Jeremiah 7:24

But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels [and] in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.

But they hearkened {H8085} not, nor inclined {H5186} their ear {H241}, but walked {H3212} in the counsels {H4156} and in the imagination {H8307} of their evil {H7451} heart {H3820}, and went backward {H268}, and not forward {H6440}.

But they neither listened nor paid attention, but lived according to their own plans, in the stubbornness of their evil hearts, thus going backward and not forward.

Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but they followed the stubborn inclinations of their own evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.

But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.

Jeremiah 7:24 provides a stark summary of ancient Judah's spiritual condition, highlighting their persistent refusal to obey God despite His repeated warnings. This verse is part of a powerful sermon delivered by the prophet Jeremiah at the Temple gate, where he confronted the people's false confidence in religious ritual without genuine repentance.

Context

This verse is situated within Jeremiah's Temple Sermon (Jeremiah 7:1-15), a pivotal message delivered during a time of deep spiritual decline in the Kingdom of Judah, preceding the Babylonian exile. The people had fallen into idolatry and moral corruption but still believed their presence at the Jerusalem Temple guaranteed divine protection. God, through Jeremiah, passionately called them to true repentance and obedience, emphasizing that ritual without righteousness was meaningless. The preceding verse, Jeremiah 7:23, clearly states God's desire: "But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people." Verse 24 then tragically reveals their response to this divine plea.

Key Themes

  • Willful Disobedience: The phrases "hearkened not, nor inclined their ear" signify an active, deliberate refusal to listen to God's word conveyed through His prophets. It was not ignorance, but a stubborn rejection of divine instruction.
  • Self-Guided Rebellion: "Walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart" points to their decision to follow their own corrupt desires and flawed human reasoning rather than God's perfect law. They chose self-will over divine wisdom.
  • Spiritual Regression: "Went backward, and not forward" vividly describes their spiritual trajectory. Instead of moving closer to God in faith and obedience, they continually drifted further away, deeper into sin and apostasy, leading to inevitable judgment rather than blessing.

Linguistic Insights

The King James Version's translation of "imagination of their evil heart" for the Hebrew word sheriruth (שְׁרִירוּת) is significant. While "imagination" might suggest mere thought, sheriruth more accurately conveys a deep-seated "stubbornness," "hardness of heart," or "willfulness." It describes an unyielding, unteachable disposition that is set against God's commands and counsel. This term underscores not just a mistake in judgment, but a defiant posture of the heart that refuses to yield to divine authority, a theme consistently highlighted in the prophets regarding Israel's spiritual state.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 7:24 serves as a timeless warning for all generations. It reminds us that outward religious practices are insufficient if our hearts are not truly yielded to God. When we choose to follow our own desires, the counsel of the world, or our personal biases instead of God's clear word, we risk spiritual regression. This verse challenges us to honestly examine our own hearts: Are we truly "inclining our ear" to God's voice, or are we walking in the stubbornness of our own wills? True spiritual growth involves a continuous movement "forward" in obedience, humility, and seeking God's will, ensuring our path aligns with His divine purposes rather than our own corrupt inclinations. We are called to pursue a life of active listening and humble obedience, allowing God's word to guide our steps and transform our hearts, helping us to press toward the mark of Christlikeness.

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.

  • Psalms 81:11

    But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.

  • Psalms 81:12

    So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: [and] they walked in their own counsels.

  • Jeremiah 8:5

    Why [then] is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return.

  • Jeremiah 7:26

    Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers.

  • Deuteronomy 29:19

    And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:

  • 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.

  • Ezekiel 20:13

    But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which [if] a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.

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