Jeremiah 17:23
 Jeremiah 17:23 
New International Version (©2011)
Yet they did not listen or pay attention; they were stiff-necked and would not listen or respond to discipline.

New Living Translation (©2007)
but they did not listen or obey. They stubbornly refused to pay attention or accept my discipline.

English Standard Version (©2001)
Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck, that they might not hear and receive instruction.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"Yet they did not listen or incline their ears, but stiffened their necks in order not to listen or take correction.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
They wouldn't listen or pay attention but became obstinate, not listening or accepting discipline.

International Standard Version (©2012)
But they didn't listen, nor did they pay attention. They were determined not to listen and not to accept instruction.

NET Bible (©2006)
Your ancestors, however, did not listen to me or pay any attention to me. They stubbornly refused to pay attention or to respond to any discipline.'

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Your ancestors did not obey me or pay attention to me. They were impossible to deal with and would not listen or accept discipline.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.

American King James Version
But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.

American Standard Version
But they hearkened not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, and might not receive instruction.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But they did not hear, nor incline their ear: but hardened their neck, that they might not hear me, and might not receive instruction.

Darby Bible Translation
but they hearkened not, neither inclined their ear, but hardened their neck, that they might not hear nor receive instruction.

English Revised Version
But they hearkened not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, and might not receive instruction.

Webster's Bible Translation
But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.

World English Bible
But they didn't listen, neither turn their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, and might not receive instruction.

Young's Literal Translation
And they have not hearkened nor inclined their ear, And they stiffen their neck not to hear, And not to receive instruction.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

17:19-27 The prophet was to lay before the rulers and the people of Judah, the command to keep holy the sabbath day. Let them strictly observe the fourth command. If they obeyed this word, their prosperity should be restored. It is a day of rest, and must not be made a day of labour, unless in cases of necessity. Take heed, watch against the profanation of the sabbath. Let not the soul be burdened with the cares of this world on sabbath days. The streams of religion run deep or shallow, according as the banks of the sabbath are kept up or neglected. The degree of strictness with which this ordinance is observed, or the neglect shown towards it, is a good test to find the state of spiritual religion in any land. Let all; by their own example, by attention to their families, strive to check this evil, that national prosperity may be preserved, and, above all, that souls may be saved.


Pulpit Commentary

Verse 23. - This verse is modeled on Jeremiah 7:26, 28.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire 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 Acts 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, Jeremiah 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.


Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

23. (Jer 7:24, 26).


Jeremiah 17:23 Parallel Commentaries

Jeremiah 17:23 NIV
Jeremiah 17:23 NLT
Jeremiah 17:23 ESV
Jeremiah 17:23 NASB
Jeremiah 17:23 KJV

Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


The Sabbath Renewed
22Neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do you any work, but hallow you the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers. 23But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction. 24And it shall come to pass, if you diligently listen to me, said the LORD, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein; …

Proverbs 29:1 Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed--without remedy.
Jeremiah 6:8 Take warning, Jerusalem, or I will turn away from you and make your land desolate so no one can live in it."
Jeremiah 7:24 But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.
Jeremiah 7:26 But they did not listen to me or pay attention. They were stiff-necked and did more evil than their ancestors.'
Jeremiah 7:28 Therefore say to them, 'This is the nation that has not obeyed the LORD its God or responded to correction. Truth has perished; it has vanished from their lips.
Jeremiah 11:10 They have returned to the sins of their ancestors, who refused to listen to my words. They have followed other gods to serve them. Both Israel and Judah have broken the covenant I made with their ancestors.
Jeremiah 19:15 "This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: 'Listen! I am going to bring on this city and all the villages around it every disaster I pronounced against them, because they were stiff-necked and would not listen to my words.'"
Jeremiah 35:15 Again and again I sent all my servants the prophets to you. They said, "Each of you must turn from your wicked ways and reform your actions; do not follow other gods to serve them. Then you will live in the land I have given to you and your ancestors." But you have not paid attention or listened to me.
Zechariah 7:11 "But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and covered their ears.