And you shall say to them, ‘This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the LORD their God, and did not accept discipline; truth has perished; it is cut off from their lips.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse doesn't just say Israel is disobedient; it highlights that they refuse correction, making their lack of truth a chosen path. This means "truth has perished" isn't just an observation of their sin, but a direct consequence of their stubborn refusal to listen and learn from God's discipline.
And you shall say to them, ‘This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the LORD their God, and did not accept discipline; truth has perished; it is cut off from their lips.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah is being told to deliver a harsh message to the people of Judah, following their continued reliance on empty religious rituals instead of genuine obedience. Even though they worship in the temple, God declares their actions are meaningless because they have consistently ignored His commands and refused to learn from His discipline, rendering truth and faithfulness virtually extinct among them.
What makes Israel's disobedience so striking? It wasn't just any nation turning away from God.
Jeremiah calls them 'the nation' – not just a nation, but the nation. This points to Israel's unique covenant relationship with God.
Disobedience doesn't happen overnight. What are the two ways God tries to correct us?
The verse mentions that Israel 'did not accept discipline.' This points to a stubborn refusal of God's attempts to guide them back.
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What does it mean for 'truth' to perish? It's more than just telling lies.
The final phrase, 'truth has perished; it is cut off from their lips,' describes a deep-seated corruption.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
Yahweh, the covenant-keeping God of Israel who revealed Himself to Moses at the burning bush.
musar · Hebrew Noun
Refers to correction or instruction, often involving chastisement or training, which God provides to guide His people back to righteousness.
'emunah · Hebrew Noun
Refers to faithfulness, reliability, and integrity; in a theological sense, it is the standard of God's truth to which His people are called to conform.
Jeremiah's prophecy comes at the very end of Judah's existence as a nation, a final, desperate warning delivered as the consequences of generations of disobedience are about to fall. The destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple is not a surprise, but the inevitable outcome of a people who have rejected God's truth and discipline.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian Exile of Northern Kingdom
The Northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria) was conquered by the Assyrians, and many of its people were exiled. This event served as a stark warning to the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
626 BC
Jeremiah Begins Prophesying
Jeremiah receives his call to prophesy, delivering messages of impending judgment and calls for repentance to Judah and Jerusalem.
c. 609 BC
Josiah's Reforms End
King Josiah, who had initiated significant religious reforms based on rediscovering the Law, is killed in battle. His successors reverse his reforms, leading Judah further into spiritual decay.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah and begins deporting the elite and skilled workers, including some from the royal family, to Babylon. Daniel is among this first group.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a rebellion, Babylon deports more of Judah's population, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the remaining population of Judah to Babylon. This marks the end of the Southern Kingdom.
586 BC— this verse
Jeremiah's Message of Disobedience
In the midst of Judah's repeated disobedience and the impending or final destruction of Jerusalem, Jeremiah declares that the nation has refused God's voice and discipline, and truth has vanished.
This passage highlights God's judgment on a disobedient generation, emphasizing that their lack of faith and refusal to listen to God's voice meant they would not enter the promised land, paralleling Jeremiah's message of national discipline for disobedience.
Hosea 4:1-2Similar to Jeremiah, Hosea confronts Israel for their lack of truth and faithfulness, showing a widespread departure from God's ways and a breakdown in moral integrity, which leads to divine judgment.
Psalm 78:10-11This psalm laments the people's failure to remember God's deeds and keep His covenant, describing them as stubborn and unfaithful, echoing Jeremiah's accusation that this nation refused discipline and lacked truth.
Romans 1:18-23Paul describes how humanity, despite knowing God, suppresses the truth and exchanges it for a lie, leading to God giving them over to their desires, reflecting the same theme of rejecting divine truth found in Jeremiah's prophecy.
Matthew 15:7-9Jesus quotes Isaiah to rebuke the Pharisees for their empty worship, pointing out how their lips honor God but their hearts are far from Him, which resonates with Jeremiah's condemnation of a nation whose words are devoid of truth and sincerity.
pulpitJeremiah 7:28: "But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth."
Verse 28. - But thou shalt say; rather, thou shalt therefore say. A nation; rather, the nation. "What one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to him-serf?" (2 Samuel 7:23). And yet "this is the nation that have not hearkened," etc. Truth; rather, g…
cambridgeJeremiah 7:28: "But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth."
28 . the nation ] conspicuous for their disobedience. Cp. Psalm 12:4 . truth ] mg. faithfulness . See on ch. Jeremiah 5:3 . 29–8:3 . See introd. note on the section. The verbs and pronoun are fem. in the original, shewing that E.VV. are right in giving them a collective sense, and inserting “O Jerusalem.”…
The verse doesn't just say Israel is disobedient; it highlights that they refuse correction, making their lack of truth a chosen path. This means "truth has perished" isn't just an observation of their sin, but a direct consequence of their stubborn refusal to listen and learn from God's discipline.
Jeremiah is being told to deliver a harsh message to the people of Judah, following their continued reliance on empty religious rituals instead of genuine obedience. Even though they worship in the temple, God declares their actions are meaningless because they have consistently ignored His commands and refused to learn from His discipline, rendering truth and faithfulness virtually extinct among them.
Jeremiah is being told to deliver a harsh message to the people of Judah, following their continued reliance on empty religious rituals instead of genuine obedience. Even though they worship in the temple, God declares their actions are meaningless because they have consistently ignored His commands and refused to learn from His discipline, rendering truth and faithfulness virtually extinct among them.
"And you shall say to them, ‘This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the LORD their God, and did not accept discipline; truth has perished; it is cut off from their lips." — The verse doesn't just say Israel is disobedient; it highlights that they refuse correction, making their lack of truth a chosen path. This means "truth has perished" isn't just an observation of t…
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Last reviewed October 2026