Jeremiah 25:1-7 Meaning: Years of Unheeded Calls
1The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah (this was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon),
2which Jeremiah the prophet spoke to all the people of Judah, and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem:
3From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, even to this day, these twenty-three years, Yahweh’s word has come to me, and I have spoken to you, rising up early and speaking; but you have not listened.
4Yahweh has sent to you all his servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them (but you have not listened or inclined your ear to hear),
5saying, “Return now everyone from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that Yahweh has given to you and to your fathers, from of old and even forever more.
6Don’t go after other gods to serve them or worship them, and don’t provoke me to anger with the work of your hands; then I will do you no harm.”
7“Yet you have not listened to me,” says Yahweh, “that you may provoke me to anger with the work of your hands to your own hurt.”
1The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that was the first year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon;
2The which Jeremiah the prophet spake unto all the people of Judah, and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying,
3From 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.
4And the Lord hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear.
5They said, Turn ye again now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the Lord hath given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever:
6And go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt.
7Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the Lord; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.
1The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah (the same was the first year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon),
2which Jeremiah the prophet spake unto all the people of Judah, and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying:
3From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, even unto this day, these three and twenty years, the word of Jehovah hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising up early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened.
4And Jehovah hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, (but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear),
5saying, Return ye now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that Jehovah hath given unto you and to your fathers, from of old and even for evermore;
6and go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the work of your hands; and I will do you no hurt.
7Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith Jehovah; that ye may provoke me to anger with the work of your hands to your own hurt.
1The word that hath been unto Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, --it is the first year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, --
2Which Jeremiah the prophet hath spoken concerning all the people of Judah, even unto all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying:
3`From the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah, and unto this day--this three and twentieth year--hath the word of Jehovah been unto me, and I speak unto you, rising early and speaking, and ye have not hearkened;
4And Jehovah hath sent unto you all His servants, the prophets, rising early and sending, and ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear, saying:
5`Turn back, I pray you, each from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell on the ground that Jehovah hath given to you and to your fathers from age unto age,
6And ye do not go after other gods to serve them, and to bow yourselves to them, nor do ye provoke Me to anger with the work of your hands, and I do no evil to you;
7And ye have not hearkened unto Me--an affirmation of Jehovah--so as to provoke Me to anger with the work of your hands for evil to you.
1The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, the king of Judah (that is, the first year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon),
2which Jeremiah the prophet spoke unto all the people of Judah and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying:
3From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, the king of Judah, even unto this day, these three and twenty years, the word of Jehovah hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened.
4And Jehovah hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear,
5when they said, Turn again now every one from his evil way, and from the wickedness of your doings, and dwell in the land that Jehovah hath given unto you and to your fathers from of old even for ever.
6And go not after othergods, to serve them and to worship them; and provoke me not to anger with the work of your hands; and I will do you no hurt.
7But ye have not hearkened unto me, saith Jehovah; that ye might provoke me to anger with the work of your hands, to your own hurt.
Meaning in one sentence
Jeremiah 25:1-7 meaning: God sent prophets for 23 years calling Judah to repent, but they refused. A study of divine patience and human stubbornness.
Context
Jeremiah had been preaching for twenty-three years by the time of this passage. Starting in the thirteenth year of King Josiah, he warned Judah to turn from their evil ways. Now it is the fourth year of Jehoiakim, and the world is shifting. Egypt has fallen at Carchemish, and Babylon is rising under Nebuchadnezzar. Jeremiah stands before the people one last time before judgment arrives. This is not a new message but a summary of everything he has said for over two decades. The chapter opens with this long history to show that God did not act suddenly. He gave generation after generation the chance to change. The people had listened to false prophets who promised peace, but the truth was that God had been speaking all along.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words give this passage its weight. The first is shuv, return, turn back. It pictures a complete change of direction, not a regretful feeling. God did not ask for apologies; He asked for a whole new path. The second is shamah, to hear, but with the force of obeying. In Hebrew, listening and doing are the same act. The people heard Jeremiah’s voice but did not shamah; they did not let the words change them. The third is shakam, rising early. God uses it twice: He rose early to speak, and He rose early to send the prophets. This is not a deity who shouts from a distance. He gets up at dawn and comes looking for His children.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions see in this passage a picture of God’s patience and human stubbornness. Some focus on the careful dating as evidence of God working through real history. Others draw attention to the repeated phrase “rising early” as a sign of God’s eager pursuit. All agree that the central message is a call to repentance that went unanswered. The passage stands as a warning that God’s mercy has a purpose: to lead people back before it is too late.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers take the twenty-three years of warning as proof that God’s patience has no limit and that He will never bring judgment. In fact, the passage leads directly into the announcement of judgment in verses 8-11. The years of mercy were meant to lead to repentance, not to give permission to keep sinning. The same God who rises early to call also brings consequences when the call is ignored.
Living This Out
God has been speaking to you longer than you realize. Maybe it is a Scripture that keeps coming to mind or a friend’s gentle challenge. This passage invites you to stop measuring how long God has been patient and start asking what He has been saying. You do not need another sign. You need to turn. Consider one area where you have heard God’s voice more than once but have not responded: a relationship that needs mending, a habit that has taken hold, a conversation you are avoiding. The call is still the same: return. Not performance, not shame, just a turning. God is not waiting for you to do it perfectly. He is waiting for you to do it.
Main takeaway: God’s persistent call to return reveals His mercy, but ignoring that call brings harm to ourselves and provokes His judgment.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God talked to His people for a long time, asking them to stop doing wrong and come back to Him. But they did not listen. We can learn to listen when God speaks to us.
For ages 9, 12
Imagine someone calling your name over and over for years. Would you ever answer? That is what God did with Judah. He sent Jeremiah and other prophets to warn them and invite them back. But they kept ignoring Him. This passage shows us that God is patient and wants us to turn to Him, but also that ignoring His voice has real consequences. It reminds us to pay attention when God speaks through His Word and through the people around us.
Questions People Ask
Why does Jeremiah 25:1 mention the fourth year of Jehoiakim and the first year of Nebuchadnezzar as the same time?
This dating aligns two different calendars. Daniel 1:1 refers to Nebuchadnezzar’s siege in the third year of Jehoiakim, but the difference likely comes from how each kingdom counted a king’s first year. Some scholars suggest Judah used a different system than Babylon. Both passages agree that God was at work in these events.
What does “rising early” mean in Jeremiah 25?
The Hebrew word shakam conveys diligence and urgency. It shows that God did not send His prophets reluctantly. He was eager to give His people every chance to turn back. It is a picture of persistent love.
What is “the work of your hands” in this passage?
It refers to the idols and false worship that the people made for themselves. They trusted in what they created rather than the God who created them. That trust provoked God and led to their own harm.
Did the people ever repent after twenty-three years of warnings?
According to verse 7, they still did not listen. Their refusal led to the judgment announced in the rest of the chapter: seventy years of exile in Babylon. But God’s purpose was always restoration, not destruction.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study