Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 7:26
Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers.
26. made their neck stiff ] Cp. for the phrase ch. Jer 19:15; 2Ki 17:14; Neh 9:16-17; Neh 9:29; Pro 29:1.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Their fathers had done bad enough, but they were so far from reforming, that they did worse than their fathers, Jdg 2:19, Jer 9:3; and whereas he had said before your fathers, now changing the person he saith
their fathers, as it were in great displeasure turning away from them to the prophet, as one speaking, but in vain, to such a stupid people.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
26. hardened . . . neck(Deu 31:27; Isa 48:4;Act 7:51).
worse than their fathers(Jer 16:12). In Jer7:22 He had said, “your fathers”; here He says,”their fathers”; the change to the third personmarks growing alienation from them. He no longer addressesthemselves, as it would be a waste of words in the case ofsuch hardened rebels.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Yet they hearkened not unto me,…. Speaking by the prophets:
nor inclined their ear; to what was said to them; would not listen to it, and much less obey what was commanded them:
but hardened their neck; and so became stiffnecked, and would not submit to bear the yoke of the law:
they did worse than their fathers; every generation grew more and more wicked, and went on to be so until the measure of their iniquity was filled up; hence it follows:
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
He afterwards subjoins, And they hearkened not There is here a change of person; for he said in the last verse, “ your fathers,” “I sent to you; ” but now he says, They hearkened not, nor inclined their ear It is indeed true, that the reference is to the fathers; but in the next verse God includes the people who were then living. There is then no doubt but that it was an evidence of indignation, that he changed the person, and that he was wearied in addressing them, for he saw that he spoke in vain to a stupid people: and this will appear evident from the next verse. They hearkened not, he says, nor inclined their ear The words we have already explained: the Jews are here precluded from having any excuse on the ground of error or ignorance; for they had refused to be taught, they would not attend, but on the contrary made deaf their cars. And he says also, that they hardened their neck; by which their perverseness is still more fully expressed: they designedly as it were despised God, and carried on war even with his favor and kindness. And he concludes by saying, that they had done worse than their fathers He had said, “your fathers;” but now, “their fathers.” We hence see that the sentence is changed, for God knew that he could produce no effect on them, as we find by what follows —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(26) Worse than their fathers.The rapid survey of the past makes it doubtful whether the comparison is made between the generations that came out of Egypt and their immediate followers, or between those followers and their successors. Probably the general thought was that the whole history of Israel had been one of progressive deterioration, reaching its climax in the generation in which Jeremiah lived. His words find a striking parallel in the complaint of the Roman historian (Livy, Prf), or of the poet :
tas parentum, pejor avis, tulit
Nos nequiores.Hor., Od. iii. 6.
Our fathers age, more stained with crime
Than were their sires in older time,
Has brought us forth a later race
Yet more iniquitous and base.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Jer 7:26 Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers.
Ver. 26. Yet they hearkened not unto me. ] This God speaketh to the prophet, as weary of talking to them any longer, since it was to no better purpose.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
they hearkened: Jer 7:24, Jer 6:17, Jer 11:8, Jer 17:23, Jer 25:3, Jer 25:7, Jer 26:5, Jer 29:19, Jer 34:14, Jer 44:16, 2Ch 33:10, Neh 9:16, Dan 9:6
but: Jer 19:15, 2Ki 17:14, 2Ch 30:8, Neh 9:17, Neh 9:29, Pro 29:1, Isa 48:4, Act 7:51, Rom 2:5
they did: Jer 16:12, Mat 21:38, Mat 23:32
Reciprocal: Deu 28:58 – If thou wilt 2Ch 24:19 – Yet he sent 2Ch 33:23 – trespassed more and more Isa 1:4 – a seed Jer 6:10 – their ear Jer 9:3 – for they Jer 35:14 – but ye Jer 35:17 – because Eze 20:30 – Are ye Act 19:9 – divers Heb 3:8 – Harden
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 7:26. For comments on hearkened and inclined see those on verse 24. Hardened their neck is a figure of speech and refers to the stubbornness of the people.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
In spite of these instructions, each succeeding generation of Israelites did not listen or pay attention. Instead they became obstinate in their disobedience and did even more evil than their fathers had done.