Jeremiah 25:4

KJV

And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending [them]; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the LORD {H3068} hath sent {H7971} unto you all his servants {H5650} the prophets {H5030}, rising early {H7925} and sending {H7971} them; but ye have not hearkened {H8085}, nor inclined {H5186} your ear {H241} to hear {H8085}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Moreover, ADONAI sent you all his servants the prophets - again, on numerous occasions - but you didn't listen or pay attention.

Berean Standard Bible

And the LORD has sent all His servants the prophets to you again and again, but you have not listened or inclined your ear to hear.

American Standard Version

And Jehovah hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, (but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear),

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 25:4 serves as a poignant summary of God's unwavering faithfulness and persistent efforts to call His people, Judah, to repentance through His chosen messengers, the prophets. Despite His diligent and continuous communication, the verse starkly reveals the nation's tragic and deliberate spiritual deafness, highlighting their stubborn refusal to heed divine warnings and instruction, which ultimately set the stage for the impending Babylonian exile.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 25 opens with a precise chronological marker, placing this prophecy in the fourth year of King Jehoiakim of Judah and the first year of Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. This timing is crucial, as it immediately precedes the first major Babylonian invasion and the beginning of the seventy-year captivity prophesied later in the chapter ([Jeremiah 25:11](/jeremiah/25-11 "Jeremiah 25:11 - Prophecy of Seventy Years' Captivity")). The preceding verses (Jeremiah 25:1-3) establish Jeremiah's long prophetic ministry—twenty-three years—during which he, and other prophets, consistently delivered God's message. Verse 4, therefore, acts as a summary statement, encapsulating the entire period of divine communication and the people's consistent rejection, setting the stage for the severe judgment announced in the subsequent verses. It is a lament over wasted grace and a justification for the coming judgment.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period of Jeremiah's ministry (late 7th to early 6th century BCE) was one of profound political instability and spiritual decline for Judah. Following the brief religious reforms under King Josiah, Judah quickly reverted to idolatry and social injustice under his successors, Jehoiakim and Zedekiah. The nation was caught between the rising power of Babylon and the declining influence of Egypt. Culturally, the role of the prophet was divinely ordained as God's direct spokesperson, delivering His word to the covenant people. To reject a prophet's message was to reject God Himself, a grave offense within the covenant framework. The phrase "rising early and sending [them]" reflects a common Hebrew idiom for diligence and earnestness, painting a picture of God's tireless efforts to avert disaster, akin to a diligent householder attending to his duties from dawn.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Jeremiah and the broader prophetic literature. It underscores **Divine Persistence and Patience**, portraying God as one who tirelessly seeks the welfare of His people, even when they are rebellious. The repeated sending of prophets, "rising early," emphasizes His profound love and desire for their repentance rather than their destruction. Conversely, the verse highlights **Human Stubbornness and Disobedience**, a recurring motif throughout Israel's history, demonstrating a deliberate and active rejection of God's word and His messengers. This spiritual deafness, a refusal to "hearken" or "incline their ear," is presented as the primary cause of their impending judgment. Furthermore, the verse emphasizes **The Centrality of God's Word and His Prophets** as the primary means of divine communication, underscoring the authority and divine commission of figures like Jeremiah. The consistent failure to heed this word leads directly to the theme of **Consequences of Covenant Disobedience**, which is the major thrust of [Jeremiah's prophecies](/jeremiah/7 "Jeremiah 7 - The Temple Sermon and Call to Repentance").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **shâkam (Hebrew, _shâkam'_):** From H7925, this primitive root properly means "to incline (the shoulder to a burden)" but is used idiomatically to signify "to start early in the morning" or "to load up (on the back of man or beast)." In Jeremiah 25:4, when applied to God sending His prophets, it conveys intense diligence, earnestness, and persistence. It's not merely that God sent them, but that He did so with great zeal, as one would rise early to attend to crucial business, sparing no effort. This idiom emphasizes the divine initiative and the urgency of the message.
* **shâmaʻ (Hebrew, _shâmaʻ'_):** From H8085, this primitive root means "to hear intelligently," often implying attention, understanding, and obedience. It's more than just perceiving sound; it encompasses a receptive listening that leads to action. The repetition of "ye have not hearkened... to hear" underscores a profound and deliberate spiritual deafness. It's not an inability to hear, but an unwillingness to listen and obey, indicating a hardened heart that actively resists God's truth and commands.
* **nâṭâh (Hebrew, _nâṭâh'_):** From H5186, this primitive root means "to stretch or spread out," and by implication, "to bend away" or "to incline." When paired with "ear" (H241, _ʼôzen_), as in "inclined your ear," it forms an idiom for attentive listening, bending one's ear towards the speaker to catch every word. The negation ("nor inclined your ear") powerfully conveys a deliberate posture of non-receptivity, a refusal to even make the effort to hear, let alone understand or obey. It signifies a closed mind and heart.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets":** This clause establishes the divine initiative and the consistent means of communication. "The LORD" (Yahweh, H3068) emphasizes His covenant faithfulness, while "all his servants the prophets" highlights the comprehensive and continuous nature of God's outreach through a succession of divinely commissioned spokesmen. This was not a one-time warning but a sustained effort over decades.
* **"rising early and sending [them];":** This idiomatic phrase powerfully portrays God's earnestness and diligence. It signifies that God spared no effort, acting with the utmost zeal and persistence, as if rising at dawn to attend to the most crucial matters. It underscores His deep desire for His people's repentance and welfare, demonstrating His long-suffering patience before judgment.
* **"but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear.":** This final clause presents the tragic human response. The double negation ("not hearkened, nor inclined your ear") emphasizes the complete and deliberate rejection of God's word. "Hearkened" (shâmaʻ) implies obedient listening, while "inclined your ear" (nâṭâh ʼôzen) suggests attentive, receptive listening. Their failure in both regards points to a profound spiritual deafness and a hardened heart that actively resisted God's persistent calls to repentance.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 25:4 is rich in **Idiom** and **Contrast**. The phrase "rising early and sending [them]" is a powerful Hebrew idiom (**Idiom**) that personifies God's diligence and earnestness, depicting Him as one who tirelessly attends to His people's spiritual needs from dawn. This conveys His profound love and patience. The verse also employs **Repetition** and **Parallelism** in the phrase "ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear." This double negative emphasizes the complete and deliberate nature of Judah's spiritual deafness, reinforcing their active refusal to listen or obey. The entire verse functions as a stark **Contrast** between God's persistent, loving initiative and humanity's stubborn, rebellious rejection, setting up the theological justification for the impending judgment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 25:4 profoundly illustrates the enduring tension between divine grace and human free will. God's relentless sending of prophets, characterized by the diligent "rising early," is a testament to His covenant faithfulness and His deep desire for His people's salvation, not their destruction. This divine patience, however, is met with an equally persistent human obstinacy, a deliberate refusal to "hearken" or "incline the ear." This spiritual deafness is not merely ignorance but an active rejection of truth, which inevitably leads to the consequences of covenant disobedience. The verse thus serves as a foundational theological statement on the nature of God's communication, humanity's responsibility to respond, and the tragic outcome of sustained rebellion against divine instruction.

* [Deuteronomy 6:4](/deuteronomy/6-4 "Deuteronomy 6:4 - The Shema")
* [Isaiah 6:9-10](/isaiah/6-9 "Isaiah 6:9-10 - The Prophecy of Hardened Hearts")
* [Proverbs 1:24-28](/proverbs/1-24 "Proverbs 1:24-28 - Wisdom's Call Rejected")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 25:4 stands as a timeless mirror reflecting both God's unwavering character and the human propensity for spiritual resistance. For believers today, this verse serves as a profound reminder that God continues to speak—primarily through His inspired Word, the Bible, but also through His Spirit, creation, and the community of faith. The call to "hearken" and "incline our ear to hear" remains as vital as ever. It challenges us to move beyond passive hearing to active, obedient listening, cultivating a heart that is soft and receptive to divine truth and correction. The historical stubbornness of Judah is a sobering warning against spiritual apathy, self-deception, or the gradual hardening of our hearts to God's voice, which can lead to profound spiritual consequences. Recognizing God's persistent patience should inspire not only gratitude but also a renewed commitment to diligently seek His will and respond with humble obedience, knowing that His desire is always for our flourishing and redemption.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life might you be "not hearkening" or "not inclining your ear to hear" God's voice, whether through His Word, circumstances, or the counsel of others?**
* **How does God's persistent "rising early and sending" His message, even in the face of rejection, deepen your understanding of His love and patience?**
* **What practical steps can you take to cultivate a more receptive heart and a greater attentiveness to God's ongoing communication in your life?**

### FAQ
**Why did God keep sending prophets if the people wouldn't listen?**

Answer: God's persistent sending of prophets, even in the face of rejection, underscores His unwavering covenant faithfulness, His profound love, and His long-suffering patience. It demonstrates that He is "slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love" ([Psalm 103:8](/psalm/103-8 "Psalm 103:8 - The Lord's Compassion")). Each prophet sent was an act of grace, providing ample opportunity for repentance before judgment. This divine persistence highlights God's justice; He ensures that His people are without excuse, having received clear warnings and calls to return to Him repeatedly ([2 Chronicles 36:15-16](/2_chronicles/36-15 "2 Chronicles 36:15-16 - God's Compassion and Judah's Rejection")). It also serves as a witness to future generations of His righteous character and His commitment to His promises, even when His people fail.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 25:4, with its depiction of God's tireless sending of prophets and Israel's persistent rejection, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "servants the prophets" were but shadows, pointing forward to the ultimate Prophet and Son whom God would send. As the author of Hebrews declares, "Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son" ([Hebrews 1:1-2](/hebrews/1-1 "Hebrews 1:1-2 - God's Final Word Through His Son")). Jesus is the culmination of God's persistent communication, the very Word made flesh ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")), embodying the divine message in its fullness. Yet, just as Judah rejected the prophets, so too did many reject Christ, as John laments, "He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him" ([John 1:11](/john/1-11 "John 1:11 - He Came to His Own")). The "rising early and sending" of the prophets foreshadows God's ultimate act of love in sending His only Son, demonstrating the depth of His desire for humanity's salvation ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World")). Jesus Himself lamented over Jerusalem's unwillingness to gather under His protective wing, echoing the very lament of Jeremiah ([Matthew 23:37](/matthew/23-37 "Matthew 23:37 - Jesus' Lament Over Jerusalem")). Thus, Jeremiah 25:4 not only speaks of historical rejection but also anticipates the ultimate divine sending and the tragic human response that culminates in the crucifixion, yet paradoxically, also in the ultimate provision for salvation for all who will finally "hearken" to the voice of the Good Shepherd ([John 10:27](/john/10-27 "John 10:27 - My Sheep Hear My Voice")).

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

Jeremiah 25:3

From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, that [is] the three and twentieth year, the word of the LORD hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened.

Jeremiah 26:5

To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending [them], but ye have not hearkened;

Jeremiah 44:4

Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending [them], saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate.

Jeremiah 44:5

But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense unto other gods.

Jeremiah 18:12

And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.

Jeremiah 17:23

But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.

2 Chronicles 36:15

And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: