Jeremiah 22:21
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.
Original Language Analysis
דִּבַּ֤רְתִּי
I spake
H1696
דִּבַּ֤רְתִּי
I spake
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
1 of 13
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
בְּשַׁלְוֹתַ֔יִךְ
unto thee in thy prosperity
H7962
בְּשַׁלְוֹתַ֔יִךְ
unto thee in thy prosperity
Strong's:
H7962
Word #:
3 of 13
security (genuine or false)
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
5 of 13
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
שָׁמַ֖עַתְּ
I will not hear
H8085
שָׁמַ֖עַתְּ
I will not hear
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
6 of 13
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
דַרְכֵּךְ֙
This hath been thy manner
H1870
דַרְכֵּךְ֙
This hath been thy manner
Strong's:
H1870
Word #:
8 of 13
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
מִנְּעוּרַ֔יִךְ
from thy youth
H5271
מִנְּעוּרַ֔יִךְ
from thy youth
Strong's:
H5271
Word #:
9 of 13
(only in plural collective or emphatic form) youth, the state (juvenility) or the persons (young people)
כִּ֥י
H3588
כִּ֥י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
10 of 13
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
11 of 13
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
Cross References
Jeremiah 32:30For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have only done evil before me from their youth: for the children of Israel have only provoked me to anger with the work of their hands, saith the LORD.Jeremiah 3:25We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: for we have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.Isaiah 48:8Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb.Proverbs 30:9Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.Jeremiah 6:16Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.Jeremiah 35:15I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me.Ezekiel 20:8But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.
Historical Context
Judah experienced relative prosperity under Josiah's reforms and in the early reigns of his successors, when tribute to Egypt and Babylon had not yet become crushing. Archaeological evidence shows Jerusalem expanded significantly in this period, with luxury items increasing. This material success bred spiritual complacency, making prophetic warnings seem unnecessarily alarmist.
Questions for Reflection
- How does prosperity create spiritual deafness in your own life?
- What warnings from Scripture or godly people have you dismissed because life seems 'fine'?
- In what ways does material comfort tempt you toward practical atheism?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
I spake unto thee in thy prosperity; but thou saidst, I will not hear (דִּבַּרְתִּי אֵלַיִךְ בְּשַׁלְוֹתַיִךְ אָמַרְתְּ לֹא אֶשְׁמָע, dibarti elayikh b'shalvotayikh amartə lo eshma). The Hebrew שַׁלְוָה (shalvah, 'prosperity/ease') describes the dangerous comfort that breeds spiritual deafness. When life is comfortable, Judah refused to listen (שָׁמַע, shama—the same verb as in the Shema: 'Hear, O Israel'). This hath been thy manner from thy youth—the pattern extends back through Israel's entire history, from wilderness rebellion to Judges' cycles to divided kingdom apostasy.
Prosperity functions as a severe test of faith—more dangerous than adversity because it creates the illusion of self-sufficiency. Jesus warned how wealth chokes the word (Matthew 13:22), and Paul commanded the rich not to be haughty or trust uncertain riches (1 Timothy 6:17). Judah's story demonstrates that blessing without humility produces hardened hearts immune to prophetic warning.