Jeremiah 17:2 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 17:2 mean?

Jeremiah 17:2 describes how even the children of the people of Judah remember the places where their ancestors worshiped idols—specifically, the altars and sacred groves set up near green trees on high hills. The verse highlights how deeply idol worship had become part of their culture, being passed down and remembered by the next generation.

Jeremiah, speaking God’s message to the people of Judah, is pointing out that idolatry is not just a problem among the adults but is so ingrained that even the children recall these pagan sites. The mention of altars, groves, green trees, and high hills refers to common locations and objects used in ancient idol worship, showing how widespread and visible these practices were in daily life.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 17:2

• "children" (בָּנִים, banim): This word means "sons" or "children," emphasizing that even the youngest in society are aware of these practices, showing how deeply rooted the idolatry is.
• "altars" (מִזְבְּחוֹת, mizbechot): These are places for making sacrifices, usually to idols in this context, highlighting the seriousness of the people's unfaithfulness.
• "groves" (אֲשֵׁרִים, asherim): This refers to wooden poles or trees associated with the worship of the goddess Asherah, a common form of idol worship in ancient Canaan.
• "green" (רַעֲנָן, ra'anan) and "trees" (עֵץ, etz): The phrase points to lush, attractive locations often chosen for idol worship, making these sites appealing and memorable.
• "high" (גָּבֹהַּ, gavohah) and "hills" (גִּבְעָה, giv'ah): High places were traditional sites for pagan worship, thought to be closer to the gods, so their mention shows the deliberate choice of these locations for idol rituals.

Why Jeremiah 17:2 matters

• Jeremiah 17:2 shows that idol worship was not just a passing phase or limited to a few people; it was so established that even children remembered the details, revealing the depth of the problem.
• The verse helps explain why Jeremiah and other prophets were so urgent and passionate in their warnings—idolatry had become a generational issue, not just an individual one.
• By naming the specific places and objects of idol worship, Jeremiah 17:2 connects to the broader theme in the book of Jeremiah about the people's need to turn away from visible, entrenched practices and return to faithfulness to God.