Incline their ear is a biblical idiom meaning “obey” or “pay attention to.” It is parallel in meaning to listen. See 7.24, where the same two verbs are used, but Revised Standard Version has “obey” for the first one.

Stiffened their neck is an idiom meaning “be stubborn” or “refuse to obey.” See 7.26.

They might not … receive instruction: Compare 2.30, where instruction is rendered “correction” by Revised Standard Version.

New Jerusalem Bible renders the entire verse as follows:

• They would not hear, would not pay attention; they deliberately refused to listen or accept instruction.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Jeremiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2003. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .