Jeremiah 22:29
O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.
Original Language Analysis
שִׁמְעִ֖י
hear
H8085
שִׁמְעִ֖י
hear
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
4 of 6
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
Cross References
Deuteronomy 32:1Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.Micah 1:2Hear, all ye people; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord GOD be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.Jeremiah 6:19Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.Isaiah 34:1Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it.Deuteronomy 31:19Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.Deuteronomy 4:26I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed.
Historical Context
This oracle's dramatic introduction marks a climactic moment—the end of the Davidic monarchy's unbroken succession in Jerusalem. For four centuries (since ~1000 BC), David's line had ruled from Jerusalem. This threefold summons announces the dynasty's suspension, requiring the widest possible audience as witness. The solemnity matches the gravity of covenant curse being enacted.
Questions for Reflection
- What would it mean for creation itself to witness your accountability before God?
- How does the threefold repetition emphasize the seriousness of divine pronouncements?
- In what areas of life are you refusing to 'hear' where even the earth itself cries out against injustice?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD (אֶרֶץ אֶרֶץ אֶרֶץ שִׁמְעִי דְּבַר־יְהוָה, erets erets erets shim'i d'var-YHWH). The threefold repetition creates urgency and solemnity—compare Isaiah's 'Holy, holy, holy' (Isaiah 6:3) or Jesus's 'Verily, verily' formulas. The prophet summons the earth itself as witness to divine decree, invoking the ancient pattern where heaven and earth serve as covenant witnesses (Deuteronomy 4:26, 30:19). The imperative שִׁמְעִי (shim'i, 'hear!'—feminine singular, addressing the land) echoes the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4).
This cosmic appeal elevates the pronouncement beyond mere political commentary to theological ultimatum. When human leaders refuse to hear, God summons creation itself as audience. Moses similarly called heaven and earth to witness (Deuteronomy 32:1). The land that vomits out covenant-breakers (Leviticus 18:28) now must hear why. Jesus would later weep that if disciples were silenced, 'the stones would immediately cry out' (Luke 19:40). Creation itself testifies to God's judgments.