King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 32:33 Mean?

Jeremiah 32:33 in the King James Version says “And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face: though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet th...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 32 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face: though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction. back: Heb. neck”

Jeremiah 32:33 · KJV

Context

31

For this city hath been to me as a provocation of mine anger and of my fury from the day that they built it even unto this day; that I should remove it from before my face, a provocation: Heb. for my anger

32

Because of all the evil of the children of Israel and of the children of Judah, which they have done to provoke me to anger, they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets, and the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

33

And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face: though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction. back: Heb. neck

34

But they set their abominations in the house, which is called by my name, to defile it.

35

And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
They have turned unto me the back, and not the face (פָּנוּ אֵלַי עֹרֶף וְלֹא פָנִים)—A vivid Hebrew idiom for contemptuous rejection. To show someone your back was deliberate disrespect; turning your face toward someone showed honor and attention. Despite God rising up early and teaching them (הַשְׁכֵּם וְלַמֵּד)—a Jeremianic phrase (7:13, 25:3-4, 35:14) depicting God's eager, persistent instruction like a teacher arriving before dawn—yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction (מוּסָר, musar, discipline/correction).

The pathos is profound: God portrays Himself as a diligent, rejected teacher whose students deliberately ignore Him. The phrase 'rising up early' anthropomorphically depicts divine passion and initiative. Israel's refusal of musar (corrective discipline) is spiritual unteachability. Proverbs repeatedly warns that despising musar leads to destruction (Proverbs 1:7, 5:12, 15:32).

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Historical & Cultural Context

God 'taught' Israel through the Law (Torah), prophetic warnings, and disciplinary judgments. Despite 40 years of wilderness lessons, conquest-era miracles, and centuries of prophetic ministry, the nation remained obstinate. This willful unteachability necessitated the exile as ultimate musar.

Reflection Questions

  1. In what areas of life are you showing God 'your back' rather than your face?
  2. How do you respond to God's 'early rising'—His persistent attempts to teach and correct you?
  3. What makes people unteachable, and how can you cultivate a heart receptive to <em>musar</em>?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 13 words
וַיִּפְנ֥וּ1 of 13

“And they have turned”

H6437

to turn; by implication, to face, i.e., appear, look, etc

אֵלַ֛י2 of 13
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

עֹ֖רֶף3 of 13

“unto me the back”

H6203

the nape or back of the neck (as declining); hence, the back generally (whether literal or figurative)

וְלֹ֣א4 of 13
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

פָנִ֑ים5 of 13

“and not the face”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

וְלַמֵּ֔ד6 of 13

“and teaching”

H3925

properly, to goad, i.e., (by implication) to teach (the rod being an middle eastern incentive)

אֹתָם֙7 of 13
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הַשְׁכֵּ֣ם8 of 13

“them rising up early”

H7925

literally, to load up (on the back of man or beast), i.e., to start early in the morning

וְלַמֵּ֔ד9 of 13

“and teaching”

H3925

properly, to goad, i.e., (by implication) to teach (the rod being an middle eastern incentive)

וְאֵינָ֥ם10 of 13
H369

a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle

שֹׁמְעִ֖ים11 of 13

“them yet they have not hearkened”

H8085

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

לָקַ֥חַת12 of 13

“to receive”

H3947

to take (in the widest variety of applications)

מוּסָֽר׃13 of 13

“instruction”

H4148

properly, chastisement; figuratively, reproof, warning or instruction; also restraint

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 32:33 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 32:33 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 7:13Jeremiah 2:27Ezekiel 8:16Jeremiah 35:15John 8:2Jeremiah 26:5

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