Jeremiah 25:7

Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the LORD; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.

Yet ye have not hearkened {H8085} unto me, saith {H5002} the LORD {H3068}; that ye might provoke me to anger {H3707} with the works {H4639} of your hands {H3027} to your own hurt {H7451}.

But you wouldn't listen to me," says ADONAI, "so that you could provoke me with the products of your hands, to your own harm."

โ€˜But to your own harm, you have not listened to Me,โ€™ declares the LORD, โ€˜so you have provoked Me to anger with the works of your hands.โ€™

Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith Jehovah; that ye may provoke me to anger with the work of your hands to your own hurt.

Commentary

Context of Jeremiah 25:7

Jeremiah 25 is a pivotal chapter in the prophetic book, delivered by the prophet Jeremiah in the fourth year of King Jehoiakim of Judah (around 605/604 BC). This period immediately preceded the first Babylonian invasion and the beginning of the seventy-year exile. In this chapter, God, through Jeremiah, recounts His persistent efforts to warn Judah and Jerusalem through His prophets, urging them to turn from their wicked ways. Verse 7 specifically summarizes the nation's consistent failure to respond to these divine appeals, despite the clear and repeated messages from the LORD.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Persistent Disobedience: The phrase "Yet ye have not hearkened unto me" underscores Judah's long history of ignoring God's commands and warnings. This was not a one-time failure but a pattern of spiritual deafness and rebellion, a theme echoed throughout Jeremiah's ministry, as seen in Jeremiah 7:24.
  • Divine Provocation: Their actions were not merely passive neglect but active "provocation" of God's anger. This highlights the seriousness of their sin, suggesting that their disobedience was a deliberate affront to the Almighty, bringing about His just wrath.
  • Idolatry and Sinful Practices: The "works of your hands" primarily refers to their idolatrous worship of foreign gods, the corrupt practices in their daily lives, and their rejection of God's covenant. These "works" included creating idols, engaging in unjust social practices, and shedding innocent blood, all contrary to the Law of Moses.
  • Self-Inflicted Harm: The stark consequence is "to your own hurt." God's anger is not arbitrary but a righteous response that ultimately leads to the people's suffering and destruction. Their rejection of God's protective guidance inevitably resulted in devastating consequences, including the impending Babylonian captivity and the destruction of Jerusalem, as prophesied in Jeremiah 25:9. This emphasizes that divine judgment is often a natural outcome of human choices.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "hearkened" is shama (ืฉึธืืžึทืข), which means not just to hear but also to listen attentively and, most importantly, to obey. Thus, "ye have not hearkened" implies a complete failure to listen and act upon God's word. The phrase "provoke me to anger" comes from the Hebrew ka'as (ื›ึธึผืขึทืก), signifying vexation, indignation, or irritation that leads to wrath. It suggests that their actions were a direct cause of God's righteous displeasure, often used in the Old Testament in the context of idolatry and rebellion against God's covenant, for example, in Deuteronomy 32:21.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 25:7 serves as a timeless warning against spiritual indifference and willful disobedience. It reminds us that ignoring God's voice, whether through His Word, His Spirit, or the counsel of godly people, has serious consequences. Our actions, or "works of our hands," if contrary to God's will, can indeed "provoke" Him and ultimately lead to our own detriment. The verse calls believers to:

  • Active Listening: To truly "hearken" to God's Word, not just hear it, but to diligently apply it to our lives.
  • Obedience: Recognizing that true faith is demonstrated through obedience to God's commands.
  • Accountability: Understanding that our choices have spiritual ramifications, and rebellion against God's will always leads to "hurt," whether personal, communal, or spiritual.
This verse encourages a posture of humility and responsiveness to divine guidance, lest we bring unnecessary suffering upon ourselves.

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

  • 2 Kings 21:15

    Because they have done [that which was] evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came forth out of Egypt, even unto this day.

  • Deuteronomy 32:21

    They have moved me to jealousy with [that which is] not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with [those which are] not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.

  • 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 32:33

    And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face: though I taught them, rising up early and teaching [them], yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction.

  • Proverbs 8:36

    But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

  • 2 Kings 17:17

    And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

  • Nehemiah 9:26

    Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations.
โ† Back