Jeremiah 7:27 Meaning: Speaking When No One Listens
“You shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you. You shall also call to them, but they will not answer you.
Therefore thou shalt speak all these words unto them; but they will not hearken to thee: thou shalt also call unto them; but they will not answer thee.
And thou shalt speak all these words unto them; but they will not hearken to thee: thou shalt also call unto them; but they will not answer thee.
And thou hast spoken unto them all these words, And they do not hearken to thee, And thou hast called unto them, And they do not answer thee.
And thou shalt speak all these words unto them, but they will not hearken unto thee; and thou shalt call unto them, but they will not answer thee.
Meaning in one sentence
Why would God tell Jeremiah to speak when He knew no one would listen? Discover the purpose of faithful obedience.
Context
The prophet Jeremiah stood in the temple courtyard during the reign of Jehoiakim, delivering what we call his Temple Sermon (Jeremiah 7). The people of Judah trusted in the building itself, believing God would never let His house be destroyed. But God saw their hearts: idolatry, injustice, and empty worship. He had sent prophet after prophet, but they refused to listen. Now, before Jeremiah even opens his mouth, God tells him the response he will get. Verse 27 sits as a quiet warning to Jeremiah himself: speak every word I give you, but know that they will not listen or answer. This was a heavy commission for a young prophet who loved his people.
Key Words
Three Hebrew verbs anchor this verse. First, 'speak' (davar) carries the sense of declaring a message with authority. God does not ask Jeremiah to offer opinions; he is to deliver what he has received. Second, 'listen' (shama) means far more than hearing sound. It means to hear with attention and obey. The people had ears, but they would not use them to yield. Third, 'call' (qara) suggests urgent, repeated crying out. Jeremiah is not to whisper; he is to call until his voice is hoarse. Yet even that would not get an answer. The words themselves are not weak. The problem is the human heart, stubborn and set on its own way. God wanted Jeremiah to know this ahead of time so he would not be crushed by the rejection.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have found different emphases here. Reformed commentators like Calvin focused on the trial to the prophet's faith: Jeremiah had to obey despite knowing the outcome. Baptist expositor Gill noted that God's foretelling the rejection prepared Jeremiah and confirmed his mission when it happened. The Cambridge Bible points out a possible textual variation in the Septuagint, reminding us that this verse may have been amplified in the Hebrew tradition. What they share is the conviction that God's word does not return empty, even when it seems to be refused. The call to speak remains.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think this verse means God was setting Jeremiah up to fail. In fact, God was preparing Jeremiah for the reality of ministry. He knew the people's hearts. The command to speak was not about worldly success; it was about faithfulness. Jeremiah's obedience, not the people's response, is what mattered. The verse is a gift of honesty, not a sentence of futility.
Living This Out
This week, you may face a conversation where you know your words will not be welcomed. A coworker who scoffs. A family member who changes the subject. Before you speak, remember that God already knows the outcome. He still calls you to speak the truth in love. Your job is not to convince; it is to be faithful with what He has given you. Leave the results to Him. Keep speaking. Keep calling. That is the kind of courage Jeremiah had.
Main takeaway: God calls us to speak His truth faithfully, even when we know many will not listen.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God told Jeremiah to tell people something very important, even though God knew they would not listen. Jeremiah obeyed. You can obey God too, even if no one listens.
For ages 9, 12
Jeremiah knew the people would not listen, but God still wanted him to speak. Sometimes God asks us to do something hard, like share our faith or tell the truth, even when others don't respond. Our job is to be faithful. God's job is to work in people's hearts. You don't have to see results right away. Just keep obeying.
Questions People Ask
Why did God tell Jeremiah the people wouldn't listen?
God was honest with Jeremiah. He wanted the prophet to know what he was getting into so he would not be surprised or discouraged. As Gill notes, this foreknowledge also confirmed Jeremiah's mission when the rejection happened. It prepared his heart for a difficult calling.
Was Jeremiah's ministry a failure?
No. Failure is measured by disobedience, not by response. Jeremiah faithfully delivered God's word, and though the nation rejected it, his words became a testimony that we still read today. God's word never returns empty, even when it seems to fall on deaf ears.
Does this verse mean we should stop evangelizing if people don't listen?
Quite the opposite. Even knowing the outcome, God commanded Jeremiah to speak. Our calling is to be faithful in sharing the gospel, not to predict who will respond. Results belong to God. This verse frees us from the burden of having to succeed.
What does it mean that Jeremiah was to 'call' to them?
The Hebrew word qara means to cry out loudly, summon, or proclaim with urgency. Jeremiah was not just to inform; he was to plead, to appeal. Yet even that earnest call would not get an answer, showing how deeply hardened the people had become.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study