Jeremiah 13:8
Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Original Language Analysis
וַיְהִ֥י
H1961
וַיְהִ֥י
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 5
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
דְבַר
Then the word
H1697
דְבַר
Then the word
Strong's:
H1697
Word #:
2 of 5
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
Historical Context
Prophetic sign-acts combined memorable action with authoritative interpretation. The audience would remember Jeremiah's bizarre behavior (wearing unwashed garment, burying it, retrieving rotted remains) and now receive its meaning. This teaching method engaged multiple senses and created lasting memory.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does God provide interpretation after rather than before the symbolic action?
- How do action and interpretation together create more powerful teaching than words alone?
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Analysis & Commentary
This verse transitions to interpretation: 'Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying.' Having completed the three-stage symbolic action (wear, bury, retrieve), God now explains the meaning. The dramatic visual has captured attention; now comes the theological interpretation. Sign-acts were not self-interpreting—prophets explained their meaning. The pattern of action followed by interpretation appears throughout prophetic literature.