“Then the word of Yahweh
Came to me.
‘Thus says Yahweh.
I will ruin the pride of Judah.
I will ruin the great pride of Jerusalem.
This is an evil people.
They refuse to hear my words.
They stubbornly follow their own will.
They have gone after other gods.
They serve them.
They worship them.
They shall be like this loincloth,
That is good for nothing.
Just as the loincloth clings
To one’s loins,
So I made the whole house of Israel
With the whole house of Judah
Cling to me.’
Says Yahweh.
‘Thus they might be for me
A people,
A name,
A praise,
A glory.
But they would not listen.’”
Now Yahweh explains to Jeremiah the problem and story of the loincloth. Just as the loincloth was ruined, so too would the great pride of Judah and Jerusalem also be ruined. These were evil people who would not listen to the words of Yahweh. They would rather follow their own will and ways. Besides, they have gone after other gods serving and worshipping them. Thus they will be like Jeremiah’s ruined loincloth, good for nothing. Just as the loincloth clung to Jeremiah’s loins, both the house of Judah and Israel had clung to Yahweh. He wanted to make them a great people with a great name that everyone would praise and glory, but they would not listen.
