Jeremiah 29:19
Because 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.
Original Language Analysis
תַּ֛חַת
H8478
תַּ֛חַת
Strong's:
H8478
Word #:
1 of 20
the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc
אֲשֶֽׁר
H834
אֲשֶֽׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
2 of 20
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
לֹא
H3808
לֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
3 of 20
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
שְׁמַעְתֶּ֖ם
Because they have not hearkened
H8085
שְׁמַעְתֶּ֖ם
Because they have not hearkened
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
4 of 20
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
דְּבָרַ֖י
to my words
H1697
דְּבָרַ֖י
to my words
Strong's:
H1697
Word #:
6 of 20
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
יְהוָֽה׃
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָֽה׃
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
8 of 20
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֲשֶׁר֩
H834
אֲשֶׁר֩
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
9 of 20
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
וְשָׁלֹ֔חַ
and sending
H7971
וְשָׁלֹ֔חַ
and sending
Strong's:
H7971
Word #:
10 of 20
to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
אֶת
H854
אֶת
Strong's:
H854
Word #:
12 of 20
properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc
הַשְׁכֵּ֣ם
rising up early
H7925
הַשְׁכֵּ֣ם
rising up early
Strong's:
H7925
Word #:
15 of 20
literally, to load up (on the back of man or beast), i.e., to start early in the morning
וְשָׁלֹ֔חַ
and sending
H7971
וְשָׁלֹ֔חַ
and sending
Strong's:
H7971
Word #:
16 of 20
to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
וְלֹ֥א
H3808
וְלֹ֥א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
17 of 20
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
Cross References
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.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;Hebrews 12:25See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:Jeremiah 32:33And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face: though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction.Jeremiah 34:17Therefore thus saith the LORD; Ye have not hearkened unto me, in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbour: behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the LORD, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.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;
Historical Context
From Isaiah through Jeremiah, God sent prophets for over 150 years warning Judah to repent. This 'rising early' language emphasizes divine patience exhausted. The exile wasn't divine cruelty but the natural consequence of persistent covenant rebellion after centuries of patient warning (2 Chr 36:15-16).
Questions for Reflection
- What does 'rising early and sending' reveal about God's character and His grief over judgment?
- How do you respond when God's word contradicts what you want to hear? Do you heed or seek other voices?
- In what ways does God still 'rise early' to warn His people today? What messengers does He send?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Because they have not hearkened to my words, saith the LORD—The Hebrew שָׁמַע (shama, hearkened) means more than hearing—it means obedient listening. Israel's covenant rebellion wasn't ignorance but willful disobedience. This indicts not just Jerusalem's remnant but the exiles who clung to false prophets instead of Jeremiah's hard word.
Which I sent unto them by my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them—This poignant phrase (הַשְׁכֵּם וְשָׁלֹחַ, hashkem veshaloch, literally 'rising early and sending') appears twelve times in Jeremiah (7:13, 25; 11:7; 25:3-4; 26:5; 29:19; 32:33; 35:14-15; 44:4), portraying God as diligent father urgently warning rebellious children. God sent prophets persistently, early—yet ye would not hear. The tragedy of judgment is that it's entirely preventable but willfully chosen.