Jeremiah 17:23
“But they didn’t listen. They didn’t turn their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, and might not receive instruction.”
What does Jeremiah 17:23 mean?
This passage describes people who have chosen not to listen, even when God speaks directly to them. The image of a stiff neck is powerful: it shows stubbornness that's almost willful, a deliberate turning away rather than an accidental mishearing. Jeremiah is describing what happens when our hearts grow hard and we decide in advance that we won't change, no matter what we're told. If you're reading this during a time when you feel stuck or resistant to something, it's worth asking yourself gently whether you're truly open to hearing, or whether you've already made up your mind. The verse isn't condemning you, though, it's simply naming a very human pattern: we all sometimes protect ourselves by refusing to listen. The good news is that awareness is the first step toward opening our ears again.