Jeremiah 22:21

I spake unto thee in thy prosperity; [but] thou saidst, I will not hear. This [hath been] thy manner from thy youth, that thou obeyedst not my voice.

I spake {H1696} unto thee in thy prosperity {H7962}; but thou saidst {H559}, I will not hear {H8085}. This hath been thy manner {H1870} from thy youth {H5271}, that thou obeyedst {H8085} not my voice {H6963}.

I spoke to you in your times of prosperity, but you said, 'I won't listen.' This has been your pattern since you were young - you pay no attention to what I say.

I warned you when you were secure. You said, ‘I will not listen.’ This has been your way from youth, that you have not obeyed My voice.

I spake unto thee in thy prosperity; but thou saidst, I will not hear. This hath been thy manner from thy youth, that thou obeyedst not my voice.

Context

Jeremiah 22 is part of a series of prophetic messages delivered by the prophet Jeremiah, primarily to the kings of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, during a tumultuous period leading up to the Babylonian exile. This chapter specifically addresses the royal house, condemning the unrighteous rule of kings like Jehoiakim and implicitly Jehoiachin (Coniah). Verse 21 highlights God's long-standing grievance against Judah: their consistent refusal to obey His voice, particularly during times of peace and prosperity, when they felt no immediate threat or need for divine intervention. The nation's history is presented as a continuous pattern of rebellion against their covenant Lord.

Key Themes

  • Divine Patience and Persistent Warning: God states He "spake unto thee in thy prosperity," emphasizing that His warnings and guidance were given not only in times of crisis but also when life was comfortable and seemingly secure. This demonstrates God's consistent care and desire for His people's well-being.
  • Human Stubbornness and Disobedience: The blunt response, "I will not hear," encapsulates the nation's defiant attitude. This was not a moment of weakness but a deliberate rejection of divine instruction and covenant obligations.
  • A Deep-Seated Pattern of Rebellion: The phrase "This hath been thy manner from thy youth" underscores that Judah's disobedience was not a recent phenomenon but a deeply ingrained, historical trait, a recurring theme throughout Israel's history, where they often rebelled and cast God's law behind their backs.
  • The Peril of Prosperity: The verse implies that prosperity, rather than fostering gratitude and obedience, often led to spiritual complacency and a hardening of hearts, making them less inclined to heed God's voice.

Linguistic Insights

The term "prosperity" translates the Hebrew word shalvah (שַׁלְוָה), which signifies security, ease, and tranquility. It paints a picture of a nation that was not under immediate duress when God spoke, making their refusal to listen even more egregious. The phrase "from thy youth" (מִנְּעוּרַיִךְ, minne'urayikh) emphasizes the long duration and deep-seated nature of this rebellious spirit, indicating that disobedience was a characteristic from the very beginning of their national existence with God.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 22:21 serves as a timeless warning for individuals and nations. It highlights the spiritual danger of complacency during times of blessing. When things are going well, it's easy to forget dependence on God and ignore His guidance. This verse calls us to:

  • Listen Always: To be attentive to God's voice in all seasons of life—in prosperity as well as adversity. Spiritual growth requires consistent listening and obedience, not just when we face challenges.
  • Examine Our Hearts: To honestly assess if we, like ancient Judah, have developed a "manner" of selective hearing or outright rebellion against God's commands. Is our obedience conditional on our circumstances?
  • Guard Against Complacency: To recognize that times of ease can be spiritually perilous. This verse is a stark warning against the spiritual complacency that can arise during times of blessing, echoing similar admonitions found in Deuteronomy concerning forgetting the Lord in the land of plenty. True prosperity includes a vibrant, obedient relationship with God.
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.

  • Jeremiah 32:30

    For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have only done evil before me from their youth: for the children of Israel have only provoked me to anger with the work of their hands, saith the LORD.

  • Jeremiah 3:25

    We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: for we have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.

  • Jeremiah 7:22

    For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices:

  • Jeremiah 7:28

    But thou shalt say unto them, This [is] a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth.

  • Proverbs 30:9

    Lest I be full, and deny [thee], and say, Who [is] the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God [in vain].

  • Isaiah 48:8

    Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time [that] thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb.

  • Ezekiel 23:3

    And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their virginity.

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