Jeremiah 17:15

Behold, they say unto me, Where [is] the word of the LORD? let it come now.

Behold, they say {H559} unto me, Where is the word {H1697} of the LORD {H3068}? let it come {H935} now.

They keep asking me, "Where is the word of ADONAI? Let it come now."

Behold, they keep saying to me, โ€œWhere is the word of the LORD? Let it come now!โ€

Behold, they say unto me, Where is the word of Jehovah? let it come now.

Commentary

Jeremiah 17:15 captures the profound challenge and mockery faced by the prophet Jeremiah during his ministry in Judah. As he delivered messages of impending judgment and exile from the LORD, the people, steeped in their sin and false security, scoffed at his warnings, demanding immediate proof of his prophecies.

Context

This verse is set against the backdrop of Jeremiah's challenging prophetic ministry to a nation on the brink of disaster. Jeremiah consistently called Judah to repentance, warning of the severe consequences of their idolatry and unfaithfulness, including invasion by Babylon and subsequent exile. However, the people, influenced by false prophets who promised peace and prosperity, found Jeremiah's messages unwelcome and incredible. They viewed his unfulfilled predictions of immediate doom as evidence that his words were not from God, expressing their impatience and doubt with the sarcastic demand, "Where is the word of the LORD? let it come now." This taunt highlights the spiritual blindness and hardened hearts of those who refused to heed divine warnings, much like the skepticism faced by other prophets, such as Ezekiel regarding the delay of prophecies.

Key Themes

  • Skepticism and Scorn: The primary theme is the deep-seated doubt and mockery directed at Jeremiah and, by extension, at God's word itself. The people's question is not a genuine inquiry but a sarcastic challenge, reflecting their disbelief in the divine warnings.
  • Impatience with God's Timing: The demand "let it come now" reveals their human impatience and their desire for immediate gratification or refutation. They fail to understand or trust God's sovereign timing and long-suffering.
  • Rejection of Prophetic Authority: By challenging the fulfillment of Jeremiah's words, they are implicitly rejecting his authority as a true prophet of the LORD and, consequently, the authority of God's message.
  • Divine Vindication: Though not explicit in this verse, the historical context of Jeremiah's prophecies shows that God's word ultimately will not return void. The eventual Babylonian invasion and exile served as a painful vindication of Jeremiah's difficult messages.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase "Where is the word of the LORD?" (ืื™ื” ื“ื‘ืจึพื™ื”ื•ื” - *ayeih devar Yahweh*) carries a strong tone of derision and challenge rather than genuine curiosity. It's a rhetorical question meant to mock the prophet's claims. The verb "come" (ื™ึธื‘ึนื - *yavo*) is an imperative, demanding immediate fulfillment, underscoring their impatience and scorn. This challenges the very nature of God's faithfulness and His ability to execute His declared will.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 17:15 serves as a timeless reminder that faith often requires patience and endurance, especially when God's promises or warnings seem delayed. We must be wary of cynicism and impatience when waiting for God's timing, understanding that His ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). This verse also highlights the courage required to deliver unpopular truth and the danger of rejecting divine warnings, which can lead to severe consequences. It's a timeless warning against the scoffers of the last days who question the Lord's return.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“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 โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 5:19

    That say, Let him make speed, [and] hasten his work, that we may see [it]: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know [it]!

  • Jeremiah 20:7

    ยถ O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me.

  • Jeremiah 20:8

    For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily.

  • Ezekiel 12:27

    Son of man, behold, [they of] the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth [is] for many days [to come], and he prophesieth of the times [that are] far off.

  • Ezekiel 12:28

    Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; There shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord GOD.

  • 2 Peter 3:3

    ยถ Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

  • 2 Peter 3:4

    And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as [they were] from the beginning of the creation.
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