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.

We lie down {H7901} in our shame {H1322}, and our confusion {H3639} covereth {H3680} us: for we have sinned {H2398} against the LORD {H3068} our God {H430}, we and our fathers {H1}, from our youth {H5271} even unto this day {H3117}, and have not obeyed {H8085} the voice {H6963} of the LORD {H3068} our God {H430}.

Let us lie down in our shame, let our disgrace cover us, for we have sinned against ADONAI our God, both we and our ancestors, from our youth until today; we have not paid attention to the voice of ADONAI our God."

Let us lie down in our shame; let our disgrace cover us. We have sinned against the LORD our God, both we and our fathers; from our youth even to this day we have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.”

Let us lie down in our shame, and let our confusion cover us; for we have sinned against Jehovah our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day; and we have not obeyed the voice of Jehovah our God.

Commentary

Commentary on Jeremiah 3:25 (KJV)

Jeremiah 3:25 is a profound confession of sin from the people of Judah, reflecting their deep spiritual state. This verse encapsulates the painful consequences of their long-standing rebellion against God.

Context

This verse is situated within a significant section of Jeremiah's prophecy (chapters 2-6), where the prophet conveys God's lament over Israel's spiritual adultery and persistent unfaithfulness. Despite their idolatry and covenant-breaking, the Lord repeatedly calls them to return to Him, promising restoration if they genuinely repent. Jeremiah 3:12, for example, shows God's continued invitation. Verse 25 appears as a potential, albeit perhaps not fully realized, acknowledgment of their guilt in response to God's gracious call.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Confession of Guilt: The verse begins with a stark admission: "We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us." This signifies a state of profound disgrace and disorientation, a direct result of their actions. It's a recognition of the spiritual nakedness and exposure that sin brings.
  • The Root of Suffering: The subsequent clause explicitly states the cause of their plight: "for we have sinned against the LORD our God." This highlights that their present suffering is not arbitrary, but a just consequence of their rebellion against the divine covenant.
  • Generational and Persistent Disobedience: The phrase "we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day" underscores the deep-rooted nature of their sin. It indicates a pattern of disobedience that spans generations, emphasizing a chronic failure to heed God's commands and live according to His will. This long history of backsliding is a central theme in Jeremiah's prophecies.
  • Failure to Obey God's Voice: The concluding thought, "and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God," identifies the core issue. True faith is demonstrated by listening and responding to God's Word. Their refusal to obey was a fundamental breach of their relationship with the Lord, leading to the shame and confusion they experienced. The importance of obeying God's voice is a recurring theme throughout the Old Testament.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "shame" (bosheth) often implies disgrace, humiliation, and the feeling of being exposed, particularly after idolatry or covenant infidelity.
  • "Confusion" (kelimah) further emphasizes profound dishonor and reproach, a state of being utterly confounded and disgraced due to one's actions. These are not merely feelings but a deep, pervasive state of being.
  • To "sin" (chata) means to miss the mark, to fall short of God's perfect standard.
  • "Obeyed the voice" (shama beqol) signifies not just hearing but actively listening and responding with obedience, which was the essence of the covenant relationship between God and Israel.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 3:25 serves as a powerful reminder that sin, whether individual or collective, leads to spiritual "shame" and "confusion," disrupting peace and clarity. It underscores the vital importance of acknowledging sin as the first step toward genuine repentance and restoration. Like ancient Judah, we are called to examine our own lives and confess where we have fallen short of God's standards. This verse also highlights the potential for generational patterns of disobedience and the need for individuals to break those cycles through personal commitment to God's will. Ultimately, true healing and clarity come from turning back to the Lord and wholeheartedly obeying His voice.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 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.

  • Jeremiah 2:26

    As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets,

  • Jeremiah 2:17

    Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way?

  • Psalms 109:29

    Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle.

  • Isaiah 50:11

    Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass [yourselves] about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks [that] ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.

  • Jeremiah 2:2

    Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land [that was] not sown.

  • Daniel 12:2

    And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame [and] everlasting contempt.
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