Jeremiah 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.”

Where the Verse Sits

The preceding line reads “And I will cast you out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, even the whole seed of Ephraim.” The titled verse reads “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.” The following line reads “Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?” Together, these lines place Jeremiah 7:16 within its immediate canonical and literary sequence.

What the Text Says

The verse belongs to prophetic or apocalyptic Scripture. Its meaning is governed by the speaker, audience, warning, promise, vision, or historical circumstance established by the passage.

The verse first states “Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me:” It then adds “for I will not hear thee.” Both movements belong together.

Why It Matters

Prophetic Scripture joins divine authority to concrete people and events. A faithful study therefore follows the emphasis of the prophetic message and keeps the authentic wording in view.

For Reflection

Readers should listen first for the claim the verse actually makes, then consider the response its setting calls for—such as repentance, faith, endurance, hope, or worship—without claiming more than the text establishes.

Taken within its immediate setting, Jeremiah 7:16 has a clear place in the passage. Careful attention to its actual words provides a sound foundation for interpretation.