Jeremiah 7:16
“As for you, do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with me, for I will not hear you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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God explicitly forbids Jeremiah from praying for his people, not just once, but three times with increasing intensity: "pray not," "lift up a cry or prayer," and "make intercession." This repetition hammers home that God's judgment is sealed, and even the prophet's well-intentioned pleas will be unheard, highlighting the depth of the people's sin.
God has just delivered a scathing indictment of the people's false worship at the Temple, calling it a "den of robbers." Now, He turns to Jeremiah, forbidding him to pray for this unrepentant nation, emphasizing that their measure of iniquity is full and judgment is unavoidable. This stern command is meant to show how thoroughly God has rejected them and to strengthen Jeremiah in his difficult prophetic task, even as it highlights the people's desperate need for genuine repentance.
Have you ever prayed with all your heart, only to feel… silence? Jeremiah faced a moment where God’s command was to stop praying. Why would God do that?
In Jeremiah 7:16, God gives a stark command: "do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with me, for I will not hear you." This wasn't a suggestion; it was a divine decree.
A Line Drawn in the Sand
God had repeatedly shown patience, often swayed by the intercessions of leaders like Moses. But Israel had reached a point of no return. Their sin was so deep, their rebellion so ingrained, that their capacity for genuine repentance seemed gone. God was signaling that the time for mercy through prayer had passed, and the season of judgment had arrived.
Protecting the Prophet, Not Punishing Prayer
This command wasn't about devaluing prayer itself. Instead, it served a crucial purpose for Jeremiah.
This doesn't mean prayer for a rebellious people is always forbidden, but it highlights that God's justice is real, and there are indeed times when judgment is the only path forward.
Jeremiah was known for his tears and deep empathy for his people. Imagine his internal struggle when God commanded him not to pray. What does this reveal about God's interaction with His prophets?
Understand the original words
palal · Hebrew Verb
To speak to God on behalf of oneself or others; it involves petition, confession, and communion, though it can be restricted by God when judgment is decreed upon a rebellious people.
tephillah · Hebrew Noun
A formal act of petitioning or pleading, often used in legal or spiritual contexts to request intervention or mercy.
paga · Hebrew Verb
To mediate or stand in the gap between God and others, asking for mercy or favor; it is a priestly function of intercession.
This command to Jeremiah comes at the absolute nadir of Judah's history, after multiple exiles and the utter destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. God's refusal to hear prayer signifies that the period of grace has ended, and judgment is final for those who have relentlessly rejected Him.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, exiling many and scattering the ten tribes. This event serves as a stark warning of the consequences of disobedience.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Under King Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian Empire conquers Judah. A first group of exiles, including members of the royal family and skilled workers, are taken to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the end for Jerusalem.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Jerusalem is besieged again, and King Jehoiachin and another significant portion of the population, including the prophet Ezekiel, are exiled to Babylon. This deepens the crisis and the sense of impending doom.
c. 587/586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
The Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar raze Jerusalem and destroy Solomon's Temple. The remaining population is largely exiled, marking a catastrophic national disaster and the apparent end of God's covenant with Israel.
This passage shows God commanding Moses not to intercede for Israel after they made the golden calf, mirroring Jeremiah's prohibition to pray for a people whose sin had reached its limit.
Jeremiah 11:14In this parallel passage, God explicitly tells Jeremiah not to pray for Judah's disaster, reinforcing the theme of divine judgment being so severe that intercession is forbidden.
Ezekiel 14:14This verse describes a situation where even Noah, Daniel, and Job's righteousness would not save a corrupt land, illustrating that persistent sin can reach a point where even righteous intercession is powerless.
1 Samuel 12:23Samuel, after rebuking Israel, asks God not to cut them off, showing a prophet's intercession for a sinful people, but Jeremiah's situation is different because God has already determined the judgment and forbids his prayer.
Luke 18:13The parable of the tax collector praying 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' highlights the humble and fervent nature of acceptable prayer, contrasting with the people of Judah for whom Jeremiah is forbidden to pray because their sin has closed the door to such pleas.
pooleJeremiah 7:16: "Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee."
God forbids his prophets to pray for them in any kind by any cry or intercession; or, running upon me , which shows that God is resolved to root them out, seeing he will admit of no intercession; according as he charged Moses, Exodus 32:10 , and the like Jeremiah 11:14 . For God had been wont to suffer himself to be prevailed with by the m…
clarkeJeremiah 7:16: "Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee."
Therefore pray not thou for this people - They have filled up the measure of their iniquity, and they must become examples of my justice. How terrible must the state of that place be, where God refuses to pour out the spirit of supplication on his ministers and people in its behalf!
God explicitly forbids Jeremiah from praying for his people, not just once, but three times with increasing intensity: "pray not," "lift up a cry or prayer," and "make intercession." This repetition hammers home that God's judgment is sealed, and even the prophet's well-intentioned pleas will be unheard, highlighting the depth of the people's sin.
God has just delivered a scathing indictment of the people's false worship at the Temple, calling it a "den of robbers." Now, He turns to Jeremiah, forbidding him to pray for this unrepentant nation, emphasizing that their measure of iniquity is full and judgment is unavoidable. This stern command is meant to show how thoroughly God has rejected them and to strengthen Jeremiah in his difficult prophetic task, even as it highlights the people's desperate need for genuine repentance.
God has just delivered a scathing indictment of the people's false worship at the Temple, calling it a "den of robbers." Now, He turns to Jeremiah, forbidding him to pray for this unrepentant nation, emphasizing that their measure of iniquity is full and judgment is unavoidable. This stern command is meant to show how thoroughly God has rejected them and to strengthen Jeremiah in his difficult prophetic task, even as it highlights the people's desperate need for genuine repentance.
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Jeremiah wasn't a cold, unfeeling messenger. The prophetic office demanded he speak God's truth, but his heart ached for Judah's impending doom. God’s command in verse 16 is not to strip Jeremiah of his humanity, but to redirect it.
A Difficult Distinction
Commentators note that while Jeremiah was forbidden to pray for the nation's continued existence or the reversal of judgment, he wasn't necessarily prohibited from praying for God's covenant faithfulness regarding a remnant.
God Strengthens His Servants
This prohibition was partly to equip Jeremiah for his incredibly difficult task.
God understood Jeremiah’s pain, but He also required him to be an instrument of His justice, unhindered by the potential to be swayed by his own pity.
c. 580 BC
Jeremiah Continues Ministry in Egypt
Following the destruction of Jerusalem, Jeremiah is taken to Egypt, where he continues to prophesy to the remnant of Judeans who fled there. The prophet's personal grief and continued warnings highlight the depth of the tragedy.
"“As for you, do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with me, for I will not hear you." — God explicitly forbids Jeremiah from praying for his people, not just once, but three times with increasing intensity: "pray not," "lift up a cry or prayer," and "make intercession." This repetition…
