Jeremiah 13

Jer 13, Je 13, Jr 13


Jeremiah 13

1 Thus saith the LORD unto me, Go and get thee a linen girdle, and put it upon thy loins, and put it not in water.

2 So I got a girdle according to the word of the LORD, and put it on my loins.

3 And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying,

4 Take the girdle that thou hast got, which is upon thy loins, and arise, go to Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole of the rock.

5 So I went, and hid it by Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me.

6 And it came to pass after many days, that the LORD said unto me, Arise, go to Euphrates, and take the girdle from thence, which I commanded thee to hide there.

7 Then I went to Euphrates, and digged, and took the girdle from the place where I had hid it: and, behold, the girdle was marred, it was profitable for nothing.

8 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

9 Thus saith the LORD, After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem.

10 This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.

11 For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the LORD; that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear.

12 Therefore thou shalt speak unto them this word; Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Every bottle shall be filled with wine: and they shall say unto thee, Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine?

13 Then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings that sit upon David's throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness.

14 And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, saith the LORD: I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy them.



15 Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken.

16 Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.

17 But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD's flock is carried away captive.

18 Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory.

19 The cities of the south shall be shut up, and none shall open them: Judah shall be carried away captive all of it, it shall be wholly carried away captive.

20 Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north: where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?

21 What wilt thou say when he shall punish thee? for thou hast taught them to be captains, and as chief over thee: shall not sorrows take thee, as a woman in travail?

22 And if thou say in thine heart, Wherefore come these things upon me? For the greatness of thine iniquity are thy skirts discovered, and thy heels made bare.

23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.

24 Therefore will I scatter them as the stubble that passeth away by the wind of the wilderness.

25 This is thy lot, the portion of thy measures from me, saith the LORD; because thou hast forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood.

26 Therefore will I discover thy skirts upon thy face, that thy shame may appear.

27 I have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, and thine abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be?

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Summary and the Meaning of the Chapter 13 of the Book of Jeremiah in the KJV Holy Bible

Chapter 13 of the Book of Jeremiah in the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible is a vivid and symbolic chapter that unfolds through a series of prophecies and metaphors. Jeremiah, as God's spokesman, brings forth messages of impending judgment on Judah due to their persistent sin and disobedience. The chapter can be divided into three main sections: The Linen Belt, The Wineskins, and The Message to The King and Queen.

The Linen Belt

The chapter begins with a metaphor of a linen belt, which God instructs Jeremiah to buy and wear, but not to let it touch water. After some time, God tells him to take the belt and hide it in the cleft of a rock near the Euphrates. Later, when Jeremiah retrieves the belt, he finds it ruined and worthless. This belt, initially close to Jeremiah's body, symbolizes the close relationship God intended to have with His people, Israel. However, like the belt that becomes ruined, Israel's pride and disobedience have made them worthless in the sight of God. This piece of imagery serves as a stark reminder that disobedience and sin can lead to a broken relationship with God, resulting in decay and worthlessness.

The Wineskins

The second metaphor in the chapter is that of wineskins. God tells Jeremiah that every wineskin should be filled with wine, a statement that people mock, saying they already know that wineskins should be filled with wine. God's message here is that the people of Judah will be filled with drunkenness, symbolizing the disorientation and judgment that will come upon them for their disobedience. The people's response to the prophecy indicates their contempt and disregard for God's warnings, further emphasizing their sinful state.

The Message to The King and Queen

The final section of the chapter contains a direct message to the king and queen. Jeremiah warns them of the humiliation they will face, symbolized by the lifting of their skirts, due to their arrogance. The message continues, predicting that their cities will be deserted, and their inhabitants will be taken into exile. Jeremiah concludes the chapter with a lament for the pride of Judah, expressing sorrow for the impending doom.

Throughout Chapter 13, the recurring themes of disobedience, pride, and impending judgment are present. Judah's persistent sin and refusal to heed God's warnings have led to their downfall. The metaphors used in this chapter provide a powerful visual representation of the spiritual decay that has occurred due to disobedience and pride.

Interpretation and Theological Implications

Chapter 13 of the Book of Jeremiah is a potent reminder of the consequences of disobedience and pride. The metaphors used serve as a warning to all readers about the dangers of straying from God's commandments. The ruined linen belt symbolizes a broken relationship with God, while the wineskins filled with wine represent the disorientation and chaos that ensue when God's warnings are disregarded.

The chapter also emphasizes the importance of humility. The message to the king and queen serves as a stark warning against arrogance and pride. Their humiliation signifies that no one, regardless of their status or power, is exempt from God's judgment when they choose to live in disobedience.

Moreover, Chapter 13 serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and His righteous judgment. Despite the dire situation, God's justice prevails. The chapter ends with a lament, signifying the sorrow that comes with recognizing the consequences of sin. This sorrow, however, can lead to repentance, a turning back to God, and a restoration of the relationship with Him.

Conclusion

In summary, Chapter 13 of the Book of Jeremiah in the KJV Bible is a powerful narrative of God's impending judgment on Judah due to their disobedience and pride. The vivid metaphors of the linen belt, the wineskins, and the message to the king and queen serve as stark reminders of the consequences of sin and the importance of humility and obedience to God's commandments. Despite the grim outlook, the chapter also offers hope, showing that repentance and a return to God can lead to restoration. Thus, the chapter serves as a timeless lesson for all readers, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a humble and obedient relationship with God.



This article is informed by the King James Version of the Holy Bible, the authors' personal knowledge, considerations and experience, and additional materials and resources available in internet.

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