What is the meaning of Jeremiah 2:4?

Hear the word of the LORD

Jeremiah opens with a ringing summons: “Hear the word of the LORD.”

• “Hear” is not passive; it calls for attentive, obedient listening, just as Moses urged in Deuteronomy 6:4–5.

• The authority behind the message is “the LORD”—Yahweh, covenant-making and covenant-keeping (Exodus 3:15).

• God’s word is living, active, and never returns void (Isaiah 55:10-11); therefore, ignoring it brings consequences (Jeremiah 6:10).

• By leading with this command, Jeremiah reminds the people—and us—that Scripture is final, binding truth (Psalm 19:7-11).

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O house of Jacob

Next, the prophet addresses “the house of Jacob.”

• “Jacob” recalls the patriarch renamed Israel (Genesis 32:28), highlighting the nation’s roots in God’s promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 2:24).

• The title underscores family identity: they are descendants of a man who personally encountered God, so they are expected to respond personally (Micah 7:20).

• It stresses covenant responsibility: what God spoke at Sinai still stands (Exodus 19:3-6; Leviticus 26:12-13).

• By invoking Jacob, Jeremiah exposes a contrast—the forefather once clung to God; his offspring are now letting go (Hosea 12:2-6).

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and all you families of the house of Israel

The call widens: “all you families of the house of Israel.”

• No tribe, clan, or household is exempt (Amos 3:1-2). The message reaches from leaders to laborers, city to village (Joshua 24:15).

• “Families” points to generational accountability. Parents must heed God themselves and pass truth to children (Deuteronomy 6:6-9; Psalm 78:5-7).

• National solidarity means shared blessing or shared discipline (Jeremiah 5:29; Romans 11:17-22).

• God’s heart is inclusive toward His covenant people: He desires to restore every family (Jeremiah 31:1; Acts 3:25-26).

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summary

Jeremiah 2:4 is God’s loving yet urgent rally cry. The Lord, whose unerring word formed Israel, summons every descendant—corporate and personal—to listen, remember their covenant roots, and respond in obedient faith. Ignoring this call invites judgment; obeying it ushers in renewal, for God still speaks and still keeps His promises.