Jeremiah 19:5 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 19:5 mean?

Jeremiah 19:5 describes how the people of Judah built special worship sites for Baal and even burned their own sons as sacrifices, something God never commanded or even imagined. The verse strongly condemns these actions as completely outside anything God ever wanted.

In this passage, God is speaking through the prophet Jeremiah to the people of Judah. The setting is a warning about the terrible consequences of turning away from God and adopting the cruel practices of surrounding nations. The verse highlights how shocking and offensive these sacrifices were, stressing that such acts were never part of God’s instructions or desires for His people.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 19:5

• "built" (בָּנָה, banah): This word means to construct or establish, emphasizing that these high places were intentionally set up for idol worship, not accidental or inherited.
• "places" (בָּמָה, bamah): Refers to elevated sites used for religious rituals, often associated with pagan worship. The use of this word shows these were not ordinary altars but specifically linked to forbidden practices.
• "burn" (שָׂרַף, saraph): Means to completely consume with fire, stressing the total destruction involved in these sacrifices.
• "commanded" (צָוָה, tsavah): Indicates a direct order or instruction. God is making it clear that He never gave any command for such sacrifices, highlighting the complete disconnect between these acts and His will.

Why Jeremiah 19:5 matters

• Jeremiah 19:5 clears up any idea that God ever wanted or accepted child sacrifice; the verse insists this was never His command or intention.
• The verse reveals how deeply the people had adopted foreign religious practices, going far beyond what God had ever permitted.
• In the wider context, this verse helps explain why such severe judgment was coming upon Judah, showing the seriousness of their departure from God’s ways.