Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 17:23
But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.
23. Substantially the same as ch. Jer 7:26.
instruction ] correction. See on Jer 6:8.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The Jews were a very covetous people, and their covetousness as well as their other lusts were temptations to them to profane the Lords sabbaths, Neh 13:19; Eze 20:2.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
23. (Jer 7:24;Jer 7:26).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But they obeyed not,…. Or, “heard not” c; so as to observe and do; that is, their fathers did not; this command was very early disobeyed, and more or less in all intervening times:
neither inclined their ear; or listened attentively to what was said to them; but if they heard at all, it was in a very indifferent and careless manner, as if they cared not whether they heard or not; whereas persons intent on hearing bow the head, and turn the ear; and if they have one better than another, will turn that, in order to take in what they are attentive to; but so did not the Jewish fathers:
but made their neck stiff; or “hard” d; and would not bend it, to take upon them the yoke of the commandments: a metaphor taken from untamed oxen, that will not submit the neck to the yoke, but draw back from it. The Septuagint and Arabic versions understand all this, not of the Jewish fathers of old, but of their children, even of the then present generation, rendering the words, “but hardened their neck more than their fathers”; they were more stiffnecked, refractory, and disobedient than they were; this was always the character of this people; as were the fathers, so were the children, if not worse; see Ac 7:51;
that they might not hear nor receive instruction; about the command of the sabbath, or any other: or “correction”, or “discipline” e; the yoke of which they were as unwilling to bear as the yoke of the commandments, Jer 31:18.
c “non audiverunt”, Pagninus, Montanus, Schmidt. d “sed obturarunt cervicem suam”, Junius Tremellius, Piscator “indurarunt”, Pagninus, Montanus, Schmidt. e “discliplinam”, V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Schmidt.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Here the Prophet exaggerates their crime, — that the Jews had not now begun for the first time to violate this precept of the Law; for he reminds them that the Sabbath had been before violated by their fathers. We have said elsewhere that men are less excusable when the children follow the bad examples of their fathers. This is indeed what the world does not commonly think; for we see at this day, that most men boast of the examples of their fathers, when they wish to reject both the Law and the Prophets and the gospel: they think themselves to be defended by a strong shield, when they can object to us and say that the fathers had done otherwise. But we have seen from many passages how frivolous is such a defense; and Jeremiah here confirms the same thing, by saying that the crime of the people was the more atrocious, because their fathers had many ages before begun to despise this command of God.
But they heard not, (188) he says, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck. By these words he shews most clearly that their fathers had not sinned through inadvertence or ignorance, but because they had hardened themselves in the contempt of God. It often happens that men, rightly taught, go astray through ignorance, as their want of knowledge may prevent them to understand what they hear: but when men incline not their ear, but harden their neck, their obstinacy becomes manifest, for they knowingly and wilfully reject God. Such perverseness then does Jeremiah here set forth by the various expressions he employs, as we have seen done in other places.
As to the hardening of the neck, it is a metaphor, as stated elsewhere, taken from untameable oxen. God compares his law to a yoke, and for the best reason; for as the oxen are tamed that they may labor and are trained to obey when the yoke is laid on them; so also God proves our obedience, when he rules us by his law, for we otherwise wander after our lusts. As therefore God corrects and checks in us by his law, all the unruly passions of the flesh, he is said to lay his yoke on us. Now, if we are intractable and do not submit to the authority of God, we are said to harden our neck. Jeremiah speaks afterwards without a metaphor, and says, That they heard not, nor received instruction, or correction. (189) The word מוסר musar, means teaching or correction. The import of the whole is, that the Jews were not only unteachable when the will of God was plainly made known to them, but that they were also refractory and perverse in their spirit: for when to teaching were added exhortations the more to stimulate them, and when to these were added threatenings, yet God could not by any means subdue their wantonness. It now follows–
(188) Our version, “they obeyed not,” is the Targum. The Septuagint and the Vulgate have the same rendering with that of Calvin. The verb is שמע which is to hear, to hearken, to listen. The charge of not hearing God’s word, was often brought by the prophets against the Jews. They would not hear or attend to what was said to them, not that they did not obey it. This is the case still with all who are perverted by superstition and tradition; they will not hear the word of God, and its authority is wholly disregarded. Anything about tradition and the Church will be attended to; but God’s word is neglected; they will not hear it. — Ed
(189) The verse may be thus rendered, —
And they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear; But hardened their neck, So as not to hear, and not to receive correction.
They were reproved and warned; but they refused to be corrected. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
Jer 17:23 But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.
Ver. 23. But they obeyed not. ] See Jer 7:24 ; Jer 7:26 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
obeyed = hearkened.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
they obeyed: Jer 7:24-26, Jer 11:10, Jer 16:11, Jer 16:12, Jer 19:15, Isa 48:4, Eze 20:13, Eze 20:16, Eze 20:21, Zec 7:11, Zec 7:12, Act 7:51
made: Pro 29:1
nor: Jer 6:8, Jer 32:33, Jer 35:15, Psa 50:17, Pro 1:3, Pro 1:5, Pro 5:12, Pro 8:10, Zep 3:7, Joh 3:19-21
Reciprocal: Neh 9:29 – and hardened Jer 7:26 – they hearkened Jer 25:4 – ye Heb 4:13 – is there
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 17:23. This verse describes the record of the Jewish people for most of the years of their residence in Palestine, and it shows the reaction they displayed against (he teaching of Jeremiah concerning their unrighteous conduct.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
The Judahites’ forefathers had not obeyed this commandment, but had become obstinate, and refused to listen to the Lord and to take correction. The Pharisees of Jesus’ day went to the other extreme and permitted almost no activity on the Sabbath Day, for which He rebuked them.