Jeremiah 32:33
And 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.
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּפְנ֥וּ
And they have turned
H6437
וַיִּפְנ֥וּ
And they have turned
Strong's:
H6437
Word #:
1 of 13
to turn; by implication, to face, i.e., appear, look, etc
עֹ֖רֶף
unto me the back
H6203
עֹ֖רֶף
unto me the back
Strong's:
H6203
Word #:
3 of 13
the nape or back of the neck (as declining); hence, the back generally (whether literal or figurative)
וְלֹ֣א
H3808
וְלֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
4 of 13
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
פָנִ֑ים
and not the face
H6440
פָנִ֑ים
and not the face
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
5 of 13
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
וְלַמֵּ֔ד
and teaching
H3925
וְלַמֵּ֔ד
and teaching
Strong's:
H3925
Word #:
6 of 13
properly, to goad, i.e., (by implication) to teach (the rod being an middle eastern incentive)
אֹתָם֙
H853
אֹתָם֙
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
7 of 13
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַשְׁכֵּ֣ם
them rising up early
H7925
הַשְׁכֵּ֣ם
them rising up early
Strong's:
H7925
Word #:
8 of 13
literally, to load up (on the back of man or beast), i.e., to start early in the morning
וְלַמֵּ֔ד
and teaching
H3925
וְלַמֵּ֔ד
and teaching
Strong's:
H3925
Word #:
9 of 13
properly, to goad, i.e., (by implication) to teach (the rod being an middle eastern incentive)
וְאֵינָ֥ם
H369
שֹׁמְעִ֖ים
them yet they have not hearkened
H8085
שֹׁמְעִ֖ים
them yet they have not hearkened
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
11 of 13
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
Cross References
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 2:27Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.Ezekiel 8:16And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.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 7:24But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.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.John 8:2And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
Historical Context
God 'taught' Israel through the Law (Torah), prophetic warnings, and disciplinary judgments. Despite 40 years of wilderness lessons, conquest-era miracles, and centuries of prophetic ministry, the nation remained obstinate. This willful unteachability necessitated the exile as ultimate musar.
Questions for Reflection
- In what areas of life are you showing God 'your back' rather than your face?
- How do you respond to God's 'early rising'—His persistent attempts to teach and correct you?
- What makes people unteachable, and how can you cultivate a heart receptive to <em>musar</em>?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
They have turned unto me the back, and not the face (פָּנוּ אֵלַי עֹרֶף וְלֹא פָנִים)—A vivid Hebrew idiom for contemptuous rejection. To show someone your back was deliberate disrespect; turning your face toward someone showed honor and attention. Despite God rising up early and teaching them (הַשְׁכֵּם וְלַמֵּד)—a Jeremianic phrase (7:13, 25:3-4, 35:14) depicting God's eager, persistent instruction like a teacher arriving before dawn—yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction (מוּסָר, musar, discipline/correction).
The pathos is profound: God portrays Himself as a diligent, rejected teacher whose students deliberately ignore Him. The phrase 'rising up early' anthropomorphically depicts divine passion and initiative. Israel's refusal of musar (corrective discipline) is spiritual unteachability. Proverbs repeatedly warns that despising musar leads to destruction (Proverbs 1:7, 5:12, 15:32).