Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again to Yahweh, and they testified against them; but they would not listen.
Parallel translations
- 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.
- BSB Nevertheless, the LORD sent prophets to bring the people back to Him and to testify against them; but they would not listen.
- 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 to hear, let him hear.”
- Ps 95:7–8for he is our God. We are the people of his pasture, and the sheep in his care. Today, oh that you would hear his voice!
- Isa 28:23Give ear, and hear my voice! Listen, and hear my speech!
- 2 Kgs 17:13–15Yet Yahweh testified to Israel, and to Judah, by every prophet, and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.”
- Jer 7:25–26Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt to this day, I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them:
- Jer 26:5to listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I send to you, even rising up early and sending them, but you have not listened;
- Matt 13:15–16for this people’s heart has grown callous, their ears are dull of hearing, they have closed their eyes; or else perhaps they might perceive with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and would turn again; and I would heal them.’
- Neh 9:26“Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against you, cast your law behind their back, killed your prophets that testified against them to turn them again to you, and they committed awful blasphemies.
- Jer 44:4–5However I sent to you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, “Oh, don’t do this abominable thing that I hate.”
- Isa 51:4“Listen to me, my people; and hear me, my nation: for a law will go out from me, and I will establish my justice for a light to the peoples.
- 2 Chr 36:15–16Yahweh, the God of their fathers, sent to them by his messengers, rising up early and sending, because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place;
- Luke 16:31“He said to him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.’”
- Luke 20:9–15He began to tell the people this parable. “A man planted a vineyard, and rented it out to some farmers, and went into another country for a long time.
- Isa 42:23Who is there among you who will give ear to this? Who will listen and hear for the time to come?
- Isa 55:3Turn your ear, and come to me. Hear, and your soul will live: and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
- Luke 11:47–51Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.
- Jer 25:4–5Yahweh has sent to you all his servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them (but you have not listened, nor 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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