Jeremiah 13:15 Meaning: Why Pride Closes Our Ears to God
Hear, and give ear. Don’t be proud, for Yahweh has spoken.
Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the Lord hath spoken.
Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud; for Jehovah hath spoken.
Hear, and give ear--be not haughty, For Jehovah hath spoken.
Hear ye, and give ear, be not lifted up; for Jehovah hath spoken.
Meaning in one sentence
Jeremiah 13:15 calls us to hear and not be proud because God has spoken. Discover how pride keeps us from heeding His word.
Context
Jeremiah had just acted out two vivid object lessons: a linen belt ruined by dirt, and wine jugs filled only to be smashed together. Both were messages of judgment against a people who refused to listen. Now, in verse 15, the prophet stops and speaks directly. He does not offer a new symbol. He simply calls for attention and humility. The reason is plain: Yahweh has spoken. The words that follow (verses 16-19) warn of darkness, stumbling, and captivity. This short verse sits at the hinge between prophecy and plea. The people had heard many messages before, but pride made them deaf. Jeremiah cuts to the root: listen, and don’t be proud, because it is God Himself who is speaking.
Key Words
The verse begins with two Hebrew words for listening. Shama means to hear with attention, even to obey. Azan (in the Hiphil form) means to prick up the ears, to give focused heed. Together they say: do not just let the sound pass by, but lean in. The command “don’t be proud” comes from the verb gavah, which means to rise up, to be high or exalted. Used in a bad sense, it describes someone who sets themselves above others, and above what God says. Pride is not just a bad attitude; it is a posture of self-exaltation that refuses to bow to a higher authority. Finally, dibber (he has spoken) is a perfect tense verb, but in context it carries ongoing force: Yahweh is speaking, right now, through the prophet. The antidote to pride is to recognise whose voice this really is.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read this verse as a call to humble attention before God’s word. Protestant commentators like Matthew Henry see pride as the obstacle to receiving correction, and humility as the first step to obedience. Calvin emphasises that the Jews dismissed Jeremiah as an impostor, so the prophet defends his calling by insisting that the Lord Himself speaks. Catholic readers might note the repeated call to “hear” echoing the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4), where listening to God is the foundational act of faith. Eastern Orthodox tradition often links this call to humility before the Word of God, both written and incarnate. All agree that pride makes us unable to hear, and that recognising God’s authority is the way back.
A common misunderstanding
A common mistake is to read “don’t be proud” as a general moral instruction, separate from the command to hear. In fact, the verse ties them directly: pride is what stops us from listening. The Hebrew word gavah means to lift oneself up, the same root used of towering mountains. Pride here is not just vanity; it is a deliberate refusal to be under God’s word. The verse says: hearing and humility belong together.
Living This Out
This week, you will hear God’s word, in a sermon, a reading, a conversation, or your own time with Scripture. The question is not whether you will agree or disagree, but whether you will listen with a heart that is ready to submit. Pride shows up in subtle ways: assuming you already know what it says, dismissing a hard truth, or refusing to let God’s word change your plans. The antidote is simple but costly: before you open the Bible, pause and say, “Yahweh has spoken. I will listen.” That changes everything.
Main takeaway: Pride closes our ears to God, but recognizing that He has spoken calls us to humble attention.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
When you think you know everything, it’s hard to learn. God says listen carefully and don’t be proud. He has something important to say.
For ages 9, 12
Pride is when you think you are too good to listen, or when you already have your mind made up. But God has spoken, and His words are the most important ones you will ever hear. When you open your Bible or listen at church, ask God to help you be humble, to really hear what He is saying, even if it challenges you.
Questions People Ask
What does 'give ear' mean in Jeremiah 13:15?
'Give ear' is an old English way of saying 'listen carefully.' In Hebrew, the word azan means to prick up your ears like an animal alert to a sound. It means paying close attention, not just hearing passively.
What is the context of Jeremiah 13:15?
Jeremiah had just used two object lessons: a ruined linen belt and wine jugs that would be smashed. Both symbolized judgment because the people refused to listen. Verse 15 is a direct plea: stop being proud and listen, because God Himself is speaking through the prophet.
Is pride always about being arrogant toward God?
In this verse, pride (gavah) means lifting yourself up above others and above God. It can also appear as self-confidence, stubbornness, or thinking you don't need correction. Anytime we refuse to listen to God because we think we know better, that is the pride Jeremiah is warning against.
How does this verse apply to my daily life?
Before you read the Bible or hear a sermon, check your heart. Are you already decided? Do you have a critical attitude? Pride shuts down learning. The antidote is to humbly say, 'God has spoken, and I need to hear what He says.'
What does 'for the Lord hath spoken' mean for why we should listen?
It means the message is not Jeremiah's opinion, but God's own word. When you realize that the Creator of the universe is speaking, pride has no place. The authority of God's word demands a humble response.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study