Jeremiah 17:23
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The phrase "stiffened their neck" isn't just about stubbornness; it paints a vivid picture of refusing to bend, like an ox resisting the yoke of discipline. They didn't just not listen, they actively hardened themselves so they couldn't hear or accept correction.
Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck, that they might not hear and receive instruction.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Just before this, God's prophet Jeremiah has been given a solemn charge to stand at the gates of Jerusalem and deliver a message about keeping the Sabbath holy, promising prosperity if they obey. This verse describes the people's persistent refusal to listen to God's commands, likening their stubbornness to an unbroken animal refusing to bear a yoke. Their hardened hearts mean they will not hear God's instructions or accept correction, setting the stage for impending judgment.
The verse paints a vivid picture of defiance. What does it really mean when Scripture says people 'stiffened their neck'?
This isn't just about passively ignoring God; it's an active, willful rejection.
A Physical Stance of Rebellion
Think about an ox refusing to pull a plow. Its neck becomes rigid, fighting the yoke. This is the posture described here – a deliberate hardening of the heart against God's commands and His prophets.
The Willful Choice to Remain Ignorant
They didn't just fail to hear; they made sure they wouldn't hear. They refused to 'incline their ear,' a gesture of attentive listening. It's a conscious decision to shut down, to block out God's truth, and to avoid the 'instruction' or 'correction' He offered.
The context here hints at a specific command the people were ignoring. What was it, and why was it so important?
Jeremiah's message often circled back to practical obedience, especially concerning the Sabbath.
The Sabbath as a Sign
While this verse doesn't explicitly name the Sabbath, the broader context of Jeremiah 17 (especially verses 19-27) shows the prophet being sent to the gates of Jerusalem to warn against its profanation. Observing the Sabbath was a sign of allegiance to God and trust in His provision, not just a day of rest.
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Neglect Breeds Deeper Disobedience
When people disregard a commandment like the Sabbath – choosing work, commerce, or personal pleasure over God's appointed rest and worship – it reveals a deeper spiritual sickness. It becomes a gateway to other forms of disobedience and a refusal to 'receive instruction' in all areas of life.
Understand the original words
shama' · Hebrew Verb
To obey or give heed; involving not just hearing audio, but responding with obedience, faith, and submission to God's word.
tsavvar qashah · Hebrew Idiom (Noun + Adjective)
A metaphorical description of stubbornness, pride, and refusal to submit to God's authority or direction, often resulting from a hardened heart.
musar · Hebrew Noun
Correction, discipline, or education aimed at training and molding one's character in accordance with God's law and will.
This verse highlights a deep-seated pattern of rebellion against God's word, a resistance that was ongoing during Jeremiah's ministry and ultimately contributed to the devastating fall of Jerusalem and the exile.
c. 626 BC
Jeremiah's Call
Jeremiah is called by God to prophesy to Judah, a kingdom increasingly influenced by surrounding empires and facing internal spiritual decay.
c. 609 BC - 597 BC
Growing Babylonian Power
The Neo-Babylonian Empire, under rulers like Nabopolassar and Nebuchadnezzar II, expands its influence, leading to increased pressure on Judah and surrounding nations.
597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Jehoiachin and many prominent citizens of Judah are exiled to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar II, a significant blow to the kingdom.
c. 590 BC— this verse
Prophetic Warnings Intensify
Jeremiah continues to deliver strong warnings against disobedience, particularly concerning the profanation of the Sabbath, emphasizing the consequences of their stiff-necked refusal to listen.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar II destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, leading to the final, widespread deportation of the remaining population and the end of the kingdom of Judah.
This passage describes the Israelites as a 'stiff-necked people,' a direct parallel to Jeremiah's description, highlighting a persistent theme of rebellion against God's commands.
Nehemiah 9:16-17Here, the people acknowledge their ancestors' pride and stubbornness, refusing to listen or remember God's wonders, mirroring the refusal to hear instruction mentioned in Jeremiah.
Acts 7:51Stephen directly accuses his audience of being 'stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears,' echoing Jeremiah's condemnation and showing how this characteristic persisted through generations.
Deuteronomy 28:49While not identical, this passage speaks of a distant nation attacking Israel, illustrating the severe consequences of disobedience that Jeremiah was warning about, a direct result of their unwillingness to hear God's instruction.
cambridgeJeremiah 17:23: "But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction."
23 . Substantially the same as ch. Jeremiah 7:26 . instruction ] correction . See on Jeremiah 6:8 .
pulpitJeremiah 17:23: "But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction."
Verse 23. - This verse is modeled on Jeremiah 7:26, 28.
The phrase "stiffened their neck" isn't just about stubbornness; it paints a vivid picture of refusing to bend, like an ox resisting the yoke of discipline. They didn't just not listen, they actively hardened themselves so they couldn't hear or accept correction.
Just before this, God's prophet Jeremiah has been given a solemn charge to stand at the gates of Jerusalem and deliver a message about keeping the Sabbath holy, promising prosperity if they obey. This verse describes the people's persistent refusal to listen to God's commands, likening their stubbornness to an unbroken animal refusing to bear a yoke. Their hardened hearts mean they will not hear God's instructions or accept correction, setting the stage for impending judgment.
Just before this, God's prophet Jeremiah has been given a solemn charge to stand at the gates of Jerusalem and deliver a message about keeping the Sabbath holy, promising prosperity if they obey. This verse describes the people's persistent refusal to listen to God's commands, likening their stubbornness to an unbroken animal refusing to bear a yoke. Their hardened hearts mean they will not hear God's instructions or accept correction, setting the stage for impending judgment.
"Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck, that they might not hear and receive instruction." — The phrase "stiffened their neck" isn't just about stubbornness; it paints a vivid picture of refusing to bend, like an ox resisting the yoke of discipline. They didn't just not listen, they active…
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Last reviewed October 2026
