The Living Word

KING JAMES VERSION

"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."

— Isaiah 40:8
Back to Books

Jeremiah 13

Initializing audio...
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52
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.
WhatsApp Copy
2
So I got a girdle according to the word of the LORD, and put it on my loins.
WhatsApp Copy
3
And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying,
WhatsApp Copy
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.
WhatsApp Copy
5
So I went, and hid it by Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me.
WhatsApp Copy
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.
WhatsApp Copy
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.
WhatsApp Copy
8
Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
WhatsApp Copy
9
Thus saith the LORD, After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem.
WhatsApp Copy
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.
WhatsApp Copy
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.
WhatsApp Copy
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?
WhatsApp Copy
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.
WhatsApp Copy
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.
WhatsApp Copy
15
Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken.
WhatsApp Copy
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.
WhatsApp Copy
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.
WhatsApp Copy
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.
WhatsApp Copy
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.
WhatsApp Copy
20
Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north: where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?
WhatsApp Copy
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?
WhatsApp Copy
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.
WhatsApp Copy
23
Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.
WhatsApp Copy
24
Therefore will I scatter them as the stubble that passeth away by the wind of the wilderness.
WhatsApp Copy
25
This is thy lot, the portion of thy measures from me, saith the LORD; because thou hast forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood.
WhatsApp Copy
26
Therefore will I discover thy skirts upon thy face, that thy shame may appear.
WhatsApp Copy
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?
WhatsApp Copy
Previous Next

Jeremiah 13 Study & Commentary

Jeremiah 13 - The Linen Girdle: An acted prophecy involving a linen girdle hidden in a rock until it was "marred." This symbolizes how God once held Judah close, but their pride has rendered them "profitable for nothing."

THEOLOGICAL CONTEXT

1. The Symbolism of Proximity: The girdle (v. 11) represents the intimacy God desired with Israel—to be "unto me for a name, and for a praise."
2. Total Depravity (v. 23): "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?" A profound statement on the inability of the sinner to change their nature without divine intervention.
3. The Cup of Darkness: Warning the leadership to give glory to God before He causes "darkness" and their feet stumble on the dark mountains.

PRACTICAL LESSONS

1. The Danger of Pride: Pride "mars" our usefulness to God until we become like a rotten girdle.
2. Inevitability of Nature: Recognizing that without grace, we are slaves to our sinful patterns.
Copied to clipboard!

Daily Devotional

Daily KJV Bible devotional reflection on the peace of God
"Refining your journey through the timeless wisdom of the King James Bible. Start your morning with a moment of devotion and find strength in His promises."
Explore All Devotionals