King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 16:12 Mean?

Jeremiah 16:12 in the King James Version says “And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that t...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 16 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me: imagination: or, stubbornness”

Jeremiah 16:12 · KJV

Context

10

And it shall come to pass, when thou shalt shew this people all these words, and they shall say unto thee, Wherefore hath the LORD pronounced all this great evil against us? or what is our iniquity? or what is our sin that we have committed against the LORD our God?

11

Then shalt thou say unto them, Because your fathers have forsaken me, saith the LORD, and have walked after other gods, and have served them, and have worshipped them, and have forsaken me, and have not kept my law;

12

And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me: imagination: or, stubbornness

13

Therefore will I cast you out of this land into a land that ye know not, neither ye nor your fathers; and there shall ye serve other gods day and night; where I will not shew you favour.

14

Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;

Read Jeremiah 16 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The indictment continues, addressing the current generation: 'And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me.' Not only have they continued ancestral sins, they've exceeded them ('worse than your fathers'). The phrase 'imagination of his evil heart' identifies the source: internal corruption producing external rebellion. The result: 'that they may not hearken unto me'—willful deafness to God. The progression from fathers' sins to worse contemporary sins illustrates how resisted light increases darkness. Each generation that rejects truth becomes harder than the previous.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Despite Josiah's reforms and Jeremiah's decades of ministry, Judah quickly reverted to idolatry and injustice after Josiah's death, often exceeding previous generations' wickedness.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does each generation that rejects truth tend to become worse than predecessors?
  2. What is the relationship between following evil heart-imaginations and deafness to God?
  3. What responsibility do we bear not to exceed our fathers' sins but to repent of them?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 14 words
וְאַתֶּ֛ם1 of 14
H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

הֲרֵעֹתֶ֥ם2 of 14

“worse”

H7489

properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good for nothing, i.e., bad (physically, socially or morally)

לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת3 of 14

“And ye have done”

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

מֵאֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם4 of 14

“than your fathers”

H1

father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application

וְהִנְּכֶ֣ם5 of 14
H2005

lo!; also (as expressing surprise) if

הֹלְכִ֗ים6 of 14

“ye walk”

H1980

to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

אִ֚ישׁ7 of 14

“every one”

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

אַֽחֲרֵי֙8 of 14

“after”

H310

properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)

שְׁרִר֣וּת9 of 14

“the imagination”

H8307

obstinacy

לִבּֽוֹ10 of 14

“heart”

H3820

the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything

הָרָ֔ע11 of 14

“of his evil”

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

לְבִלְתִּ֖י12 of 14
H1115

properly, a failure of, i.e., (used only as a negative particle, usually with a prepositional prefix) not, except, without, unless, besides, because n

שְׁמֹ֥עַ13 of 14

“that they may not hearken”

H8085

to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

אֵלָֽי׃14 of 14
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Jeremiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Jeremiah 16:12 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Jeremiah 16:12 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 7:26Jeremiah 13:10Ecclesiastes 9:3Jeremiah 9:141 Samuel 15:23Mark 7:21

Test Your Knowledge

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