Jeremiah 2:4
“Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jeremiah summons all Israel to listen to what the Lord is about to say.
Context
Jeremiah addresses the northern tribes (house of Israel) and southern (house of Jacob/Judah), using a formula that includes all the covenant people.
What Does Jeremiah 2:4 Mean?
After the opening appeal to God's memory and Israel's election, the prophet pauses to demand attention. 'Hear ye', a sharp command in the King James rhythm, calls for listening with the whole self, not mere acoustic awareness. The address to the 'house of Jacob' and 'families' sweeps across the entire people, from the northern kingdom (Israel) to the south (Judah, house of Jacob), from the powerful to the ordinary household. Everyone is being called to the bar of heaven.
This verse serves as hinge. God has reminded them what they were; now they must listen to why that memory matters. The word of the LORD, the same living speech that created worlds, is about to name the rupture in their covenant. The prophet's role is to gather the people's ears toward that word so they cannot claim ignorance.
Application
We, too, are called to 'hear the word of the LORD' with attentiveness and reverence. In our scattered world, hearing, truly listening, to God's voice is an act of devotion and a prerequisite for obedience.