Yahweh has sent to you all his servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them (but you have not listened or inclined your ear to hear), saying, “Return now everyone from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that Yahweh has given to you and to your fathers, from of old and even forever more. Don’t go after other gods to serve them or worship them, and don’t provoke me to anger with the work of your hands; then I will do you no harm.”
Parallel Translations
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Yahweh has sent to you all his servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them (but you have not listened or inclined your ear to hear),
saying, “Return now everyone from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that Yahweh has given to you and to your fathers, from of old and even forever more.
Don’t go after other gods to serve them or worship them, and don’t provoke me to anger with the work of your hands; then I will do you no harm.”
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And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear.
They said, Turn ye again now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD hath given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever:
And go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt.
Show all 3 translations
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And the LORD hath sent unto you all His servants the prophets, sending them betimes and often — but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear —
saying: 'Return ye now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD hath given unto you and to your fathers, for ever and ever;
and go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke Me not with the work of your hands, and I will do you no hurt.'
Cross-references (49)
- Deuteronomy 8:19 (v6) It shall be, if you shall forget Yahweh your God, and walk after other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you today…
- Jeremiah 7:7 (v5) then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, from of old even forever more.
- Genesis 17:8 (v5) I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are traveling, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting…
- Isaiah 55:6-7 (v5) Seek Yahweh while he may be found. Call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let…
- Jeremiah 17:25 (v5) then there will enter in by the gates of this city kings and princes sitting on David’s throne, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and…
Show all 48 cross-references
- Jeremiah 25:3 (v4) From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, even to this day, these twenty-three years, Yahweh’s word has come to…
- Jeremiah 35:15 (vv5–6) I have sent also to you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, ‘Every one of you must return now from his…
- Deuteronomy 6:14 (v6) You shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the peoples who are around you,
- 1 Kings 14:22 (v6) Judah did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they committed, above all that…
- 2 Kings 17:35 (v6) with whom Yahweh had made a covenant, and commanded them, saying, “You shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve…
- Jeremiah 7:6 (v6) if you don’t oppress the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, and don’t shed innocent blood in this place, and don’t walk after other…
- Jeremiah 18:11 (v5) “Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Yahweh says: “Behold, I frame evil against you,…
- Jeremiah 26:5 (v4) to listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I send to you, even rising up early and sending them, but you have not listened;
- Ezekiel 18:30 (v5) “Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, everyone according to his ways,” says the Lord Yahweh. “Return, and turn yourselves from all…
- Jonah 3:8-10 (v5) but let them be covered with sackcloth, both man and animal, and let them cry mightily to God. Yes, let them turn everyone from his evil…
- Zechariah 1:4-5 (v5) Don’t you be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying: Yahweh of Armies says, ‘Return now from your evil ways, and…
- Exodus 20:3 (v6) “You shall have no other gods before me.
- Exodus 20:23 (v6) You shall most certainly not make gods of silver or gods of gold for yourselves to be alongside me.
- Deuteronomy 13:2 (v6) and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, “Let’s go after other gods” (which you have not known) “and…
- Deuteronomy 28:14 (v6) and shall not turn away from any of the words which I command you today, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve…
- Joshua 24:20 (v6) If you forsake Yahweh, and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you evil, and consume you, after he has done you good.”
- 1 Kings 11:4-10 (v6) When Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not perfect with Yahweh his God, as the heart of…
- 2 Kings 17:13-14 (v5) Yet Yahweh testified to Israel, and to Judah, by every prophet, and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways, and keep my commandments…
- 2 Chronicles 36:15-16 (v4) Yahweh, the God of their fathers, sent to them by his messengers, rising up early and sending, because he had compassion on his people, and…
- Psalms 37:27 (v5) Depart from evil, and do good. Live securely forever.
- Psalms 105:10-11 (v5) and confirmed it to Jacob for a statute; to Israel for an everlasting covenant, saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan, the lot of…
- Jeremiah 7:9 (v6) Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods that you have not known,
- Jeremiah 7:24-26 (v4) But they didn’t listen or turn their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward,…
- Jeremiah 11:7-10 (v4) For I earnestly protested to your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even to this day, rising early and…
- Jeremiah 13:10-11 (v4) This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who walk in the stubbornness of their heart, and have gone after other gods to serve them,…
- Jeremiah 16:12 (v4) You have done evil more than your fathers, for behold, you each walk after the stubbornness of his evil heart, so that you don’t listen to…
- Jeremiah 17:23 (v4) But they didn’t listen. They didn’t turn their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, and might not receive instruction.
- Jeremiah 18:12 (v4) But they say, ‘It is in vain; for we will walk after our own plans, and we will each follow the stubbornness of his evil heart.’ ”
- Jeremiah 19:15 (v4) “Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel says, ‘Behold, I will bring on this city and on all its towns all the evil that I have pronounced…
- Jeremiah 22:21 (v4) I spoke to you in your prosperity; but you said, ‘I will not listen.’ This has been your way from your youth, that you didn’t obey my voice.
- Jeremiah 29:19 (v4) because they have not listened to my words,” says Yahweh, “with which I sent to them my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending…
- Jeremiah 32:33 (v4) They have turned their backs to me, and not their faces. Although I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not…
- Jeremiah 35:14-15 (v4) “The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab that he commanded his sons, not to drink wine, are performed; and to this day they drink none, for…
- Jeremiah 36:31 (v4) I will punish him, his offspring, and his servants for their iniquity. I will bring on them, on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and on the…
- Jeremiah 44:4-5 (v4) However I sent to you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, “Oh, don’t do this abominable thing that I…
- Ezekiel 33:11 (v5) Tell them, ‘ “As I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and…
- Zechariah 7:11-12 (v4) But they refused to listen, and turned their backs, and stopped their ears, that they might not hear. Yes, they made their hearts as hard…
- Luke 13:3-5 (v5) I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way. Or those eighteen, on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed…
- Acts 7:51-52 (v4) “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so you do. Which of the…
- Acts 26:20 (v5) but declared first to them of Damascus, at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should…
- Hebrews 12:25 (v4) See that you don’t refuse him who speaks. For if they didn’t escape when they refused him who warned on the earth, how much more will we…
- James 4:8-10 (v5) Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament, mourn, and…
- Jeremiah 25:7 (v4) “Yet you have not listened to me,” says Yahweh; “that you may provoke me to anger with the work of your hands to your own hurt.”
48 distinct cross-references across this passage (49 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (16 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain On vv4–6 He then adds, I have spoken, and ye heard…
He then adds, I have spoken, and ye heard not He complains here that his work had been useless, and at the same time shews that the whole fault was in the people. He confirms the same thing in other words, Jehovah has sent to you all his servants the prophets, rising. up early, etc He enhances their sin, — that they had not only rejected one Prophet but even many; for God had not employed Jeremiah alone to teach them, but had joined others with him, so that they were less excusable. We hence see that their sin is in this verse exaggerated; for the Jews had not only despised God in the person of one man, but had also rejected all his servants. He might, indeed, have simply said, that God had sent his servants, but he adds the word prophets, in order that their ingratitude might appear more evident. It was, indeed, very wicked to neglect God’s servants; but as prophecy was an invaluable treasure, and a singular pledge and symbol of God’s favor, it was a double crime when they thus despised the prophets, whose very name ought to have been held sacred by them.
He afterwards applies to God what he had said of himself, rising up early It is certain that God does not rise up, as he sleeps not in the night; but the language is much more expressive and forcible, when God himself is said to rise up early. And it, was not without reason that the Prophet spoke so emphatically; for though the Jews were sufficiently convicted of ingratitude for having disregarded God’s servants, it was yet a monstrous impiety to shew no regard for God. But when the unbelieving are proved guilty, they ever fix their eyes on men, “He! it is with a mortal that I have to do; far be it from me ever to rise up against God; but why is this so much blamed, since I do not immediately perish? since I am not suddenly cast down at the nod of man? what! am I not free to inquire, and to discuss, and to examine every part of what is said? why do the prophets so imperiously treat us, that it is not lawful to doubt any of their words?” Thus, then, did the ungodly speak. But God on the other hand answered them and said, that he was despised, as also Christ said,
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“He who hears you hears me, and he who despises you despises me.” (Luke 10:16)
So also the Prophet sets forth God himself as rising up early, exhorting the people and manifesting every care for their wellbeing. This, then, is the design of the metaphor, when he says, that God had sent to them and rose up early; he rose up early while sending his servants.
Now as God fulminates against all despisers of his doctrine, so from these words we may gather no small consolation; for we certainly conclude that God watches over our safety whenever sound and faithful teachers go forth: it is the same as though he himself descended from heaven, rose up early, and was intent in securing our salvation. This we learn from the very words of the Prophet, when he says, that God rose up early. But as this testimony of God’s favor and paternal care towards us is delightful, so to the same extent dreadful is the vengeance that awaits those who neglect this favor, who sleep when God is watching, who hear not when he is speaking, who continue in their sloth and torpor when God of his own accord meets them, and kindly and gently invites them to himself.
John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v5 He showeth that the Prophets, wholly with one consent…
He showeth that the Prophets, wholly with one consent did labor to pull the people from those vices, which then reigned, to wit, from idolatry, and the vain confidence of men: for under these two all others were contained, 2 Kings 17:13; Jer. 18:11 and 35:15; Jonah 3:8.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv4–6 Jer 25:4 And the LORD hath sent unto you…
Jer 25:4 And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending [them]; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear.
Ver. 4. But ye have not hearkened.] See Jer 7:24; Jer 7:26.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv4–6 Nor am I the only prophet whom the Lord…
Nor am I the only prophet whom the Lord hath sent you, and whom you have neglected and despised; God hath sent you many more, and you have despised as many as he hath sent, though the Lord hath made it his business to send you one after another from time to time. This contempt of the Lord’s messengers is made the proximate cause of God’s wrath coming upon this people, till there was no remedy, 2Ch 36:16.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv4–6 And the Lord hath sent unto you all his…
And the Lord hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets,.... Not only him, but many others, Micah, Nahum, Zephaniah, and others:
rising early and sending them; not only the prophet, but the Lord himself is said to rise early, and send his prophets to them; which denotes his great care and concern for this people for their good; see Jer 7:25;
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but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear; which is an aggravation of their sin; that whereas they had one prophet after another sent to them, and sent by the Lord himself; he rising early, and sending them; and they rising early, being sent to do their message; and yet were not hearkened and attended to.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On v4 Jer 25:4-7. And the Lord hath sent unto you…
Jer 25:4-7. And the Lord hath sent unto you all his servants, &c. — Nor am I the only prophet whom the Lord hath sent you, and whom you have neglected and despised. God hath sent you many more, and you have despised as many as he hath sent. This contempt of the Lord’s messengers is made the proximate cause of God’s wrath coming upon this people, till there was no remedy, 2Ch 36:16. They said, Turn ye again now, &c. — The substance, both of their and my sermons, hath been to persuade you to abandon those sinful courses, wherein you have lived, and which you might have amended, by virtue of that grace which God did not deny you. We have not differed in our doctrine, to the practice of which you have also been encouraged, both by them and me, with an assurance from God, that, if you obeyed it, you should enjoy this good land which the Lord promised, and gave to you and your fathers, and which you have now possessed for many ages. And go not after other gods — Though the Jews were guilty of many other sins, yet their most heinous sin was idolatry, as it was a direct renouncing of God’s authority, who had, by so many miracles of mercy, set them apart for himself and his own service, and had bestowed so many signal privileges and blessings upon them. And provoke me not with the works of your hands — By worshipping, as gods, the images which your own hands have made, or with any works which are contrary to my law. And I will do you no hurt — You shall yet enjoy your own land and prosper. Yet ye have not hearkened unto me — Ye heard me, and other the Lord’s prophets, thus speaking to you, but you have not obeyed; that ye might provoke me, &c. — As if you had disobeyed with a design to incense me against you; to your own hurt — For the sinful actions of men do not affect or injure me, but are to the hurt of those who do them.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On v5 Turn ye - i. e., Repent ye; the great…
Turn ye - i. e., Repent ye; the great summons of God to mankind at all times (Luk 24:47; Act 2:38; compare Mat 3:2).
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On v4 All. We know of Joel, Habacuc, Sophonias, and Holda.…
All. We know of Joel, Habacuc, Sophonias, and Holda. (Calmet)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv4–6 rising early--(See on Jer 7:13). "The prophets" refer to…
rising early--(See on Jer 7:13). "The prophets" refer to Urijah, Zephaniah, Habakkuk, &c. It aggravates their sin, that God sent not merely one but many messengers, and those messengers, prophets; and, that during all those years specified, Jeremiah and his fellow prophets spared no effort, late and early.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv4, 6 THE JUDGMENT ON JUDAH, Jer_25:4-11.
THE JUDGMENT ON JUDAH, Jer_25:4-11.
4. The Lord… sent, etc. — Thus demonstrating his love and long-suffering.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv4, 6 4. The editor or copyist failed to perceive that…
4. The editor or copyist failed to perceive that it is the prophet, not Jehovah, who is speaking in Jer_25:3. Moreover, the grammar in the Hebrew is suspicious, and this v. is an insertion suggested by such passages as Jer_7:25, Jer_11:7. By omitting it, and (with LXX) all after “unto me” in Jer_25:7, we get a smooth and consistent text, the words being those of Jeremiah, not Jehovah, throughout.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv5–6 (5) Turn ye again now . . .—The sum…
(5) Turn ye again now . . .—The sum and substance of the work of all true prophets has always been found, it need scarcely be said, in the call to repentance and conversion; but there is, perhaps, a special reference to the substance of their preaching as recorded in 2Ki_17:13. The words are interesting as showing that Jeremiah was probably seconded in his work by other prophets whose names have not come down to us.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv4–5 Vers. 4, 5. (Comp. Jer_7:25 Jer_11:7 Jer_35:15) They said;…
Vers. 4, 5. (Comp. Jer_7:25 Jer_11:7 Jer_35:15) They said; literally, saying. The prophet mentally resumes the statement of ver. 4. He hath sent his servants the prophets." Turn ye; rather, return ye, conversion being the return of the sinner to his natural home.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v6 I will do you no hurt.
Jer_25:6
I will do you no hurt.
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No hurt from God
I. The import of the promise.
1. Such a promise can apply to none but the people of God.
2. The Lords people are apt to fear He should do them hurt, and hence He kindly assures them of the contrary. We want more of that love to God which beareth all things at His hand, which believeth all good things concerning Him, and hopeth for all things from Him.
3. As God will do no hurt to them that fear Him, so neither will He suffer others to hurt them. If God does not change their hearts, He win tie their hands; or if for wise ends He suffers them to injure you in your worldly circumstances, yet your heavenly inheritance is sure, and your treasure is laid up where thieves cannot break through nor steal.
4. More is implied in the promise than is absolutely expressed; for when the Lord says He will do His people no hurt, He means that He will really do them good. All things to Gods people are blessings in their own nature, or are turned into blessings for their sake; so that all the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies to do them (Gen_50:20; Jer_24:5-6; Rom_8:28).
II. The assurance we have that this promise will be fulfilled.
1. The Lord thinks no hurt of His people, and therefore He will certainly do them no hurt. His conduct is a copy of His decrees: He worketh all things according to the counsel of His own will, and therefore where no evil is determined, no evil can take place.
2. The Lord threatens them no hurt; no penal sentence lies against them.
3. He never has done them any hurt, but good, all the days of their life. Former experience of the Divine goodness should strengthen the believers confidence, and fortify him against present discouragements (Jdg_13:23; Psa_42:6; Psa_77:12; 2Co_1:10). (B. Beddome, M.A.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v5 Let each man turn from his wicked way and…
Let each man turn from his wicked way and the corruption of his practices
Jeremiah speaks of people who stop committing an action as if those people were turning away from that action. (See: Metaphor)
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his wicked way and the corruption of his practices
The terms "wicked way" and "corruption of his practices" mean the same thing and refer to every sinful thing that they do. (See: Doublet)
the corruption of his practices
"his corrupt practices"
do not walk after other gods
Jeremiah speaks of a person being devoted to a god as if the person were walking behind the god. AT: "do not become devoted to other gods" (See: Metaphor)
do not provoke him with the work of your hands
The word "him" refers to Yahweh. Possible meanings for the phrase "the work of your hands" are 1) it is a reference to the idols that the people have made with their hands. AT: "do not provoke Yahweh with the idols that you have made" or 2) It is an idiom that refers to the actions of a person, with the word "hands" being a synecdoche that represents the person who does those actions. AT: "do not provoke Yahweh by the things that you do" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information and Synecdoche and Idiom)
translationWords
turn
evil
gift
walk
false god
worship
bow
works
hand
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv4–5 25:4 For many generations, God had sent prophets to…
25:4 For many generations, God had sent prophets to the people, but they had not paid attention to the Lord’s warnings.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.