Jeremiah 17:23 (DBY)

Passage

but they hearkened not, neither inclined their ear, but hardened their neck, that they might not hear nor receive instruction.

Nearby Context

Jeremiah 17:21 thus saith Jehovah: Take heed to your souls, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, and bring nothing in through the gates of Jerusalem;

Jeremiah 17:22 and carry forth no burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do any work; but hallow ye the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers,

Jeremiah 17:23 but they hearkened not, neither inclined their ear, but hardened their neck, that they might not hear nor receive instruction.

Jeremiah 17:24 And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith Jehovah, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, and to hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein;

Jeremiah 17:25 then shall there enter in, through the gates of this city, kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their princes, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and this city shall be inhabited for ever.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "hearkened", "neither", "inclined", "hardened", "neck", "might", and "receive". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "hearkened" and "neither", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 22's "and carry forth no burden out of..." into verse 24's "And it shall come to pass if...", so "hearkened" and "neither" belong inside that flow. In Jeremiah context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "hearkened" and "neither" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.