Jeremiah 6:10
To whom shall I speak and give warning, that they may hear? Behold, their ears are uncircumcised, they cannot listen; behold, the word of the LORD is to them an object of scorn; they take no pleasure in it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrase "uncircumcised ear" isn't just about not listening; it points to a deeper rebellion, suggesting they've rejected the covenant sign of obedience itself. This isn't a passive inability to hear, but an active choice to scorn God's message because it disrupts their cherished desires.
Jeremiah, speaking for God, expresses utter despair in reaching his people with warnings of impending judgment. The people have grown so stubbornly resistant and rebellious, symbolized by their "uncircumcised ears," that they actively scorn and reject God's word. This deep-seated refusal to listen means any further prophetic efforts are futile, as the people have chosen to harden their hearts.
Understand the original words
arel · Hebrew Adjective
A heart or state that is resistant, closed, or spiritually insensitive to the word and will of God, lacking the covenant sign of dedication.
dabar · Hebrew Noun
The expressed communication or revelation of God's will, character, and truth to humanity; it is living, authoritative, and demands a response.
cherpah · Hebrew Noun
A feeling of contempt, mockery, or intense disdain, particularly regarding God’s truth, often resulting from a hardened heart.
Jeremiah's lament about uncircumcised ears and the people's scorn for God's word was spoken in the shadow of impending judgment. The people's spiritual deafness and rejection of God's warnings directly contributed to their nation's downfall and the destruction of Jerusalem.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Northern Kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrian Empire, leading to the deportation of many Israelites and the settlement of foreigners in the land.
626 BC
Jeremiah begins his ministry
Jeremiah is called by God to prophesy to Judah, a time of increasing political instability and spiritual decay.
c. 609 BC
Josiah's Reforms Undone
King Josiah is killed in battle, and his religious reforms begin to unravel as Judah falls under increasing foreign influence, particularly from Egypt and Babylon.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacks Judah and deports a group of Judean nobles and skilled workers, including Daniel, to Babylon.
c. 597 BC
Stephen directly quotes Jeremiah's sentiment here, calling the religious leaders 'stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears,' echoing the idea that their spiritual senses are closed to God's truth.
Romans 2:27Paul discusses physical circumcision versus the spiritual reality, showing that outward religious practice means nothing if the heart and ears (representing receptivity to God's Word) are not truly 'circumcised' or obedient.
Hebrews 4:2This passage warns that the message preached by God's people is of no benefit if it is not 'mixed with faith' in those who hear it, paralleling Jeremiah's frustration with people who reject God's word.
Matthew 13:13-15Jesus explains why He speaks in parables, stating that some hearts are hardened and ears are dull, preventing them from understanding, which reflects the same spiritual deafness Jeremiah encountered.
calvinJeremiah 6:10: "To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it."
To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the Lord is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.
Ad quem loquar? et quem contestabor ut audiant? Ecce incircumcisa…
pulpitJeremiah 6:10: "To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it."
Verse 10. - Their ear is uncircumcised; covered as it were with a foreskin, which prevents the prophetic message from finding admittance. Elsewhere it is the heart (Leviticus 26:41; Ezekiel 44:7), or the lips (Exodus 6:12) which are said to be "circumcised;" a passage in Stephe…
The phrase "uncircumcised ear" isn't just about not listening; it points to a deeper rebellion, suggesting they've rejected the covenant sign of obedience itself. This isn't a passive inability to hear, but an active choice to scorn God's message because it disrupts their cherished desires.
Jeremiah, speaking for God, expresses utter despair in reaching his people with warnings of impending judgment. The people have grown so stubbornly resistant and rebellious, symbolized by their "uncircumcised ears," that they actively scorn and reject God's word. This deep-seated refusal to listen means any further prophetic efforts are futile, as the people have chosen to harden their hearts.
Jeremiah, speaking for God, expresses utter despair in reaching his people with warnings of impending judgment. The people have grown so stubbornly resistant and rebellious, symbolized by their "uncircumcised ears," that they actively scorn and reject God's word. This deep-seated refusal to listen means any further prophetic efforts are futile, as the people have chosen to harden their hearts.
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Second Deportation to Babylon
Babylon deports King Jehoiachin and another large group of Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the majority of the remaining population to Babylon. This marks the end of the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
"To whom shall I speak and give warning, that they may hear? Behold, their ears are uncircumcised, they cannot listen; behold, the word of the LORD is to them an object of scorn; they take no pleasure in it." — The phrase "uncircumcised ear" isn't just about not listening; it points to a deeper rebellion, suggesting they've rejected the covenant sign of obedience itself. This isn't a passive inability to he…
