What is the meaning of Jeremiah 5:23? But these people Jeremiah is not speaking about distant pagans but about the covenant nation, Judah—those who had every advantage of revelation and worship (Jeremiah 2:3, Jeremiah 4:1). By beginning with “But,” God contrasts them with the surrounding creation that faithfully obeys His fixed laws (Jeremiah 5:22). The phrase highlights that privilege does not guarantee fidelity; Romans 2:17-24 makes the same sober point to those who rely on religious heritage yet refuse obedience. have stubborn and rebellious hearts • “Stubborn” pictures an unyielding neck that will not bow (Deuteronomy 9:6-7; Ezekiel 2:4). • “Rebellious” describes deliberate resistance, the same word used of Israel in the wilderness (Psalm 78:8). • The issue is the heart—inner motives and desires—not merely outward behavior (Jeremiah 17:9; Proverbs 4:23). • God repeatedly warned that heart-level rebellion would bring judgment (Jeremiah 7:24; Zechariah 7:11-12). They refused the cleansing He offered (Isaiah 1:18-20), proving the need for the promised new covenant heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). They have turned aside and gone away Turning aside speaks of leaving the straight path of God’s law (Deuteronomy 5:32; Jeremiah 6:16). Going away intensifies the image—a settled departure, not a momentary stumble (Hosea 11:2). • They pursued idols that cannot save (Jeremiah 2:13; 10:14-15). • They rejected prophetic calls to return (Jeremiah 3:12-14). • Such defection brings inevitable discipline, just as a shepherd must go after straying sheep (Isaiah 53:6; Hebrews 12:6-8). The verse exposes the seriousness of apostasy and the righteousness of God’s coming judgment (Jeremiah 5:29). summary Jeremiah 5:23 lays bare Judah’s condition: a privileged people who refused their God. Their stubborn hearts resisted Him, and their deliberate turning exposed rebellion, not ignorance. The verse warns every generation that true worship is measured not by heritage or ritual but by a yielded heart that stays on God’s path. |
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