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.
-
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.
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
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: