Jeremiah 18:13 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 18:13 mean?

Jeremiah 18:13 presents the LORD’s accusation that Israel has acted in a way so shocking that even other nations should be asked whether they have heard of anything like it. The “very horrible thing” is Israel’s turning away from the LORD, as the surrounding passage explains.

The LORD speaks through Jeremiah and calls Israel “the virgin of Israel,” picturing the people as a young woman. After the people reject the call to change in verse 12, the question to the nations gives their decision a wider audience.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 18:13

• “heathen” — גּוֹיִם (goyim): The word means “nations.” In the KJV, “heathen” refers to peoples outside Israel; the question asks them to serve as witnesses to Israel’s conduct.
• “virgin” — בְּתוּלָה (betulah): The word means a young woman, often one who has not had sexual relations. Here the word is a picture of Israel as a people, not a description of one individual.

Why Jeremiah 18:13 matters

• The question is meant to express shock, not to record a survey. “Who hath heard such things?” invites the hearers to recognize how startling Israel’s conduct is.
• The surrounding passage identifies the conduct behind the accusation. Verse 15 says the people have forgotten the LORD and burned offerings to false gods; that detail gives substance to the phrase “a very horrible thing.”
• The comparison with other nations sets up the contrast in verse 15. While Israel has forgotten its God, the next verses describe the consequences for its land and people.