "I will mar" exemplify **Anthropomorphism**, attributing human-like action (speaking, marring) to God, making His divine will and active involvement in judgment more comprehensible. Lastly, the structure "the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem" utilizes **Parallelism**, specifically synonymous or intensifying parallelism, where the second phrase reinforces and amplifies the first, highlighting the pervasive nature of pride throughout both the nation and its capital.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 13:9 deeply underscores God's unwavering opposition to human pride, a theme consistently woven throughout the biblical narrative. God, being utterly sovereign and self-sufficient, cannot tolerate the arrogance that elevates human achievement, wisdom, or strength above His divine authority. This verse reveals that God actively intervenes to humble the proud, not out of vindictiveness, but as a necessary corrective measure to restore His people to a place of dependence and true worship. The "marring" of pride is a form of divine discipline, designed to strip away false securities and self-exaltation, compelling the people to acknowledge their utter reliance on Him. This judgment, while severe, is ultimately aimed at purification and the restoration of a right relationship, demonstrating God's justice intertwined with His desire for His people's repentance.

* [Proverbs 16:18](/proverbs/16-18 "Pride Goes Before Destruction")
* [James 4:6](/james/4-6 "James 4:6 - God Resists the Proud")
* [Isaiah 2:12](/isaiah/2-12 "Isaiah 2:12 - The Day of the LORD Against Pride")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 13:9 serves as a timeless and profound warning against the insidious nature of pride, both in individual lives and within communities and nations. It compels us to honestly examine where we might be placing our trust and confidence—whether in our own abilities, achievements, possessions, or even our religious affiliations—rather than in God alone. The "marring" of Judah's pride reminds us that God will not share His glory with another, and He will actively work to dismantle anything that hinders His people from living in humble dependence on Him. This can manifest as difficult circumstances, failures, or even public humiliation, all designed by God's sovereign hand to break our self-sufficiency and bring us to a place of brokenness and repentance. True spiritual vitality and usefulness to God stem not from our perceived strength or accomplishments, but from a posture of humility and obedience, recognizing that apart from Him, we are indeed "profitable for nothing." This verse calls us to cultivate a spirit of humility, acknowledging that every good gift comes from above and that our identity and security are found solely in Christ.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be exhibiting a "great pride" that needs to be "marred" by God?**
* **How does my reliance on personal achievements, possessions, or even my own understanding of faith prevent me from fully depending on God?**
* **What difficult circumstances have I experienced that, in hindsight, might have been God's way of humbling me and drawing me closer to Him?**
* **How can I actively cultivate a spirit of humility and genuine dependence on the LORD in my daily life?**

### FAQ
**What was the "linen girdle" object lesson, and how does Jeremiah 13:9 relate to it?**

Answer: The "linen girdle" object lesson, described in [Jeremiah 13:1-8](/jeremiah/13-1 "Jeremiah 13:1-8 - The Linen Girdle Object Lesson"), was a symbolic act commanded by God to Jeremiah. Jeremiah was to buy a new linen belt, wear it, then hide it in a rock crevice by the Euphrates River. When he later retrieved it, the belt was "marred" and "profitable for nothing." Jeremiah 13:9 serves as the divine interpretation of this object lesson. It explicitly states that just as the girdle was ruined, so too would God "mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem." The girdle, once clean and closely bound to Jeremiah, symbolized Israel's intended close relationship with God. Its ruin symbolized the spiritual decay, corruption, and uselessness that Judah and Jerusalem had fallen into due to their idolatry and rebellion, making them unfit for God's purposes and ripe for His judgment.

**Why was "pride" such a significant sin for Judah and Jerusalem?**

Answer: Pride was a particularly egregious sin for Judah and Jerusalem because it represented a fundamental breach of their covenant relationship with God. Their pride manifested in several ways: a false sense of security due to the presence of the Temple in Jerusalem, believing God would protect them regardless of their disobedience; reliance on political alliances with foreign powers instead of trusting the LORD; and a general arrogance that led them to worship idols and commit social injustices, disregarding God's laws and prophetic warnings. This self-exaltation directly contradicted the humility and dependence required by their covenant with the LORD, who had chosen them not because of their greatness, but out of His grace ([Deuteronomy 7:7-8](/deuteronomy/7-7 "Deuteronomy 7:7-8 - God's Choice of Israel")). Their pride led them to reject God's wisdom and authority, making them ripe for His corrective judgment.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 13:9, with its declaration of God's intent to "mar the pride" of His people, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment not in God "marring" Christ's pride (for He had none), but in Christ's radical humility serving as the ultimate antidote to human pride, and in His work on the cross becoming the means by which God addresses and ultimately defeats the root of all human arrogance: sin. While Judah's pride led to their ruin, Jesus Christ, "who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men" ([Philippians 2:6-7](/philippians/2-6 "Philippians 2:6-7 - Christ's Humility")). He became the humble Lamb of God, taking on the "marred" condition of humanity's sin and pride, bearing its judgment on the cross. Through His sacrifice, He not only paid the penalty for our pride but also provides the Spirit to transform our hearts, enabling us to walk in the humility He exemplified ([Matthew 23:12](/matthew/23-12 "Matthew 23:12 - Humility and Exaltation")). The judgment against Judah's pride foreshadows the greater judgment against all sin and rebellion, a judgment that was fully satisfied in Christ, allowing those who humble themselves before Him to receive grace instead of condemnation ([1 Peter 5:6](/1_peter/5-6 "1 Peter 5:6 - Humble Yourselves Under God's Mighty Hand")). Thus, the "marring" of pride in Jeremiah points to the cross, where the pride of humanity was confronted and overcome by the ultimate act of divine humility and love, leading to true restoration and a new covenant relationship with God through Christ ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God's Love While We Were Still Sinners")).

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

Leviticus 26:19

And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass:

Zephaniah 3:11

In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.

Isaiah 23:9

The LORD of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, [and] to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.

Proverbs 16:18

¶ Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Isaiah 2:10

¶ Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty.

Isaiah 2:17

And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.

Jeremiah 13:15

Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken.