The appeal to listen, serve the Babylonian king, and live provides both theological rationale and practical incentive for obedience, emphasizing that submission to human authority flows from submission to divine authority. The rhetorical structure presents a simple choice: follow Jeremiah's hard word and live, or reject it through belief in false prophets and die. This verse encapsulates the entire prophetic argument that authentic faith requires accepting God's judgment even when it contradicts institutional religious assurances.

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