Jeremiah 26:5

To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened;

Jeremiah 26:5 (KJV)

Context

Jeremiah ministered during a critical period in Judah’s history, a time of moral and spiritual decline. God called him to stand in the court of the Lord’s house and deliver a message of warning and judgment to a people who had turned away. In Jeremiah 26 the Lord’s words are repeated: He had sent “my servants the prophets” repeatedly—rising early and being sent—yet the people “have not hearkened.”

Meaning

The phrase “rising up early, and sending them” conveys God’s persistent and urgent efforts to reach His people. The prophets were not merely human messengers; they were chosen and sent by God Himself, speaking in His name. To hearken to the prophets was equivalent to hearkening to the Lord, because they delivered His message. The people’s refusal to listen was therefore not just disobedience to human teachers but a rejection of God’s own word.

The passage reminds the nation that the call to repentance was not new. Throughout Israel’s history, from the Exodus onward, God raised up messengers—Moses and the other former prophets—to urge the people to forsake evil and return to covenant faithfulness. The emphasis is on God’s long-suffering patience; He continually sent prophets not to bring destruction, but to plead for the people’s restoration to a right relationship with Him.

Even though the prophets were not rejected in their service, the people persisted in disobedience. This pattern of divine patience coupled with human stubbornness underscores a central biblical theme: God’s desire is always redemption, not ruin. The verse therefore serves as a timeless admonition.

Application

Application for today is clear. Just as Judah was urged to examine its ways, we too are called to listen to the Word and the Spirit, to turn from sin, and to pursue holiness. The repeated prophetic warnings invite every believer to assess personal conduct, embrace repentance, and follow God wholeheartedly, trusting that He continues to speak through His servants for our transformation.