Jeremiah 6:19

KJV

Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, [even] the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.

KJV (with Strong's)

Hear {H8085}, O earth {H776}: behold, I will bring {H935} evil {H7451} upon this people {H5971}, even the fruit {H6529} of their thoughts {H4284}, because they have not hearkened {H7181} unto my words {H1697}, nor to my law {H8451}, but rejected {H3988} it.

Complete Jewish Bible

Hear, oh earth! I am going to bring disaster on this people; it is the consequence of their own way of thinking; for they pay no attention to my words; and as for my Torah, they reject it.

Berean Standard Bible

Hear, O earth! I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their own schemes, because they have paid no attention to My word and have rejected My instruction.

American Standard Version

Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words; and as for my law, they have rejected it.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 6:19 delivers a profound divine indictment and a cosmic declaration of impending judgment upon the people of Judah. It reveals that the severe calamity God is about to bring upon them is not arbitrary, but the direct and inevitable "fruit" of their own wicked intentions and rebellious actions, stemming from their persistent refusal to listen to, obey, and ultimately their contemptuous rejection of God's authoritative words and His divine law.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 6 is strategically positioned within the initial prophetic pronouncements (chapters 1-25) against Judah and Jerusalem, detailing the coming judgment at the hands of a formidable northern adversary, the Neo-Babylonian Empire. This chapter intensifies the warnings, vividly depicting Jerusalem under siege (Jeremiah 6:1-8) and lamenting the deep-seated spiritual and moral corruption pervasive throughout all societal strata, from false prophets to avaricious priests (Jeremiah 6:9-15). The people are characterized by their obstinate refusal to walk in "the ancient paths" of righteousness (Jeremiah 6:16) and their deliberate rejection of God's faithful messengers (Jeremiah 6:17). Jeremiah 6:19 serves as a climactic and definitive declaration within this escalating narrative of divine wrath, explicitly articulating the precise reason for the impending "evil" (calamity) and affirming God's righteous and just response to their unyielding disobedience. It immediately follows God's lament over their spiritual deafness and precedes further grim descriptions of the coming destruction.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophetic ministry of Jeremiah unfolded during a turbulent and pivotal era in Judah's history, approximately from 627 BCE to after the catastrophic fall of Jerusalem in 586 BCE. This period was marked by the waning power of the Assyrian Empire and the formidable rise of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, which increasingly posed an existential threat to Judah's fragile sovereignty. Spiritually, despite the significant reforms initiated by King Josiah, the nation largely reverted to pervasive idolatry, entrenched social injustice, and a superficial, ritualistic religiosity, tragically mirroring the very sins that had led to the downfall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel centuries earlier. The "law" (Torah), though theoretically known and possessed, was widely disregarded in practical life. The dramatic opening command, "Hear, O earth," powerfully evokes the ancient Near Eastern legal convention of a "covenant lawsuit" (Hebrew: _rib_), where creation itself is solemnly summoned as an impartial witness to the legal proceedings between the sovereign God and His covenant people. This convention underscores the universal scope and undeniable justice of God's verdict against Judah's profound and persistent covenant infidelity.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 6:19 profoundly encapsulates several pervasive and critical themes found throughout the book of Jeremiah and the broader prophetic literature. First, it powerfully highlights the theme of **Covenant Disobedience and Divine Judgment**, asserting that God's "evil" (calamity) is not an arbitrary act but a just, certain, and inevitable consequence of Judah's persistent breach of the Mosaic covenant, a principle foundational to the Deuteronomic theology of blessings and curses found throughout [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses"). Second, it underscores the theme of **Rejection of Divine Revelation**, emphasizing the people's stubborn refusal to "hearken unto my words, nor to my law." This spiritual deafness and outright "rejection" of God's authoritative truth is presented as the core offense, illustrating the critical importance of attentive obedience to God's revealed will, a truth echoed in [Psalm 119:105](/psalm/119-105 "Psalm 119:105 - Your Word is a Lamp to My Feet"). Third, the potent phrase "the fruit of their thoughts" introduces the theme of **Inescapable Consequences**, powerfully conveying the biblical principle of sowing and reaping, where internal rebellion and wicked intentions inevitably bear destructive external realities, a concept also articulated in [Proverbs 1:31](/proverbs/1-31 "Proverbs 1:31 - They Will Eat the Fruit of Their Ways"). Finally, the dramatic opening summons, "Hear, O earth," reinforces the theme of **Cosmic Witness**, elevating the judgment to a universal scale and implying the profound gravity and universal significance of God's justice being enacted against a people who had repeatedly spurned His grace, a call to creation also seen in [Isaiah 1:2](/isaiah/1-2 "Isaiah 1:2 - Hear, O Heavens and Earth").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **evil (Hebrew, _raʻ'_):** From H7451, meaning bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral); adversity, affliction, calamity. In this specific context, "evil" refers to the calamitous consequences or disaster that God, in His righteous judgment, will bring upon Judah. It does not denote moral wickedness on God's part, but rather the just and painful outcome of the people's own moral evil and persistent disobedience, manifesting as national distress, suffering, and divine judgment.
* **thoughts (Hebrew, _machăshâbâh'_):** From H4284, meaning a contrivance, i.e., (abstractly) intention, plan (whether bad, a plot; or good, advice); imagination, purpose. Here, it specifically denotes the wicked schemes, rebellious intentions, perverse imaginings, and ungodly counsel that originated within the hearts and minds of the people, which subsequently led to their disobedient actions and ultimately their downfall. It highlights the internal, spiritual source of their outward rebellion and the destructive nature of ungodly inner deliberations.
* **rejected (Hebrew, _mâʼaç'_):** From H3988, meaning to spurn; also (intransitively) to disappear; abhor, cast away (off), contemn, despise, disdain, refuse, reprobate. This powerful word conveys a strong sense of deliberate, contemptuous refusal and utter disregard for God's words and law. It emphasizes the willful, defiant, and scornful nature of their disobedience, indicating not merely a passive failure to obey, but an active, scornful dismissal and repudiation of divine authority and truth.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Hear, O earth:"** This dramatic opening serves as a prophetic summons, functioning as a solemn legal invocation. God calls all creation, personified as a silent yet attentive witness, to attend to and bear testimony to the momentous divine pronouncement about to be made. It underscores the profound gravity and universal significance of God's impending judgment, framing it as a cosmic courtroom declaration that transcends human boundaries and appeals to the very fabric of existence.
* **"behold, I will bring evil upon this people,"** God Himself declares His active, sovereign, and intentional role in bringing about calamity or disaster (the "evil" here referring to misfortune or judgment, not moral wickedness) upon Judah. This is a direct, deliberate act of divine justice, signaling that the impending consequences are not random occurrences or mere happenstance, but a precise and purposeful response to the people's actions and their covenant infidelity.
* **"[even] the fruit of their thoughts,"** This crucial phrase clarifies the intrinsic nature and ultimate origin of the "evil" that God will bring. It is presented as the natural, inevitable outcome or harvest ("fruit") directly resulting from their internal deliberations, wicked intentions, rebellious plans, and perverse imaginings ("thoughts"). This powerfully emphasizes the profound biblical principle of reaping what one sows, where their inner moral corruption and spiritual rebellion inevitably manifest in external suffering, destruction, and divine judgment.
* **"because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it."** This final clause provides the explicit, definitive, and comprehensive reason for the impending judgment. Their failure to "hearken" (to listen attentively, obey, and give heed) to God's revealed "words" (encompassing prophetic messages, divine commands, and covenant stipulations) and His "law" (the Torah, the comprehensive covenant given to Israel), coupled with their outright, contemptuous "rejection" of it, is identified as the direct and primary cause of the coming disaster. It highlights their willful disobedience, spiritual rebellion, and profound disrespect for divine authority and truth.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 6:19 employs several potent **literary devices** to convey its urgent and severe message. The opening phrase, "**Hear, O earth,**" is a powerful instance of **personification**, where the inanimate earth is addressed as if it possesses the capacity to hear, understand, and bear witness to the divine pronouncement. This elevates the judgment to a cosmic scale, emphasizing the universal significance and undeniable justice of God's impending action. The phrase "**the fruit of their thoughts**" functions as a vivid **metaphor**, likening thoughts and intentions to seeds that are sown and inevitably produce a harvest or "fruit." This illustrates the profound principle of consequences, where internal moral corruption and rebellious intentions directly lead to external calamitous outcomes. Furthermore, the entire verse operates within the framework of a **covenant lawsuit** (or _rib_ in Hebrew), a common prophetic motif where God acts as the plaintiff, judge, and executioner, solemnly calling creation itself as a witness against His covenant people for their egregious breach of the covenant. The explicit cause-and-effect relationship articulated by the word "because" ("because they have not hearkened... but rejected it") strongly underscores this legal framework. The repetition of the negative actions ("not hearkened... nor to my law, but rejected it") also creates a powerful sense of **emphasis** on the totality, deliberateness, and unyielding nature of Judah's disobedience.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 6:19 stands as a profound theological statement on divine justice, human accountability, and the non-negotiable authority of God's revealed will. It unequivocally teaches that God's judgments are not arbitrary acts of capricious wrath but righteous, just, and necessary responses to sustained human rebellion and covenant infidelity. The "evil" that befalls a people is portrayed as the direct "fruit" of their own internal corruption and external disobedience, underscoring the biblical truth that our thoughts, intentions, and inner dispositions are not benign but possess generative power, ultimately shaping our actions and determining our destiny. The verse highlights the critical and enduring importance of hearkening to and obeying God's "words" and "law," presenting the contemptuous rejection of divine truth as the root cause of calamity and national ruin. It affirms God's unwavering commitment to His covenant, even when that commitment necessitates bringing corrective and punitive judgment upon His unfaithful people, demonstrating that His character is both perfectly loving and immutably just.

* [Deuteronomy 30:19-20](/deuteronomy/30-19-20 "Deuteronomy 30:19-20 - Choose Life, Obey God")
* [Proverbs 1:31](/proverbs/1-31 "Proverbs 1:31 - Reaping the Fruit of Their Own Ways")
* [Romans 2:5-6](/romans/2-5-6 "Romans 2:5-6 - God's Righteous Judgment According to Deeds")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 6:19 serves as a timeless and sobering warning for all generations that God's justice is unwavering and that there are direct, often painful, consequences for rejecting His word and living in defiance of His commands. This verse calls us to profound introspection, prompting us to examine not only our outward actions but, more fundamentally, the "fruit of our thoughts"—the intentions, desires, and imaginations that reside deep within our hearts. It reminds us that true, holistic obedience begins internally, and that unexamined or unrepentant thoughts can indeed produce destructive "fruit" in our individual lives, our relationships, and our communities. The enduring necessity of listening attentively to, cherishing, and obeying God's voice, as revealed in His inspired Word, remains paramount for all who claim to follow Him. It is the path to life, blessing, and spiritual flourishing, contrasting sharply with the "evil" of calamity that inevitably arises from stubborn disobedience and the contemptuous rejection of divine truth. This passage challenges us to cultivate a heart that is not only receptive to God's Word but actively seeks to conform every thought, intention, and desire to His righteous standard, thereby yielding the fruit of righteousness and peace rather than ruin and judgment.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific areas of my life might my internal "thoughts" or intentions be producing "fruit" that is contrary to God's revealed will or detrimental to my spiritual well-being and relationships?**
* **How diligently do I truly "hearken unto" God's words and His law in my daily life, or am I prone to subtly "rejecting" them through neglect, rationalization, or outright disobedience?**
* **What practical and intentional steps can I take to cultivate a heart that is more deeply receptive, obedient, and progressively transformed by God's revealed truth, ensuring that my thoughts and actions align with His holy purposes?**

### FAQ

**What does "evil" mean when God says, "I will bring evil upon this people"?**
Answer: In Jeremiah 6:19, the Hebrew word for "evil" (ra', H7451) refers primarily to calamity, disaster, or misfortune, rather than moral wickedness on God's part. It signifies the painful, destructive consequences that God, in His righteous judgment, brings upon a people who have persistently rejected His word and law. It is the just recompense for their spiritual and moral rebellion, not an act of malice from God. This is consistent with how God's judgment is often depicted in the Old Testament, as a response to covenant unfaithfulness and a means of discipline, as seen in the warnings throughout [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses").

**How does "the fruit of their thoughts" relate to personal responsibility?**
Answer: This phrase powerfully underscores the biblical principle of sowing and reaping, emphasizing that our internal world—our intentions, plans, and imaginations—ultimately bears external consequences. The "fruit" is the outcome of the "thoughts," meaning that the calamities Judah faced were not arbitrary but were the direct result of their own rebellious and wicked internal dispositions. This highlights profound personal and corporate responsibility for one's actions and the inner life from which they spring, a truth echoed by Jesus in [Matthew 15:19](/matthew/15-19 "Matthew 15:19 - From the Heart Come Evil Thoughts"), where He teaches that "out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander."

**Does this verse suggest God is capricious or harsh in His judgment?**
Answer: No, quite the opposite. Jeremiah 6:19 presents God's judgment as a direct, proportionate, and just response to Judah's sustained and deliberate rejection of His "words" and "law." The phrase "because they have not hearkened... but rejected it" clearly establishes the cause-and-effect relationship. God is not acting capriciously but upholding His covenant and His righteous character. His warnings, delivered through Jeremiah, were abundant and patient, demonstrating His long-suffering before judgment, as seen in His repeated calls for repentance throughout [the book of Jeremiah](/jeremiah/1 "The Book of Jeremiah"). The judgment is a necessary consequence of their persistent rebellion, not an arbitrary act, but a just and sorrowful response to their unyielding defiance.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 6:19, with its stark declaration of judgment for rejecting God's Word and Law, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate revelation of God's will in Jesus Christ and the profound implications of humanity's response to Him. Where ancient Judah rejected the prophetic "words" and the Mosaic "law," humanity's greatest rebellion is the rejection of the [Logos made flesh](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh"), Jesus Christ Himself. He is the perfect embodiment of God's "law" and "words," having perfectly "hearkened" to the Father's will even unto death on the cross, as described in [Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Obedience to Death"). The "evil" (calamity and judgment) that came upon Judah for their disobedience is a type of the ultimate judgment for sin, which Christ, in His infinite love and perfect justice, bore on behalf of all who believe. He became sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him, as [2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us") proclaims. The "fruit of their thoughts" leading to destruction finds its counterpoint in the new creation in Christ, where believers, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, are empowered to produce the "fruit of the Spirit" ([Galatians 5:22-23](/galatians/5-22 "Galatians 5:22-23 - The Fruit of the Spirit")) as their thoughts and lives are progressively conformed to His perfect will, rather than their own rebellious imaginations. Thus, this verse underscores the gravity of rejecting divine truth while simultaneously pointing to the absolute necessity and sufficiency of Christ as the one who perfectly fulfilled God's demands and bore the consequences of humanity's rejection, offering a path to life, reconciliation, and true spiritual fruitfulness.

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

Isaiah 1:2

¶ Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.

Acts 8:22

Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

Jeremiah 8:9

The wise [men] are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom [is] in them?

Jeremiah 17:10

I the LORD search the heart, [I] try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, [and] according to the fruit of his doings.

John 12:48

He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

Micah 6:2

Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD'S controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.

Hosea 4:6

¶ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.