Jeremiah 25:3-5

25:3 “For the last twenty-three years, from the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amon was ruling in Judah ¹  until now, the Lord has been speaking to me. I told you over and over again ²  what he said. ³  But you would not listen. 25:4 Over and over again ⁴  the Lord has sent ⁵  his servants the prophets to you. But you have not listened or paid attention. ⁶  25:5 He said through them, ⁷  ‘Each of you must turn from your wicked ways and stop doing the evil things you are doing. ⁸  If you do, I will allow you to continue to live here in the land that I gave to you and your ancestors as a lasting possession. ⁹ 

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¹ sn The year referred to would be 627 b.c. The same year is referred to in 1:2 in reference to his call to be a prophet.

² tn For the idiom involved here see the notes at 7:13 and 11:7.

³ tn The words “what he said” are not in the text but are implicit. They are supplied in the translation for clarity.

⁴ tn For the idiom involved here see the notes at 7:13 and 11:7.

⁵ tn The vav consecutive with the perfect in a past narrative is a little unusual. Here it is probably indicating repeated action in past time in keeping with the idiom that precedes and follows it. See GKC 332 §112.f for other possible examples.

⁶ tn Heb “inclined your ear to hear.” This is idiomatic for “paying attention.” It is often parallel with “listen” as here or with “pay attention” (see, e.g., Prov 4:20; 51:1).

⁷ tn Heb “saying.” The infinitive goes back to “he sent”; i.e., “he sent, saying.”

⁸ tn Heb “Turn [masc. pl.] each person from his wicked way and from the evil of your [masc. pl.] doings.” See the same demand in 23:22.

⁹ tn Heb “gave to you and your fathers with reference to from ancient times even unto forever.” See the same idiom in 7:7.