And now, because you have done all these things, declares the LORD, and when I spoke to you persistently you did not listen, and when I called you, you did not answer,
English Standard Version (ESV)
God emphasizes His persistent, even eager efforts to reach His people. The phrase "rising up early and speaking" is unique to Jeremiah and portrays God's unwearied diligence, like someone waking at dawn to earnestly call out, ensuring they wouldn't miss His message or His plea for them to answer.
And now, because you have done all these things, declares the LORD, and when I spoke to you persistently you did not listen, and when I called you, you did not answer,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The LORD is addressing the people of Judah in Jerusalem, reminding them of their persistent disobedience despite His repeated calls and warnings. Just as He destroyed the sanctuary at Shiloh because of Israel's wickedness, He declares He will now do the same to their Temple in Jerusalem due to their continued evil deeds. Jeremiah uses the vivid imagery of God "rising early and speaking" and "calling" to emphasize His tireless efforts to reach them, all of which they ignored.
Have you ever felt like you were shouting into the void, and no one was listening? God felt that way too, but with His own people.
Jeremiah 7:13 highlights God's persistent efforts to reach His people. The phrase 'rising up early and speaking' isn't just about the time of day; it's a vivid metaphor for God's diligent, zealous, and unwearying pursuit of His people.
God's Diligence:
God's prophets, like Jeremiah, were sent to speak His word with great urgency. This wasn't a casual nudge; it was a full-on effort, starting early and continuing throughout the day. Think of a parent trying to wake a sleeping child – they might call gently, then louder, maybe even shake them awake. God's actions are described with this same level of earnestness.
The People's Neglect:
Despite God's fervent calls, the people 'did not listen' and 'did not answer.' They were deaf to His messengers and unresponsive to His attempts to guide them. This pattern of ignoring divine communication is a recurring theme, leading to serious consequences.
What happens when persistent divine calls are met with stubborn silence? The consequences are not minor; they reshape nations.
This verse, Jeremiah 7:13, serves as a prelude to judgment. God's detailed description of His relentless efforts to communicate is not just a lament; it's the justification for the severe consequences that follow.
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The Cause for Judgment:
Because the people 'have done all these things' (referring to their wicked deeds mentioned earlier in the chapter) and crucially, because they 'did not listen' and 'did not answer' God's persistent calls, judgment is inevitable. Their sin wasn't just performing wrong actions; it was their deep-seated refusal to heed God's voice through His prophets.
Shiloh as a Warning:
In the broader context of Jeremiah 7, God points to the destruction of Shiloh – a significant place of worship in Israel's past – as a stark warning. Just as Shiloh fell due to the people's wickedness and God's judgment, so too would Jerusalem and its glorious Temple. The people's trust in the Temple's sanctity was misplaced; their disobedience nullified its protective power.
Understand the original words
shama' · Hebrew Verb
The act of giving heed, paying attention, or obeying; it implies a responsive heart that aligns its behavior with the spoken word of God.
This verse highlights God's persistent calls to repentance, using the historical fall of Shiloh as a somber example of His judgment on disobedience, even when His name is associated with a place.
c. 1070 BC
Ark of the Covenant at Shiloh Captured
The Philistines defeated Israel and captured the Ark of the Covenant from Shiloh, a significant religious and administrative center. This event led to Shiloh's destruction and marked a turning point in Israel's history.
c. 1000 BC
Ark of the Covenant Established in Jerusalem
King David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, and Solomon later built the First Temple there to house it. This established Jerusalem as the religious and political heart of Israel.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquered the northern Kingdom of Israel and exiled its people. This event served as a stark warning to the southern Kingdom of Judah about the consequences of disobedience.
597 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon besieged Jerusalem and deported King Jehoiachin and many of the leading citizens to Babylon. This was the first major step towards Judah's eventual destruction.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the First Temple
Nebuchadnezzar returned, destroyed Jerusalem and the First Temple, and exiled most of the remaining population to Babylon. This fulfilled God's warnings through prophets like Jeremiah.
c. 590 BC— this verse
Jeremiah's Temple Sermon
Jeremiah delivered this sermon in the Temple courts, confronting the people and priests with their sins and warning them of impending destruction if they did not repent. He urged them to change their ways instead of relying on the Temple's presence.
This passage echoes Jeremiah's complaint, describing God's persistent calling to wisdom through prophets, which was met with refusal by the people.
Isaiah 65:12This verse presents a similar theme where God calls to His people, but they do not answer, highlighting a pattern of divine pursuit and human rejection.
Matthew 23:37Jesus Himself laments over Jerusalem, using language that mirrors Jeremiah's complaint, showing God's deep desire to gather His people and their consistent refusal to be gathered.
Jeremiah 25:4This verse uses the same distinctive phrase found in Jeremiah 7:13, emphasizing God's unwearied efforts through His prophets and the people's persistent deafness to His messages.
barnesJeremiah 7:13: "And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the LORD, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not;"
Rising up early and speaking - A proverbial expression for "speaking zealously and earnestly." It is used only by Jeremiah.
pulpitJeremiah 7:13: "And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the LORD, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not;"
Verse 13. - Rising up early and speaking; i.e. speaking zealously and continually (so ver. 25; Jeremiah 25:4; Jeremiah 26:5; Jeremiah 29:19). It is an expression peculiar to Jeremiah.
God emphasizes His persistent, even eager efforts to reach His people. The phrase "rising up early and speaking" is unique to Jeremiah and portrays God's unwearied diligence, like someone waking at dawn to earnestly call out, ensuring they wouldn't miss His message or His plea for them to answer.
The LORD is addressing the people of Judah in Jerusalem, reminding them of their persistent disobedience despite His repeated calls and warnings. Just as He destroyed the sanctuary at Shiloh because of Israel's wickedness, He declares He will now do the same to their Temple in Jerusalem due to their continued evil deeds. Jeremiah uses the vivid imagery of God "rising early and speaking" and "calling" to emphasize His tireless efforts to reach them, all of which they ignored.
The LORD is addressing the people of Judah in Jerusalem, reminding them of their persistent disobedience despite His repeated calls and warnings. Just as He destroyed the sanctuary at Shiloh because of Israel's wickedness, He declares He will now do the same to their Temple in Jerusalem due to their continued evil deeds. Jeremiah uses the vivid imagery of God "rising early and speaking" and "calling" to emphasize His tireless efforts to reach them, all of which they ignored.
"And now, because you have done all these things, declares the LORD, and when I spoke to you persistently you did not listen, and when I called you, you did not answer," — God emphasizes His persistent, even eager efforts to reach His people. The phrase "rising up early and speaking" is unique to Jeremiah and portrays God's unwearied diligence, like someone waking at d…
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Last reviewed October 2026