The Meaning of Jeremiah 17:23 Explained

Jeremiah 17:23

KJV: But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.

YLT: And they have not hearkened nor inclined their ear, And they stiffen their neck not to hear, And not to receive instruction.

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

ASV: But they hearkened not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, and might not receive instruction.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But they obeyed  not, neither inclined  their ear,  but made their neck  stiff,  that they might not hear,  nor receive  instruction. 

What does Jeremiah 17:23 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Judahites" forefathers had not obeyed this commandment, but had become obstinate, and refused to listen to the Lord and to take correction. The Pharisees of Jesus" day went to the other extreme and permitted almost no activity on the Sabbath Day, for which He rebuked them.

Chapter Summary: Jeremiah 17

1  The captivity of Judah for her sin
5  Trust in man is cursed;
7  in God is blessed
9  The deceitful heart cannot deceive God
12  The salvation of God
15  The prophet complains of the mockers of his prophecy
19  He is sent to renew the covenant in hallowing the Sabbath

What do the individual words in Jeremiah 17:23 mean?

But not they did obey nor incline - their ear but made stiff their neck that they might not - hear nor receive instruction
וְלֹ֣א שָֽׁמְע֔וּ וְלֹ֥א הִטּ֖וּ אֶת־ אָזְנָ֑ם וַיַּקְשׁוּ֙ עָרְפָּ֔ם לְבִלְתִּ֣י [שומע] (שְׁמ֔וֹעַ) וּלְבִלְתִּ֖י קַ֥חַת מוּסָֽר

וְלֹ֣א  But  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
שָֽׁמְע֔וּ  they  did  obey 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
וְלֹ֥א  nor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
הִטּ֖וּ  incline 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: נָטָה 
Sense: to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אָזְנָ֑ם  their  ear 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: אֹזֶן  
Sense: ear, as part of the body.
וַיַּקְשׁוּ֙  but  made  stiff 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: קָשָׁה  
Sense: to be hard, be severe, be fierce, be harsh.
עָרְפָּ֔ם  their  neck 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: עֹרֶף  
Sense: neck, back of the neck, back.
לְבִלְתִּ֣י  that  they  might  not 
Parse: Preposition-l
Root: בִּלְתִּי  
Sense: not, except adv.
[שומע]  - 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
(שְׁמ֔וֹעַ)  hear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
וּלְבִלְתִּ֖י  nor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l
Root: בִּלְתִּי  
Sense: not, except adv.
קַ֥חַת  receive 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
מוּסָֽר  instruction 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מוּסָר  
Sense: discipline, chastening, correction.