Introduction to Jeremiah 25:3: Temporal Markers and the Pattern of Prophetic Persistence
Jeremiah 25:3 marks a turning point in the prophet’s retrospective lament. It serves as both historical timestamp and theological accusation. The verse spans a 23-year period in which Jeremiah declares that the word of YHWH has come to him, and he has spoken repeatedly, but without response. The Hebrew uses specific time formulas and the rare iterative form הַשְׁכֵּם וְדַבֵּר (“rising early and speaking”) to communicate urgency and relentless divine effort. This article will examine how temporal language, aspectual nuance, and verbal repetition shape the verse’s rhetorical and theological weight.
מִן־שְׁלֹ֣שׁ עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה שָׁנָ֡ה לְיֹאשִׁיָּ֣הוּ בֶן־אָמֹון֩ מֶ֨לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֜ה וְעַ֣ד הַיֹּ֣ום הַזֶּ֗ה זֶ֚ה שָׁלֹ֤שׁ וְעֶשְׂרִים֙ שָׁנָ֔ה הָיָ֥ה דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה אֵלָ֑י וָאֲדַבֵּ֧ר אֲלֵיכֶ֛ם אַשְׁכֵּ֥ים וְדַבֵּ֖ר וְלֹ֥א שְׁמַעְתֶּֽם׃
This article focused on Jeremiah 25:3, with a grammatical emphasis on the temporal expressions and iterative aspect of the Hebrew verb “הַשְׁכֵּם”. This verse richly combines temporal markers, perfect and imperfect verb sequences, and the repeated divine initiative in speech.
Analysis of Temporal and Iterative Grammar
1. מִן־שְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה שָׁנָה לְיֹאשִׁיָּ֣הוּ… וְעַד הַיֹּום הַזֶּה – “From the thirteenth year of Yoshiyahu… until this day”
- מִן… וְעַד – prepositions marking the temporal range of Jeremiah’s ministry
- שְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה – “thirteen years” (construct numeral + noun)
- הַיֹּום הַזֶּה – “this day”; demonstrative with definite article
This phrase opens the verse with a formal chronological frame. The prepositions מִן (“from”) and עַד (“until”) bracket the timeframe, grounding the prophetic message in historical specificity. Hebrew often uses cardinal numbers + construct noun to express precise durations, and here the pairing with a demonstrative (“this day”) gives a prophetic timestamp with theological force.
2. זֶה שָׁלֹשׁ וְעֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה – “this is twenty-three years”
- שָׁלֹשׁ וְעֶשְׂרִים – “twenty-three” expressed with additive coordination
The phrase clarifies the span—23 years—with a form common in Biblical Hebrew: units + וְ + tens. The word זֶה (“this is”) serves as a discourse deictic, drawing the reader’s attention emphatically to the passage of time. It also acts as a rhetorical pivot: “This—23 years—has been the window of divine appeal.”
3. הָיָה דְבַר־יְהוָה אֵלָי – “The word of YHWH was to me”
- הָיָה – Qal perfect 3ms of הָיָה: “was”
- דְבַר־יְהוָה – construct phrase: “the word of YHWH”
The phrase הָיָה דְבַר־יְהוָה אֵלָי is a technical prophetic formula, indicating revelatory reception. The perfect aspect of הָיָה conveys completed past action over a period. In context, it highlights ongoing prophetic communication with YHWH that spans the entire 23-year timeframe.
4. וָאֲדַבֵּר אֲלֵיכֶם – “and I spoke to you”
- וָאֲדַבֵּר – Piel waw-consecutive 1cs of ד־ב־ר: “and I kept speaking”
The Piel stem here emphasizes intensive or repeated action. The waw-consecutive narrative form places the action in sequence with divine communication. The repetition aligns with Jeremiah’s consistent preaching and its unheeded status.
5. אַשְׁכֵּם וְדַבֵּר – “rising early and speaking”
- אַשְׁכֵּם – Hifil infinitive absolute or infinitive construct of שָׁכַם: “to rise early”
- וְדַבֵּר – Piel infinitive construct of דָבַר: “to speak”
This rare and vivid idiom (הַשְׁכֵּם וְדַבֵּר) appears multiple times in Jeremiah. The infinitive construction intensifies the verbal idea: not only did Jeremiah speak, he did so earnestly and persistently. The idiom conveys early, diligent, and repeated divine initiative, painting YHWH as relentlessly gracious, and the people as persistently unhearing.
6. וְלֹא שְׁמַעְתֶּם – “but you did not listen”
- שְׁמַעְתֶּם – Qal perfect 2mp of שָׁמַע: “you heard” (negated)
The final clause is climactic: 23 years of effort, daily and early, met with silence. The perfect verb expresses completed refusal. The contrast between Jeremiah’s faithful action and the people’s completed inaction creates rhetorical tension that prepares the reader for the divine judgment that follows.
Time and Urgency: The Grammatical Framework of Divine Patience
Jeremiah 25:3 is a model of prophetic rhetoric, using grammatical structures to create theological impact:
- Temporal Range: 23 years marked with precision
- Iterative Urgency: Infinitive idiom (הַשְׁכֵּם וְדַבֵּר) for repeated prophetic labor
- Sequential Syntax: Waw-consecutive forms map divine action and human response
- Structural Parallelism: Speech vs. silence, faithfulness vs. refusal
When Grammar Becomes Lament: Syntax and Stubbornness in Jeremiah 25:3
This verse offers more than chronology—it offers a linguistic lament. Through construct phrases, infinitive intensifiers, and negated perfects, it reveals the heart of the prophet and the patience of YHWH. The grammar itself testifies to divine mercy, while the people’s silence hardens into judgment. In Jeremiah’s Hebrew, time, speech, and structure converge to expose the tragedy of unheard grace.
