The Hebrew word mêʼên, represented by H3987, means to refuse and describes a refractory nature. Although it appears only 1 time in 1 unique verse, its meaning is significant, capturing the essence of willful and obstinate disobedience against divine instruction.
The single use of H3987 is found in a stark prophecy in Jeremiah. The verse describes an "evil people" H5971 who are defined by their active choice to refuse to hear God's words H1697. This refusal is not passive; it is directly connected to their actions of walking H1980 in the "imagination of their heart" H8307 and pursuing idolatry by walking H3212 after H310 other H312 gods H430 to serve H5647 and worship H7812 them Jeremiah 13:10. This context frames the act of refusal as a foundational sin leading to further rebellion.
Several related words help clarify the gravity of being refractory:
- H8085 shâmaʻ (to hear intelligently; often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.): This word represents the very thing being rejected. To refuse H3987 is to deliberately reject the call to shâmaʻ, which is the basis for blessing and covenant relationship Deuteronomy 28:1.
- H8307 shᵉrîyrûwth (obstinacy; imagination, lust): This term describes the internal source of the refusal. The people in Jeremiah refuse God's word because they instead follow the obstinacy of their own evil heart Jeremiah 11:8.
- H1980 hâlak (to walk; in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively): This word signifies a way of life. Instead of walking in God's law Psalms 119:1, those who refuse to hear Him choose to walk according to the imagination of their own hearts Jeremiah 13:10.
The theological weight of H3987 centers on the deliberate nature of disobedience and its consequences.
- Willful Opposition: To refuse is an act of the will. It is a conscious decision to reject God's authority and His words H1697. This act is identified as a characteristic of an "evil people" H7451 in Jeremiah 13:10.
- The Path of Self-Will: The refusal to hear God is directly linked to following the "imagination of their heart" H8307. This establishes a clear dichotomy: one either listens to God or follows the path of personal obstinacy and desire Jeremiah 7:24.
- The Consequence of Refusal: The verse where H3987 appears concludes that those who refuse God's words will become like a girdle that is "good for nothing" Jeremiah 13:10. This indicates that rejecting God's guidance renders a person or people purposeless and subject to judgment.
In summary, mêʼên H3987 provides a concise and powerful term for being refractory and willfully disobedient. Though used only once, its context in Jeremiah 13:10 illuminates a core biblical theme: the choice between hearing H8085 God's word and stubbornly following the heart's own imagination H8307. This single word captures the pivotal act of rebellion that leads to idolatry and ultimate ruin.
TRV