Jeremiah 7:19

Do they provoke me to anger? saith the LORD: [do they] not [provoke] themselves to the confusion of their own faces?

Do they provoke me to anger {H3707}? saith {H5002} the LORD {H3068}: do they not provoke themselves to the confusion {H1322} of their own faces {H6440}?

Are they really provoking me," asks ADONAI, "or are they provoking themselves, to their own ruin?"

But am I the One they are provoking? declares the LORD. Is it not themselves they spite, to their own shame?

Do they provoke me to anger? saith Jehovah; do they not provoke themselves, to the confusion of their own faces?

Jeremiah 7:19 is a poignant rhetorical question posed by the LORD through the prophet Jeremiah, highlighting the ultimate futility and self-destructive nature of Judah's persistent sin and idolatry.

Context of Jeremiah 7:19

This verse is part of Jeremiah's famous "Temple Sermon" (Jeremiah 7:1-15), delivered at the gate of the LORD's house. The people of Judah had developed a false sense of security, believing that their presence at the Temple and their status as God's chosen people would protect them from divine judgment, despite their widespread idolatry, injustice, and moral corruption. Jeremiah vehemently challenged this misguided trust, calling them to "amend your ways and your doings" (Jeremiah 7:3). The specific acts of provocation mentioned in the surrounding verses include worshipping other gods, stealing, murdering, committing adultery, swearing falsely, and even burning their children in the fire to Baal (Jeremiah 7:31). Against this backdrop of blatant disobedience, God asks who is truly harmed by their actions.

Meaning of Jeremiah 7:19

The LORD's question, "Do they provoke me to anger? saith the LORD," is not an inquiry but a powerful rhetorical statement affirming that their actions certainly do provoke His righteous wrath. However, the subsequent phrase reveals the deeper, more devastating truth: "do they not provoke themselves to the confusion of their own faces?" This emphasizes that while their sins offend God, the primary and immediate consequence falls upon the offenders themselves. Their actions lead directly to their own shame, disgrace, and eventual ruin. It's a declaration that sin, ultimately, is self-defeating and self-destructive.

Key Themes in Jeremiah 7:19

  • The Self-Destructive Nature of Sin: The verse powerfully conveys that sin, though directed against God, ultimately brings about harm and destruction upon the sinner. It highlights the principle that "whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Galatians 6:7).
  • Divine Justice and Consequences: While God's anger is provoked, His justice ensures that the natural consequences of rebellion lead to public shame and internal turmoil for those who defy Him.
  • Rhetorical Question as Emphasis: The use of a rhetorical question serves to underscore the undeniable truth and profound irony: they are not merely harming God but are actively bringing about their own downfall.
  • Shame and Disgrace: The "confusion of their own faces" points to deep humiliation and public exposure of their folly and wickedness, a common consequence for those who persist in defiance against God in ancient Israel.

Linguistic Insight

The phrase "confusion of their own faces" translates from the Hebrew boshet panim (בֹּשֶׁת פָּנִים), which literally means "shame of face" or "disgrace of countenance." It’s an idiom signifying profound humiliation, public embarrassment, and the visible manifestation of one's wrongdoing leading to a loss of honor. This is not merely an internal feeling but often a public display of disgrace, which was a significant deterrent in honor-shame cultures.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 7:19 serves as a timeless warning. It reminds us that while our sins certainly grieve God and break His commandments, their most immediate and tangible impact is often on ourselves. Persistent disobedience to God's will leads to self-inflicted wounds: broken relationships, moral decay, spiritual emptiness, and ultimately, a separation from the source of true life and peace. Rather than provoking God's anger, we should seek to "depart from evil, and do good" (Psalm 34:14), recognizing that obedience to God's ways leads to blessing and life, while rebellion leads to confusion and shame.

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.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:22

    Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

  • Jeremiah 20:11

    But the LORD [is] with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: [their] everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.

  • Ezekiel 8:17

    Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen [this], O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose.

  • Ezekiel 8:18

    Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, [yet] will I not hear them.

  • Jeremiah 2:19

    Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that [it is] an evil [thing] and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear [is] not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

  • Jeremiah 9:19

    For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion, How are we spoiled! we are greatly confounded, because we have forsaken the land, because our dwellings have cast [us] out.

  • Daniel 9:7

    O Lord, righteousness [belongeth] unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, [that are] near, and [that are] far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.

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