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Jeremiah 13:17

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But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for [your] pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD'S flock is carried away captive.

But if ye will not hear {H8085} it, my soul {H5315} shall weep {H1058} in secret places {H4565} for {H6440} your pride {H1466}; and mine eye {H5869} shall weep {H1830} sore {H1830}, and run down {H3381} with tears {H1832}, because the LORD'S {H3068} flock {H5739} is carried away captive {H7617}.

But if you will not hear this warning, I will weep secretly because of your pride; my eyes will weep bitterly, streaming with tears, because ADONAI's flock is carried away captive.

But if you do not listen, I will weep in secret because of your pride. My eyes will overflow with tears, because the LORD’s flock has been taken captive.

But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because Jehovah’s flock is taken captive.

Commentary

Commentary on Jeremiah 13:17 KJV

Jeremiah 13:17 encapsulates the prophet's profound sorrow and God's heartbreak over the impending judgment on Judah. This verse serves as a poignant expression of grief for a people who refuse to heed divine warnings, leading to their eventual Babylonian captivity.

Context

This verse is part of a series of warnings and symbolic actions in Jeremiah Chapter 13. Prior to this, God uses the illustration of a rotten sash (Jeremiah 13:1-11) to symbolize how Judah, once intimately bound to God, has become useless due to their pride and refusal to obey. He also employs the metaphor of wine jars (Jeremiah 13:12-14) to illustrate the impending judgment and confusion that will fill both kings and common people. Jeremiah 13:17 directly follows these warnings, emphasizing the severe consequences of disobedience to God's covenant. The prophet, Jeremiah, often called the weeping prophet, vividly conveys the emotional toll of delivering such harsh messages.

Key Themes

  • Unheeded Warnings: The phrase "But if ye will not hear it" highlights the persistent refusal of the people of Judah to listen to God's commands and prophetic messages. This stubbornness is a recurring theme throughout Jeremiah's ministry.
  • Divine and Prophetic Grief: The weeping described ("my soul shall weep in secret places," "mine eye shall weep sore") is not merely Jeremiah's personal sorrow but also a reflection of God's own grief over His rebellious people. This profound sadness underscores God's love and His lament over the choices that lead to judgment, echoing sentiments found in Hosea 11:8.
  • The Sin of Pride: The core issue identified is pride (Hebrew: ga'on), which led to their spiritual arrogance and refusal to humble themselves before God. Pride often blinds individuals and nations to their need for repentance and correction, ultimately leading to downfall, as also warned in Proverbs 16:18.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: The ultimate result of their pride and rebellion is that "the LORD'S flock is carried away captive." The people of Israel are referred to as 'the LORD'S flock,' a common biblical metaphor for God's chosen people under His care, as seen in Psalm 23:1 and Ezekiel 34:11. Their captivity to Babylon was a direct consequence of their persistent sin.

Linguistic Insights

  • The phrase "weep sore" (Hebrew: bākōh tibkeh) uses a Hebrew infinitive absolute construction, which intensifies the verb. It signifies a profound, continuous, and agonizing weeping, emphasizing the depth of Jeremiah's (and God's) anguish.
  • "Secret places" (Hebrew: mistārīm) suggests a hidden, private sorrow, perhaps indicating the prophet's personal anguish away from public view, or even God's hidden grief over His people's fate.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 13:17 serves as a timeless reminder of the gravity of spiritual pride and the importance of heeding God's Word. For believers today, it encourages:

  • Humility: To cultivate a humble heart, always ready to listen to God's voice and obey His commands, recognizing that pride precedes destruction.
  • Empathy and Intercession: To share God's heart for those who are lost or suffering due to their choices, and to intercede for them with deep compassion.
  • Consequences of Sin: To understand that while God is merciful, there are indeed consequences for persistent disobedience and rebellion against His will.

The verse highlights that God does not delight in judgment but grieves over the choices that necessitate it, inviting all to turn from pride and embrace His loving guidance.

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 (May 20, 2025) 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

  • Malachi 2:2 (7 votes)

    If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay [it] to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay [it] to heart.

  • Jeremiah 14:17 (5 votes)

    ¶ Therefore thou shalt say this word unto them; Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease: for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.

  • Jeremiah 9:1 (5 votes)

    ¶ Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!

  • Psalms 80:1 (4 votes)

    ¶ To the chief Musician upon Shoshannimeduth, A Psalm of Asaph. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest [between] the cherubims, shine forth.

  • Luke 19:41 (4 votes)

    ¶ And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,

  • Luke 19:42 (4 votes)

    Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things [which belong] unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.

  • Romans 9:2 (4 votes)

    That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.