“Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The text calls them "foolish people, and without understanding," but the Hebrew word for understanding here actually means "heart." This isn't about lacking a mind, but about having a heart so perverted by deliberate sin that it blinds them to what is clear and deafens them to wisdom. They possess eyes and ears, but their choices have rendered these senses useless for discerning God's truth.
“Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah is calling out Jerusalem for its deep-seated corruption and refusal to listen to God's warnings, even though they have the capacity to see and hear. This comes after describing how the city has ignored the natural order God established and has become increasingly decadent and unjust. The prophet’s message here is that their willful blindness is not due to a lack of ability, but a perverted heart that actively resists understanding God's truth and His impending judgment.
Jeremiah calls God's people 'senseless' and 'without understanding.' But the original Hebrew word points to something deeper than just a lack of brains – it's about the core of their being.
The verse uses the word 'heart' in the original language to describe the seat of intelligence and moral understanding. When Jeremiah says they are 'without heart,' he's not saying they lack a physical heart, but that their inner core, their will, and their deepest affections are turned away from God.
This isn't about intellectual capacity; it's about a deliberate refusal to engage with God's truth. Their 'heart' is present, but it's hardened and hostile, making them unable to truly 'know' God or His ways. It’s like having the capacity for sight but choosing to keep your eyes shut.
Jeremiah confronts his audience with a stark paradox: they have eyes but don't see, ears but don't hear. This wasn't a passive condition, but an active rebellion.
The prophet isn't just observing a tragic flaw; he's calling out a willful rejection of God's reality. The people possess the physical senses of sight and hearing, but they actively choose not to process what God is revealing through His actions and His prophets.
This deliberate blindness and deafness mean they ignore God's warnings, His love expressed in provision, and the consequences of their sin. They are like someone who turns off the news because they don't like the message, or covers their ears during an important conversation. Their sin has perverted their moral perception, making them obstinate and stupid towards divine counsel.
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Understand the original words
nabal · Hebrew Adjective
A term often denoting spiritual deficiency, lacking the wisdom that comes from the fear of God, and failing to understand divine truth.
leb (lacking heart/mind) · Hebrew Adjective
In this context, lacking understanding or intelligence regarding spiritual realities; unable to perceive the truth.
Jeremiah's sharp rebuke in this verse highlights the people's willful blindness to the clear signs of God's judgment and the unfolding political crises, a spiritual deafness that directly led to their national catastrophe.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The northern kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrian Empire, a devastating event that serves as a stark warning to the southern kingdom of Judah about the consequences of disobedience to God.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Under King Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian Empire begins its rise by conquering Judah, leading to the first wave of exiles taken to Babylon, including notable figures like Daniel.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Another significant deportation occurs, including King Jehoiachin and many prominent citizens, further weakening Judah and illustrating the growing Babylonian dominance.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem
The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, ending the Davidic monarchy and scattering the remaining population into exile. This is a catastrophic event for the Judean people.
Mid-6th century BC— this verse
Jeremiah's Ministry
Jeremiah prophesies during a time of increasing political instability and impending doom for Judah, calling the people to repentance as Babylonian power grows.
c. 539 BC
Fall of Babylon
The Babylonian Empire is conquered by the Persian Empire under Cyrus the Great, opening the door for the return of Jewish exiles to Jerusalem.
This passage shares the same core imagery of a people with eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear, highlighting a spiritual blindness and deafness that prevents them from understanding God's message.
Matthew 13:14Jesus quotes Isaiah 6:9 in reference to His own ministry, showing how the prophecy of hardened hearts and dulled senses continues, even when God's truth is directly presented.
Ezekiel 12:2This verse presents a similar accusation against Israel, describing them as having eyes that see and ears that hear but are part of a rebellious house unwilling to truly perceive or comprehend God's word.
John 12:40This verse explains that God 'has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they should see with their eyes and understand with their heart and turn, and I should heal them,' pointing to the consequence of persistent rebellion against divine truth.
pulpitJeremiah 5:21: "Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:"
Verse 21. - Without understanding; literally, without heart. This seems at first sight inconsistent with ver. 23, where the people is described as having indeed a "heart," but one hostile to Jehovah. The explanation is that a course of deliberate sin perverts a man's moral perceptions. The prophet first of all states the result, and then the cause. So in Ezek…
cambridgeJeremiah 5:21: "Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:"
21 . understanding ] mg. Heb. heart , which was considered as the seat of intelligence. See Jeremiah 24:7 (“an heart to know me”); Hosea 7:11 (mg.).
The text calls them "foolish people, and without understanding," but the Hebrew word for understanding here actually means "heart." This isn't about lacking a mind, but about having a heart so perverted by deliberate sin that it blinds them to what is clear and deafens them to wisdom. They possess eyes and ears, but their choices have rendered these senses useless for discerning God's truth.
Jeremiah is calling out Jerusalem for its deep-seated corruption and refusal to listen to God's warnings, even though they have the capacity to see and hear. This comes after describing how the city has ignored the natural order God established and has become increasingly decadent and unjust. The prophet’s message here is that their willful blindness is not due to a lack of ability, but a perverted heart that actively resists understanding God's truth and His impending judgment.
Jeremiah is calling out Jerusalem for its deep-seated corruption and refusal to listen to God's warnings, even though they have the capacity to see and hear. This comes after describing how the city has ignored the natural order God established and has become increasingly decadent and unjust. The prophet’s message here is that their willful blindness is not due to a lack of ability, but a perverted heart that actively resists understanding God's truth and His impending judgment.
"“Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not." — The text calls them "foolish people, and without understanding," but the Hebrew word for understanding here actually means "heart." This isn't about lacking a mind, but about having a heart so perver…
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Last reviewed October 2026