How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses.
JEREMIAH 5:7KJVWhat does Jeremiah 5:7 mean?
Jeremiah 5:7 describes God questioning how He could forgive the people of Judah when their children have abandoned Him, sworn loyalty to false gods, and committed adultery even after He provided for them. The verse highlights the people's unfaithfulness and their gathering in places of immorality despite God's care.
In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Jeremiah to the people of Judah during a time of widespread spiritual decline. The verse uses strong language to show the seriousness of their betrayal: the people have not only left God but have also turned to worship idols and engaged in immoral behavior. The mention of God feeding them "to the full" emphasizes that their sins came even after receiving His blessings and provision.
The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 5:7
- "Forsaken" (עָזַב, ʿazav): This word means to abandon or leave behind. Here, it stresses that the people have deliberately turned away from God, not just drifted accidentally.
- "Sworn" (שָׁבַע, shavaʿ): This word means to make an oath. The verse points out that the people have made serious promises or commitments to "no gods"—false deities—showing the depth of their betrayal.
- "No gods" (אֱלֹהִים, elohim): In this context, "elohim" is used ironically for idols, making clear that the objects of their worship have no real power or divinity.
- "Adultery" (נָאַף, na'af): This word often refers to literal unfaithfulness in marriage, but here it also points to spiritual unfaithfulness—turning to other gods as if cheating on God.
- "Troops" (גָּדוּד, gadud): This word suggests gathering in large groups, emphasizing that the people are not just sinning individually but are coming together in crowds to do so.
Why Jeremiah 5:7 matters
- Jeremiah 5:7 clarifies that the people's unfaithfulness is not just a private matter but a public, collective turning away from God, even after He provided for them.
- The verse shows that God’s question about forgiveness is not because He is unwilling, but because the people’s actions have broken the relationship so deeply.
- This verse connects to the wider passage by showing why judgment is coming: the people’s repeated, deliberate rejection of God despite His generosity and care.