Jeremiah 2

King James Version

Full text for Jeremiah Chapter 2

1¶ Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

2Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land [that was] not sown.

3Israel [was] holiness unto the LORD, [and] the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.

4Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:

5Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?

6Neither said they, Where [is] the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?

7And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination.

8The priests said not, Where [is] the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after [things that] do not profit.

9¶ Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children's children will I plead.

10For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.

11Hath a nation changed [their] gods, which [are] yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for [that which] doth not profit.

12Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.

13For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, [and] hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

14¶ [Is] Israel a servant? [is] he a homeborn [slave]? why is he spoiled?

15The young lions roared upon him, [and] yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.

16Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head.

17Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way?

18And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?

19Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that [it is] an evil [thing] and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear [is] not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

20¶ For of old time I have broken thy yoke, [and] burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.

21Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?

22For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, [yet] thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.

23How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: [thou art] a swift dromedary traversing her ways;

24A wild ass used to the wilderness, [that] snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.

25Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.

26As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets,

27Saying to a stock, Thou [art] my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned [their] back unto me, and not [their] face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.

28But where [are] thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for [according to] the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.

29¶ Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD.

30In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

31O generation, see ye the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee?

32Can a maid forget her ornaments, [or] a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

33Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways.

34Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.

35Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.

36Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.

37Yea, thou shalt go forth from him, and thine hands upon thine head: for the LORD hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The LORD recalls Israel's initial devotion and faithfulness in the wilderness, contrasting it sharply with their subsequent apostasy. He laments that His people have committed two evils: forsaking Him, the fountain of living waters, and hewing out broken cisterns of idolatry. Despite His past deliverance and provision, Israel has become degenerate, pursuing foreign gods and alliances, which will ultimately lead to shame and desolation.

Medium Summary

Jeremiah 2 opens with the LORD reminding Israel of their faithful youth, when they followed Him in the wilderness as His holy firstfruits. However, He then questions their fathers' iniquity, noting how they forgot Him who delivered them from Egypt and brought them into a plentiful land, which they subsequently defiled with idolatry. Priests, prophets, and leaders all failed in their duties, turning to Baal and profitless things. The LORD declares that Israel has committed two great evils: forsaking Him, the fountain of living waters, and hewing out broken cisterns that hold no water. He warns that their self-procured wickedness, not His abandonment, has led to their desolation, and that seeking help from Egypt or Assyria will prove futile, resulting in shame. Israel, once a noble vine, has become degenerate, stubbornly pursuing idolatry despite divine chastisement.

Long Summary

The chapter begins with the LORD's word to Jeremiah, commanding him to remind Jerusalem of their early devotion, recalling the kindness of their youth and the love of their espousals when they followed Him through the wilderness. Israel was then considered holy unto the LORD, His firstfruits. However, the LORD then challenges the house of Jacob, asking what iniquity their fathers found in Him that they departed, walked after vanity, and became vain. He recounts His deliverance from Egypt, leading them through a desolate wilderness into a plentiful land, which they subsequently defiled and made an abomination. The religious leaders—priests, those handling the law, pastors, and prophets—are indicted for their failure to acknowledge the LORD and for prophesying by Baal. The LORD declares His intention to plead with them, highlighting the unprecedented nature of their apostasy; no nation changes its gods, even false ones, yet Israel exchanged their glory for profitless things. The heavens are called to be astonished at this, for His people have committed two profound evils: forsaking Him, the fountain of living waters, and hewing out for themselves broken cisterns that cannot hold water. The LORD questions why Israel is spoiled, attributing their suffering to their own forsaking of Him, rather than His abandonment. He warns against seeking help from Egypt or Assyria, asserting that their own wickedness and backslidings will correct them, revealing the bitter consequences of forsaking God. Despite being freed from bondage and planted as a noble, right seed, Israel has degenerated into a strange vine, stubbornly pursuing idolatry on every high hill. Their iniquity is deeply marked, and their claims of innocence are refuted by their actions, likened to a wild dromedary or ass pursuing its desires. Shame is prophesied for Israel's leaders when their idolatry is exposed, as they call upon wood and stone while turning their backs on the true God, only to cry to Him in trouble. The LORD questions their pleading, stating that all have transgressed, and His past chastisements were in vain. He asks if He has been a wilderness to Israel, lamenting that they have forgotten Him, unlike a bride her ornaments. The chapter concludes with a warning that their pursuit of foreign alliances will bring shame, as the LORD has rejected their confidences.

Core Concepts

  • Early Devotion and ApostasyThe LORD recalls Israel's initial faithfulness and love during their youth in the wilderness, contrasting it with their subsequent turning away from Him to pursue vanity and false gods.
  • The Two EvilsIsrael is accused of two primary transgressions: forsaking the LORD, who is the 'fountain of living waters,' and instead hewing out for themselves 'broken cisterns' that can hold no water, symbolizing their reliance on futile idols.
  • Idolatry and Vain WorshipThe people, including their religious leaders, abandoned the LORD for Baal and other 'profitless things,' worshipping wood and stone, thereby exchanging their glory for that which does not profit.
  • Consequences of DisobedienceIsrael's suffering, desolation, and being spoiled by enemies are presented as direct results of their own wickedness and backslidings, rather than any fault of the LORD.
  • Degenerate Vine MetaphorIsrael, once planted by God as a 'noble vine' and 'wholly a right seed,' is lamented for having turned into a 'degenerate plant of a strange vine' due to their unfaithfulness and idolatry.
  • Futility of Foreign AlliancesSeeking help from Egypt or Assyria is depicted as a vain and shameful endeavor, as the LORD has rejected their confidences in these external powers, which cannot save them.
  • Divine Pleading and ReproachThe LORD repeatedly pleads with and reproaches Israel for their forgetfulness, stubbornness, and denial of sin, despite the clear evidence of their transgressions and the ineffectiveness of His past chastisements.