Jeremiah 13:11 Meaning and Explanation
“For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the LORD; that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Israel and Judah were bound to God to be His people, but they refused to listen to Him.
The Context of Jeremiah 13:11
God affirms His covenant bond with Israel, but they refused to listen.
What Does Jeremiah 13:11 Mean?
God explains that He bound Israel and Judah to Himself with as intimate a bond as a girdle to a man's loins. The covenant was not distant or formal but close and personal. God's intention was that they would be for Him a people, a name, a praise, and a glory—that their existence would manifest His character and draw others to Him. He had committed Himself fully to them.
Yet despite this binding covenant and loving intention, Israel and Judah would not hear God's voice. They rejected both His words and His calling upon them. The tragedy is not that God abandoned them but that they abandoned the relationship God had established. The girdle cleaveth to the loins; God's commitment to Israel remains; but Israel's refusal to hear breaks the union.
Jeremiah 13:11 in the Original Language
cleaveth (דָּבַק) — to cling, adhere, or be joined to — describing an unbreakable bond.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jeremiah 13:11
What does Jeremiah 13:11 mean?
Israel and Judah were bound to God to be His people, but they refused to listen to Him.
What is the context of Jeremiah 13:11?
God affirms His covenant bond with Israel, but they refused to listen.