Jeremiah 13:12 - “Therefore you shall speak to them this word: ‘Yahweh, the God of Israel says, “Every bottle should be filled with wine.”’ They will tell you, ‘Do we not certainly know that every bottle should be filled with wine?’
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Jeremiah 13:12" mean?
This verse from Jeremiah 13:12 presents a symbolic and ironic message from God to the people of Judah. Let's break it down:
"Therefore you shall speak to them this word: ‘Yahweh, the God of Israel says, “Every bottle should be filled with wine.”’" This is a seemingly straightforward and even banal statement. Of course, bottles meant for wine should be filled with wine. It's stating the obvious. This is deliberate on God's part.
"They will tell you, ‘Do we not certainly know that every bottle should be filled with wine?’" The people readily agree. It's common knowledge. They're likely thinking, "What's the point? What is this about?"
The underlying meaning and symbolism:
The verse sets up a prophetic riddle. The literal meaning is a red herring. The true meaning lies in the deeper symbolism, which is revealed later in the following verses. Here's the core interpretation:
Bottles represent the people of Judah (or Jerusalem). They are vessels.
Wine represents God's judgment or wrath. In biblical imagery, wine is often associated with intoxication, and in this context, the "intoxication" is being filled with the consequences of their sin. It can also represent being "full" to the brim with pride.
The message:
God's true message is: "I am going to fill you, the people of Judah, until you are full – to the brim – with my judgment." Just as a bottle is meant to be filled with wine, the people of Judah will be filled with the consequences of their actions. The people's obvious response, "We know that bottles are meant to be filled with wine," is ironic because they are blind to the deeper spiritual truth: they will be filled with something far more significant and unpleasant than mere wine.
The purpose of the irony:
To grab attention: By starting with a simple, almost foolish statement, Jeremiah is likely trying to capture the people's attention before delivering the hard truth.
To highlight their spiritual blindness: The fact that they can only see the literal meaning underscores their inability to understand God's message and the impending consequences of their sins.
To emphasize the inevitability of judgment: Just as it is natural to fill a bottle with wine, it is inevitable that God's judgment will come upon them.
In essence, Jeremiah 13:12 is a warning disguised as a commonplace observation. It foreshadows the judgment that awaits Judah because of their disobedience and spiritual apathy. The shock comes when they realize the "wine" they will be filled with is the bitter taste of divine punishment.
Jeremiah 13:12 - “Therefore you shall speak to them this word: ‘Yahweh, the God of Israel says, “Every bottle should be filled with wine.”’ They will tell you, ‘Do we not certainly know that every bottle should be filled with wine?’
What does "Jeremiah 13:12" mean?
This verse from Jeremiah 13:12 presents a symbolic and ironic message from God to the people of Judah. Let's break it down:
"Therefore you shall speak to them this word: ‘Yahweh, the God of Israel says, “Every bottle should be filled with wine.”’" This is a seemingly straightforward and even banal statement. Of course, bottles meant for wine should be filled with wine. It's stating the obvious. This is deliberate on God's part.
"They will tell you, ‘Do we not certainly know that every bottle should be filled with wine?’" The people readily agree. It's common knowledge. They're likely thinking, "What's the point? What is this about?"
The underlying meaning and symbolism:
The verse sets up a prophetic riddle. The literal meaning is a red herring. The true meaning lies in the deeper symbolism, which is revealed later in the following verses. Here's the core interpretation:
Bottles represent the people of Judah (or Jerusalem). They are vessels.
Wine represents God's judgment or wrath. In biblical imagery, wine is often associated with intoxication, and in this context, the "intoxication" is being filled with the consequences of their sin. It can also represent being "full" to the brim with pride.
The message:
God's true message is: "I am going to fill you, the people of Judah, until you are full – to the brim – with my judgment." Just as a bottle is meant to be filled with wine, the people of Judah will be filled with the consequences of their actions. The people's obvious response, "We know that bottles are meant to be filled with wine," is ironic because they are blind to the deeper spiritual truth: they will be filled with something far more significant and unpleasant than mere wine.
The purpose of the irony:
To grab attention: By starting with a simple, almost foolish statement, Jeremiah is likely trying to capture the people's attention before delivering the hard truth.
To highlight their spiritual blindness: The fact that they can only see the literal meaning underscores their inability to understand God's message and the impending consequences of their sins.
To emphasize the inevitability of judgment: Just as it is natural to fill a bottle with wine, it is inevitable that God's judgment will come upon them.
In essence, Jeremiah 13:12 is a warning disguised as a commonplace observation. It foreshadows the judgment that awaits Judah because of their disobedience and spiritual apathy. The shock comes when they realize the "wine" they will be filled with is the bitter taste of divine punishment.