← Back to Jeremiah

Jeremiah 13

27 verses

TL;DR

Jeremiah receives a symbolic test with a linen girdle that reveals Israel’s pride and impending judgment, followed by a warning of destruction and a call to repentance.

Summary

Jeremiah is commanded by the Lord to take a linen girdle, wear it, and hide it by the Euphrates, only to find it marred when retrieved. The Lord explains that the girdle symbolizes Israel’s pride, which will be rendered useless. The prophet declares that Judah and Jerusalem will be punished with drunkenness, destruction, and captivity. He admonishes the people to humble themselves and warns of darkness and loss. Jeremiah laments the nation’s unfaithfulness and foretells its eventual purification through judgment.

Outline
  1. Divine instruction and the girdle test
  2. Symbolic meaning of the girdle and Israel’s pride
  3. Prophetic judgment, warning, and call for repentance
Themes
Pride and its consequencesSymbolism of objects as prophetic toolsJudgment and the need for repentance
Keywords
girdleprideIsraelJudahJerusalemwinedrunkennessdarknesscaptivitylamentjudgment
People
JeremiahKing of JudahQueen of JudahPriestsProphets
Places
EuphratesJerusalemCities of the southCities of the north
Things
linen girdlewinedrunkennessdarknessstubble
Key Verses
  • Jeremiah 13:7: Reveals the girdle’s corruption, illustrating the futility of pride.
  • Jeremiah 13:10: Directly links the girdle’s fate to Israel’s arrogance.
  • Jeremiah 13:14: Highlights the severity of judgment—destruction without mercy.
  • Jeremiah 13:27: Expresses lament and calls for purification, ending the chapter on a tone of hope for redemption.
Questions
  • What does the linen girdle symbolize in Jeremiah’s vision?
  • How does Jeremiah’s use of wine and drunkenness reflect Israel’s spiritual state?
  • In what ways does the chapter call for humility among leaders and the general populace?
  • What is the significance of the Euphrates river as the hiding place for the girdle?
  • How does Jeremiah’s lament at the chapter’s end relate to the theme of judgment?
Sentiment

mixed
Contains both warnings of judgment and expressions of lament and hope for eventual purification.