Nevertheless, the LORD sent prophets to bring the people back to Him and to testify against them; but they would not listen.
Parallel translations
- WEB Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again to Yahweh, and they testified against them; but they would not listen.
- KJV Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the LORD; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear.
- NKJV Yet He sent prophets to them, to bring them back to the Lord; and they testified against them, but they would not listen.
- NASB Yet He sent prophets to them to bring them back to the Lord; and they testified against them, but they would not listen.
- NLT Yet the Lord sent prophets to bring them back to him. The prophets warned them, but still the people would not listen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God mercifully sent prophets to call Judah back, but they refused to listen. God's patient warnings precede His judgment, leaving the unrepentant without excuse.
Overview
Even amid Judah's apostasy, God sent prophets to testify against them and urge repentance. Their refusal to listen displays the hardness of an unrepentant heart. God's persistent sending of messengers reveals His mercy, a pattern fulfilled when He finally sent His Son (Matthew 21:33-39).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Matt 13:9He who has ears, let him hear.”
- Ps 95:7–8For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, the sheep under His care. Today, if you hear His voice,
- Isa 28:23Listen and hear my voice. Pay attention and hear what I say.
- 2 Kgs 17:13–15Yet through all His prophets and seers, the LORD warned Israel and Judah, saying, “Turn from your wicked ways and keep My commandments and statutes, according to the entire Law that I commanded your fathers and delivered to you through My servants the prophets.”
- Jer 7:25–26From the day your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have sent you all My servants the prophets again and again.
- Jer 26:5and if you do not listen to the words of My servants the prophets, whom I have sent you again and again even though you did not listen,
- Matt 13:15–16For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’
- Neh 9:26But they were disobedient and rebelled against You; they flung Your law behind their backs. They killed Your prophets, who had admonished them to return to You. They committed terrible blasphemies.
- Jer 44:4–5Yet I sent you all My servants the prophets again and again, saying: ‘Do not do this detestable thing that I hate.’
- Isa 51:4Pay attention to Me, My people, and listen to Me, My nation; for a law will go out from Me, and My justice will become a light to the nations; I will bring it about quickly.
- 2 Chr 36:15–16Again and again the LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to His people through His messengers because He had compassion on them and on His dwelling place.
- Luke 16:31Then Abraham said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”
- Luke 20:9–15Then He proceeded to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it out to some tenants, and went away for a long time.
- Isa 42:23Who among you will pay attention to this? Who will listen and obey hereafter?
- Isa 55:3Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant—My loving devotion promised to David.
- Luke 11:47–51Woe to you! You build tombs for the prophets, but it was your fathers who killed them.
- Jer 25:4–5And the LORD has sent all His servants the prophets to you again and again, but you have not listened or inclined your ear to hear.
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Christ at the center
Temple, priesthood, and the repeated need for a faithful king who seeks the LORD all point past every imperfect reign to the King and Temple who finally and fully dwell with God's people.
How 2 Chronicles 24:19 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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