But 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.

JEREMIAH 2:28KJV
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Jeremiah 2:28 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 2:28 mean?

Jeremiah 2:28 describes how God challenges the people of Judah to turn to the idols they have made for themselves and see if those idols can rescue them in times of trouble, pointing out that they have as many gods as they have cities. The verse exposes the futility of trusting in man-made gods instead of the true God, especially when real help is needed.

In this verse, the prophet Jeremiah is speaking on behalf of God to the people of Judah, who have turned away from worshiping God and have created many idols. The situation is one of confrontation, as God calls out the people for their unfaithfulness and highlights the absurdity of relying on powerless idols. The verse uses the number of cities in Judah to emphasize just how widespread idol worship has become.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 2:28

  • gods (אֱלֹהִים, ’elohim): This word is used here to refer to the idols or false gods the people have made. In this context, it highlights the contrast between the living God and powerless man-made objects.
  • made (עָשָׂה, ‘asah): This verb means "to make" or "to do," stressing that these so-called gods are the work of human hands, not divine beings.
  • arise (קוּם, qum): This verb means "to arise" or "to stand up," and here it is used almost sarcastically—God is challenging the idols to "get up" and help, knowing they cannot.
  • save (יָשַׁע, yasha‘): This verb means "to save" or "to deliver." The verse questions whether these idols have any real power to rescue anyone, especially in times of trouble.

Why Jeremiah 2:28 matters

  • Jeremiah 2:28 clears up any idea that idol worship was a minor issue in Judah; the verse shows it was widespread, with as many idols as cities.
  • The verse emphasizes the helplessness of idols by inviting the people to seek help from them in crisis, exposing their inability to save.
  • Jeremiah 2:28 connects to the larger theme of the chapter, where God is confronting Judah’s unfaithfulness and calling them to recognize the difference between the living God and powerless substitutes.

Where else these words appear

“number” Hebrew H4557 · used in 129 verses

  • Genesis 34:30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.
  • Deuteronomy 32:8 When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.
  • Ezra 2:2 Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel: