Jeremiah 22:21

Authorized King James Version

I spake unto thee in thy prosperity; but thou saidst, I will not hear. This hath been thy manner from thy youth, that thou obeyedst not my voice.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
דִּבַּ֤רְתִּי
I spake
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
#2
אֵלַ֙יִךְ֙
near, with or among; often in general, to
#3
בְּשַׁלְוֹתַ֔יִךְ
unto thee in thy prosperity
security (genuine or false)
#4
אָמַ֖רְתְּ
but thou saidst
to say (used with great latitude)
#5
לֹ֣א
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
#6
שָׁמַ֖עַתְּ
I will not hear
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
#7
זֶ֤ה
the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
#8
דַרְכֵּךְ֙
This hath been thy manner
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
#9
מִנְּעוּרַ֔יִךְ
from thy youth
(only in plural collective or emphatic form) youth, the state (juvenility) or the persons (young people)
#10
כִּ֥י
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
#11
לֹֽא
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
#12
שָׁמַ֖עַתְּ
I will not hear
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
#13
בְּקוֹלִֽי׃
not my voice
a voice or sound

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

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