Jeremiah 25:3
From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, that is the three and twentieth year, the word of the LORD hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened.
Original Language Analysis
מִן
H4480
מִן
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
1 of 26
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
שָׁלֹ֤שׁ
From the thirteenth
H7969
שָׁלֹ֤שׁ
From the thirteenth
Strong's:
H7969
Word #:
2 of 26
three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice
עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה
H6240
עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה
Strong's:
H6240
Word #:
3 of 26
ten (only in combination), i.e., -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth
בֶן
the son
H1121
בֶן
the son
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
6 of 26
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יְהוּדָ֜ה
of Judah
H3063
יְהוּדָ֜ה
of Judah
Strong's:
H3063
Word #:
9 of 26
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
וְעַ֣ד׀
H5704
וְעַ֣ד׀
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
10 of 26
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
הַיּ֣וֹם
even unto this day
H3117
הַיּ֣וֹם
even unto this day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
11 of 26
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
הַזֶּ֗ה
H2088
שָׁלֹ֤שׁ
From the thirteenth
H7969
שָׁלֹ֤שׁ
From the thirteenth
Strong's:
H7969
Word #:
14 of 26
three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice
הָיָ֥ה
H1961
הָיָ֥ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
17 of 26
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
דְבַר
the word
H1697
דְבַר
the word
Strong's:
H1697
Word #:
18 of 26
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
יְהוָ֖ה
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֖ה
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
19 of 26
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וְדַבֵּ֖ר
and speaking
H1696
וְדַבֵּ֖ר
and speaking
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
21 of 26
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
אַשְׁכֵּ֥ים
unto you rising early
H7925
אַשְׁכֵּ֥ים
unto you rising early
Strong's:
H7925
Word #:
23 of 26
literally, to load up (on the back of man or beast), i.e., to start early in the morning
וְדַבֵּ֖ר
and speaking
H1696
וְדַבֵּ֖ר
and speaking
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
24 of 26
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
Cross References
Jeremiah 11:7For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice.Jeremiah 26:5To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened;Jeremiah 1:2To whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.Jeremiah 7:13And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the LORD, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not;Jeremiah 29:19Because they have not hearkened to my words, saith the LORD, which I sent unto them by my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; but ye would not hear, saith the LORD.2 Chronicles 34:3For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images.2 Chronicles 34:8Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land, and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God.2 Timothy 4:2Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
Historical Context
Jeremiah began prophesying in 627 BC during Josiah's reform movement. Despite Josiah's efforts to restore covenant faithfulness, the reforms were superficial—the people's hearts remained unchanged (3:10). After Josiah's death (609 BC), Judah rapidly declined under Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and finally Zedekiah. Each king rejected Jeremiah's warnings. The prophet's 23-year ministry spanned this entire tragic trajectory from reform to destruction.
Questions for Reflection
- What does God's 23-year patience with Judah reveal about His character, and how should this shape our understanding of divine judgment?
- How can we distinguish between truly hearing God's word (with obedient response) versus merely listening without responding?
- In what areas might we be hearing God's word repeatedly without genuine response, and what are the consequences of persistent disobedience?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
From the thirteenth year of Josiah...even unto this day, that is the three and twentieth year, the word of the LORD hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened. The phrase hashkem wĕḏabbēr (הַשְׁכֵּם וְדַבֵּר, rising early and speaking) employs a Hebrew idiom indicating persistent, diligent effort. God and His prophet worked tirelessly to warn Judah, beginning ministry under righteous King Josiah (627 BC) and continuing through increasingly evil kings. The verb shāmaʿ (שָׁמַע, to hear/hearken) means more than auditory reception—it implies obedient response. Judah heard the words but refused to obey.
Twenty-three years of consistent warning reveals God's patience and longsuffering before executing judgment. This extended period allowed multiple generations opportunity to repent, fulfilling God's stated desire that the wicked turn from evil and live (Ezekiel 18:23, 33:11). Yet persistent rejection eventually brings inevitable consequences. The New Testament echoes this principle: God's kindness leads to repentance (Romans 2:4), but despising His patience stores up wrath (Romans 2:5). Christ wept over Jerusalem's rejection of repeated prophetic warnings (Matthew 23:37).