Why does Jeremiah 22:29 repeat "O land" three times? Text and Immediate Context Jeremiah 22:29: “O land, land, land, hear the word of the LORD!” The prophet is standing in the gateway of the royal palace (22:1) pronouncing judgment on the Davidic line for its oppression and idolatry (22:13-19). Babylonian exile is imminent (22:25-27). Because king and people refuse to listen (22:21), Jeremiah summons the physical land itself to bear witness. Literary Device: Triple Epizeuxis for Maximum Emphasis Hebrew normally intensifies by double repetition (e.g., Genesis 22:11 “Abraham, Abraham”); a triple form is reserved for the gravest, most solemn declarations (Isaiah 6:3 “Holy, holy, holy”; Jeremiah 7:4 “the temple of the LORD” thrice). Grammarians label the device epizeuxis: the unbroken repetition of a word to arrest attention, heighten emotion, and convey irrevocable certainty. By calling “’erets” three times, Yahweh underlines that no appeal remains; judgment is fixed (cf. Deuteronomy 17:6 where threefold testimony establishes a case). Covenantal Dimension: The Land as Legal Witness Under the Sinai covenant the land participates in blessing or curse (Leviticus 18:25; 26:33-35; Deuteronomy 28:21). When Israel violates covenant stipulations, the land “vomits” out its inhabitants. Jeremiah invokes that legal framework. If human ears are deaf, the covenant partner that still responds—soil, fields, mountains—must listen and testify (Deuteronomy 30:19 “I call heaven and earth as witnesses”). Once more God enlists the land to corroborate the forthcoming eviction of Judah for seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11; 2 Chronicles 36:21). Threefold Address: King, People, Soil Rabbinic commentators (e.g., Rashi on v. 29) and many Christian expositors map each “land” onto a constituency: 1. The royal household whose injustice triggered the oracle (vv. 13-19). 2. The citizenry that followed idolatry (vv. 20-23). 3. The literal ground destined to lie desolate (v. 28). The triple cry therefore blankets the entire covenant community—rulers, subjects, territory—leaving no portion unindicted. Prophetic Urgency and Imminent Exile Archaeological layers at Lachish and Jerusalem show burn layers dated by pottery typology and carbon-14 to the early 6th century BC, matching Babylon’s 586 BC destruction (Usshur-consistent 3426 AM). These finds corroborate Jeremiah’s warnings: charred store rooms, arrowheads stamped “𐤊𐤅𐤏” (Belonging to the King) align with Nebuchadnezzar’s assault (2 Kings 25:8-10). God’s threefold summons thus bore immediate, historical fulfillment—evidence against claims that Jeremiah’s threats were later editorial rhetoric. Correlation With Other Triple Repetitions in Scripture • Isaiah 6:3—holiness magnified. • Ezekiel 21:27—“ruin, ruin, ruin” of Jerusalem. • Revelation 8:13—“woe, woe, woe” over earth-dwellers. A pattern emerges: triple repetition flags divine judgments with cosmic ramifications. Jeremiah 22:29 stands in that canonical line, providing internal biblical consistency. Theological Thread: Creation, Fall, Redemption of the Land Romans 8:19-22 affirms that creation groans under human sin. Jeremiah’s appeal anticipates Paul: the ground itself “listens” because it will be released from futility when Messiah reigns (Jeremiah 23:5-6; Acts 3:21). Thus the verse not only announces exile but foreshadows ultimate renewal—the land will hear, mourn, rest, and later rejoice. Messianic and Eschatological Overtones The immediate sequel (Jeremiah 23:1-6) promises the “righteous Branch” who will reign wisely. Christ’s bodily resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20) secures that future restoration, guaranteeing a new earth (Revelation 21:1). The land that now hears judgment will one day echo redemption, a harmony highlighted by early church writers such as Irenaeus (Against Heresies 5.32.1) citing OT land promises fulfilled in the millennial kingdom. Practical and Devotional Application 1 Cor 10:11 says these events were written “for our admonition.” If inanimate creation is commanded to heed God, how much more should image-bearers? The triple call exposes our propensity to selective hearing. Hebrews 3:7-8 therefore warns: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” National injustice, personal sin, and ecological neglect each invite divine scrutiny; repentance in Christ alone averts judgment and ushers blessing. Conclusion Jeremiah 22:29 repeats “O land” three times to convey unparalleled urgency, enlist the land as covenant witness, indict every stratum of Judahite society, and align with a biblical pattern where triple repetition signals irrevocable divine action. The textual, archaeological, and doctrinal evidence converge: God’s Word stands sure, His judgments precise, and His redemptive plan in Christ certain. |
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