Jeremiah 7:28

But thou shalt say unto them, This [is] a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth.

But thou shalt say {H559} unto them, This is a nation {H1471} that obeyeth {H8085} not the voice {H6963} of the LORD {H3068} their God {H430}, nor receiveth {H3947} correction {H4148}: truth {H530} is perished {H6}, and is cut off {H3772} from their mouth {H6310}.

Therefore, say to them, 'This is the nation that has not listened to the voice of ADONAI their God. They won't take correction; faithfulness has perished; it has vanished from their mouths.

Therefore you must say to them, ‘This is the nation that would not listen to the voice of the LORD their God and would not receive correction. Truth has perished; it has disappeared from their lips.

And thou shalt say unto them, This is the nation that hath not hearkened to the voice of Jehovah their God, nor received instruction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth.

Commentary

Jeremiah 7:28 serves as a stark prophetic declaration from the prophet Jeremiah, revealing the profound spiritual decay and rebellion of the nation of Judah during a critical period of their history. This verse encapsulates God's indictment against His people for their persistent disobedience and rejection of divine guidance.

Context

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 the mere presence of the Temple in Jerusalem would protect them from judgment, despite their rampant idolatry and injustice. The prophet, speaking for the LORD, shatters this illusion, calling them to genuine repentance and obedience. As seen in Jeremiah 7:4, their misplaced trust was in the physical structure, proclaiming, "The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these." Jeremiah 7:28 directly follows a series of lamentations over their stubbornness and refusal to heed God's voice, culminating in this summary judgment of their spiritual state.

Key Themes

  • Profound Disobedience: The primary accusation against Judah is that they "obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God." This points to a systemic and deliberate rejection of God's covenant commands and the moral and ceremonial laws He had given them. Their actions contradicted their identity as God's chosen people, demonstrating a deep-seated rebellion.
  • Refusal of Correction: The phrase "nor receiveth correction" highlights their stubborn impenitence. God had sent prophets, including Jeremiah, and even allowed various forms of discipline, but the people consistently refused to learn or turn back. This resistance to divine instruction is a hallmark of their spiritual decline, a theme echoed in Proverbs 15:32, which states, "He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul."
  • Loss of Truth: The powerful statement "truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth" signifies a complete moral and spiritual collapse. It implies not only that they do not speak truthfully but that truth itself—integrity, faithfulness, reliability, and genuine covenant fidelity—has vanished from their society and discourse. This moral void made genuine repentance or restoration incredibly difficult.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word translated "correction" is musar (מוּסָר), which carries the sense of discipline, instruction, or chastisement. The people's refusal to receive musar indicates a deep-seated rebellion against God's loving attempts to guide them back to righteousness and wisdom.
  • The word for "truth" is emet (אֱמֶת). When the prophet declares that emet has "perished" (נֶאֱמָנָה, *ne'emanah*, related to faithfulness and being cut off), it emphasizes the complete absence of faithfulness, integrity, and reliability among the people. This isn't just about speaking lies, but a fundamental departure from the very essence of truthfulness and covenant fidelity.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 7:28 offers timeless lessons for individuals and communities today. It calls us to:

  • Listen to God's Voice: We must actively seek to hear and obey the voice of the Lord as revealed in His Word, rather than relying on external religious practices or traditions without genuine heart transformation.
  • Embrace Correction: A posture of humility and openness to correction, whether from God's Word, wise counsel, or even the consequences of our actions, is vital for spiritual growth. Refusing correction leads to hardening of the heart and further straying from God's path, as seen in Hebrews 12:11.
  • Uphold Truth: In a world where truth is often diluted or discarded, believers are called to be people of integrity, whose words and lives reflect honesty and faithfulness. The absence of truth inevitably leads to societal and spiritual decay.

This verse serves as a powerful reminder that God values sincere obedience and a receptive heart far above outward religious observance or false security.

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

  • Isaiah 59:14

    And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.

  • Isaiah 59:15

    Yea, truth faileth; and he [that] departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw [it], and it displeased him that [there was] no judgment.

  • Isaiah 1:4

    Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.

  • Isaiah 1:5

    Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

  • Proverbs 1:7

    ¶ The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of knowledge: [but] fools despise wisdom and instruction.

  • Zephaniah 3:2

    She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.

  • 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.
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