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Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah, Chapter 13

Jeremiah periodically undertakes prophetic actions at God’s command. The first appears at the start of Chapter 13 as he buys a high quality, linen garment, but then treats it so poorly that becomes useless. The garment symbolizes God’s people, and it serves as a warning that they, instead of being worthy of praise, are also becoming useless. The next image Jeremiah preaches is one of drunkenness which leads to discord and stumbling in darkness. We hear how Jeremiah will weep as the people are taken into exile and how the royal family will be humbled. This disaster will happen because, just as a leopard does not change its spots, the people have not changed their sinful ways. In a culture that puts great value on honor, God’s people will be publicly shamed.

The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah, Chapter 13:

The Linen Waistcloth

Thus said the Lord to me, “Go and buy a linen waistcloth, and put it on your loins, and do not dip it in water.” 2 So I bought a waistcloth according to the word of the Lord, and put it on my loins. 3 And the word of the Lord came to me a second time, 4 “Take the waistcloth which you have bought, which is upon your loins, and arise, go to the Euphrates, and hide it there in a cleft of the rock.” 5 So I went, and hid it by the Euphrates, as the Lord commanded me. 6 And after many days the Lord said to me, “Arise, go to the Euphrates, and take from there the waistcloth which I commanded you to hide there.” 7 Then I went to the Euphrates, and dug, and I took the waistcloth from the place where I had hidden it. And behold, the waistcloth was spoiled; it was good for nothing.
8 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 9 “Thus says the Lord: Even so will I spoil the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. 10 This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who stubbornly follow their own heart and have gone after other gods to serve them and worship them, shall be like this waistcloth, which is good for nothing. 11 For as the waistcloth clings to the loins of a man, so I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, says the Lord, that they might be for me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory, but they would not listen.

The Jars Filled with Wine

12 “You shall speak to them this word: ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, “Every jar shall be filled with wine.” ’ And they will say to you, ‘Do we not indeed know that every jar will be filled with wine?’ 13 Then you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord: Behold, I will fill with drunkenness all the inhabitants of this land: the kings who sit on David’s throne, the priests, the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 14 And I will dash them one against another, fathers and sons together, says the Lord. I will not pity or spare or have compassion, that I should not destroy them.’”
15 Hear and give ear; be not proud,
for the Lord has spoken.
16 Give glory to the Lord your God before your feet stumble
on the twilight mountains, and while you look for light
he turns it into gloom
and makes it deep darkness.
17 But if you will not listen,
my soul will weep in secret for your pride;
my eyes will weep bitterly and run down with tears,
because the Lord’s flock has
been taken captive.
18 Say to the king and the queen mother:
“Take a lowly seat,
for your beautiful crown has come down from your head.”
19 The cities of the Negeb are shut up,
with none to open them; all Judah is taken into exile,
wholly taken into exile.
20 “Lift up your eyes and see those who come from the north.
Where is the flock that was given you,
your beautiful flock?
21 What will you say when they set as head over you
those whom you yourself have taught
to be friends to you?
Will not pangs take hold of you,
like those of a woman with labor pains?
22 And if you say in your heart, ‘Why have these things come upon me?’
it is for the greatness of your iniquity
that your skirts are lifted up,
and you suffer violence.
23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin
or the leopard his spots?
Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil.
24 I will scatter you like chaff driven by the wind from the desert.
25 This is your lot,
the portion I have measured out to you, says the Lord,
because you have forgotten me
and trusted in lies.
26 I myself will lift up your skirts over your face,
and your shame will be seen.
27 I have seen your
abominations, your adulteries and
neighings, your lewd harlotries,
on the hills in the field.
Woe to you, O Jerusalem!
How long will it be
before you are made clean?”

*Daily Lectio Divina Question:

God speaks of scattering the people who have forgotten him. How has a scattering of your community affected you in the past months? Lord, help me remember you in faith, and reunite your people.

Biblical Commentary provided by the Catholic Biblical School of Michigan, an adult faith formation apostolate. cbsmich.org/join

Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
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