Jeremiah 5:23

But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.

But this people {H5971} hath a revolting {H5637} and a rebellious {H4784} heart {H3820}; they are revolted {H5493} and gone {H3212}.

But this people has a rebellious, defiant heart; they have rebelled and gone!

But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts. They have turned aside and gone away.

But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.

Jeremiah 5:23 describes the deep-seated spiritual condition of the people of Judah during the prophet Jeremiah's ministry, highlighting the pervasive rebellion that characterized their relationship with God. This verse is a poignant summary of their persistent disobedience, which ultimately led to divine judgment and the Babylonian exile.

Context

This verse is situated within a series of indictments against Judah and Jerusalem, where God, through Jeremiah, exposes their widespread moral corruption, idolatry, and refusal to heed prophetic warnings. Despite God's patience and numerous calls to repentance, the nation had become entrenched in sin. Jeremiah's mission was to call them back to faithfulness, but this verse underscores the futility of his efforts due to their inherent spiritual stubbornness. The "people" here refers specifically to the inhabitants of the southern kingdom of Judah, whose actions mirrored the long history of Israel's unfaithfulness, as seen in passages like Deuteronomy 31:27.

Key Themes

  • Persistent Rebellion: The verse emphasizes a continuous state of defiance. It's not a momentary lapse but a fundamental orientation of their heart.
  • Stubbornness of Heart: The phrase "revolting and a rebellious heart" points to an internal disposition that resists God's will and truth. This spiritual hardening prevents them from turning back, a theme echoed in Proverbs 28:14.
  • Spiritual Apostasy: The declaration "they are revolted and gone" signifies a complete and decisive turning away from their covenant relationship with God, illustrating a profound abandonment of divine principles.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: While not explicitly stated in this verse, the broader context of Jeremiah's prophecy clearly links this rebellion to impending judgment and exile, serving as a solemn warning against such spiritual departure.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses strong, evocative language to convey the severity of their condition:

  • The Hebrew word for "revolting" (סוֹרֵר, sorēr) implies being stubborn, unruly, or turning aside. It often describes a disobedient child or an animal that refuses to be led.
  • "Rebellious" (מֹרֶה, moreh) signifies being bitter, obstinate, or disobedient, highlighting a deliberate and active resistance to authority.
  • The repetition, "they are revolted and gone," uses two forms of the same root (סור, sur) to intensify the meaning. It suggests a complete and irrevocable turning away, a definitive departure from the path of righteousness and obedience to God. This emphasizes the finality of their spiritual straying; they have not just turned, but they have gone far away.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 5:23 serves as a timeless warning for all generations. It challenges believers to examine their own hearts for any tendencies towards stubbornness or spiritual rebellion. Just as ancient Judah faced consequences for their persistent defiance, we are reminded that ignoring God's word and refusing to repent can lead to spiritual decline and separation from His blessings. This verse calls for a humble and obedient heart, one that is quick to respond to God's guidance and willing to turn from sin, rather than hardening itself against divine truth. It reminds us of the importance of an active spiritual vigilance to avoid the deceitfulness of sin.

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 6:28

    They [are] all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: [they are] brass and iron; they [are] all corrupters.

  • Deuteronomy 21:18

    ¶ If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and [that], when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:

  • Hosea 11:7

    And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt [him].

  • Psalms 95:10

    Forty years long was I grieved with [this] generation, and said, It [is] a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:

  • Isaiah 31:6

    ¶ Turn ye unto [him from] whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.

  • Hebrews 3:12

    Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

  • Jeremiah 5:5

    I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the LORD, [and] the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, [and] burst the bonds.

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