God requires His people to faithfully heed His covenant.
“And the LORD said to me, ‘Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, “Hear the words of this covenant and do them.”’” (Jeremiah 11:6). In this verse, the prophet Jeremiah receives a command from the LORD to publicly announce God’s covenant requirements and warnings throughout Judah and its primary city, Jerusalem. Judah was the southern kingdom of Israel, and Jerusalem was its capital (situated on the highlands of Mount Zion), serving as the spiritual center where God’s temple once stood. By requiring Jeremiah to speak in “the streets,” the LORD makes both rural villages and the bustling city hear His message, highlighting that everyone in the nation was accountable to the covenant they had agreed to keep (Exodus 19:8). Disobedience would bring about discipline from God, a theme echoed repeatedly in Jeremiah’s ministry, as Judah often wandered into idolatry and injustice.
The phrase “Hear the words of this covenant” reflects God’s call for renewed faithfulness. Covenant in the ancient Near East was a binding treaty, and Judah pledged loyalty to God alone. Yet, historical accounts show they often turned from His commandments, leading to dire warnings from prophets like Jeremiah (Jeremiah 7:5-7). The LORD’s charge that Jeremiah speak “all these words” demonstrates the seriousness of His instructions—none of His warnings or promises should be overlooked. God desired His people’s repentance and obedience, rather than the judgment that would follow rebellion (Jeremiah 25:8-9). This verse captures both God’s grace—by calling them back to obey—and His justice in holding them accountable.
Jeremiah’s proclamation resonates with an urgent plea for the people to remember the blessings and curses of their treaty with the LORD. By standing in well-traveled streets, where commerce and social gatherings occurred daily, the prophet symbolically underscored that God’s covenant touched every aspect of daily life. He reminded them that obedience to God’s statutes was essential for their welfare and for maintaining their identity as God’s chosen nation. In turn, ignoring the covenant would bring catastrophic consequences, as eventually happened when Babylon invaded Judah and devastated Jerusalem.
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Jeremiah 11:6 meaning
“And the LORD said to me, ‘Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, “Hear the words of this covenant and do them.”’” (Jeremiah 11:6). In this verse, the prophet Jeremiah receives a command from the LORD to publicly announce God’s covenant requirements and warnings throughout Judah and its primary city, Jerusalem. Judah was the southern kingdom of Israel, and Jerusalem was its capital (situated on the highlands of Mount Zion), serving as the spiritual center where God’s temple once stood. By requiring Jeremiah to speak in “the streets,” the LORD makes both rural villages and the bustling city hear His message, highlighting that everyone in the nation was accountable to the covenant they had agreed to keep (Exodus 19:8). Disobedience would bring about discipline from God, a theme echoed repeatedly in Jeremiah’s ministry, as Judah often wandered into idolatry and injustice.
The phrase “Hear the words of this covenant” reflects God’s call for renewed faithfulness. Covenant in the ancient Near East was a binding treaty, and Judah pledged loyalty to God alone. Yet, historical accounts show they often turned from His commandments, leading to dire warnings from prophets like Jeremiah (Jeremiah 7:5-7). The LORD’s charge that Jeremiah speak “all these words” demonstrates the seriousness of His instructions—none of His warnings or promises should be overlooked. God desired His people’s repentance and obedience, rather than the judgment that would follow rebellion (Jeremiah 25:8-9). This verse captures both God’s grace—by calling them back to obey—and His justice in holding them accountable.
Jeremiah’s proclamation resonates with an urgent plea for the people to remember the blessings and curses of their treaty with the LORD. By standing in well-traveled streets, where commerce and social gatherings occurred daily, the prophet symbolically underscored that God’s covenant touched every aspect of daily life. He reminded them that obedience to God’s statutes was essential for their welfare and for maintaining their identity as God’s chosen nation. In turn, ignoring the covenant would bring catastrophic consequences, as eventually happened when Babylon invaded Judah and devastated Jerusalem.