Jeremiah 11 10

Jeremiah 11:10 kjv

They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers.

Jeremiah 11:10 nkjv

They have turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers who refused to hear My words, and they have gone after other gods to serve them; the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken My covenant which I made with their fathers."

Jeremiah 11:10 niv

They have returned to the sins of their ancestors, who refused to listen to my words. They have followed other gods to serve them. Both Israel and Judah have broken the covenant I made with their ancestors.

Jeremiah 11:10 esv

They have turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who refused to hear my words. They have gone after other gods to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant that I made with their fathers.

Jeremiah 11:10 nlt

They have returned to the sins of their ancestors. They have refused to listen to me and are worshiping other gods. Israel and Judah have both broken the covenant I made with their ancestors.

Jeremiah 11 verses

Jeremiah 11 10 Meaning

This verse describes God's rejection of His people. They have turned away from Him, following their ancestors' pattern of disobedience. God views this as a departure from the covenant He established with their forefathers. This departure leads to His judgment, which will be a curse.

Jeremiah 11 10 Context

Jeremiah 11 comes at a crucial point in the prophet's ministry. Judah is facing imminent destruction due to its persistent disobedience and idolatry. This verse specifically highlights the root cause of their impending judgment: a deep-seated pattern of sin inherited from their ancestors. They are not merely repeating the sins of their fathers but actively pursuing foreign gods, a direct violation of the covenant God made with Israel at Mount Sinai. The historical context is a period of spiritual decline, likely during the reign of kings like Manasseh or Jehoiakim, when syncretism and outright paganism were rampant. Jeremiah is delivering God's message of judgment, emphasizing that this is not a new phenomenon but a continuation of generations of turning away from the LORD. This message served as a stern warning, rooted in their history of covenant faithfulness and unfaithfulness.

Jeremiah 11 10 Word analysis

• They (וְהֵמָּה - vəhemmah): Refers specifically to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.

• have turned back (שָׁב — shav): Means to turn, return, repent, or go back. Here, it signifies a willful relapse into old patterns of sin.

• to the iniquities (בְּעֲוֹנ֣וֹת - bəʿăwōṯ): Plural of ʿāvōn (sin, iniquity, guilt). It points to their crooked, perverse sins.

• of their fathers (רִֽאשֹׁנִ֖ים - ri’shonim): The original or earlier ones, emphasizing ancestral sin.

• who refused (אֲשֶׁר־מָאֲנ֛וּ - ’ăsher mō’ĕnū): To refuse, be unwilling, decline. A deliberate act of defiance.

• to hear (לִשְׁמֹ֥עַ - lišmoaʿ): To listen, obey. The core of their disobedience is not listening to God's word.

• my words (דְּבָרַ֖י - dĕvārāy): God’s spoken commands and testimonies.

• And they have gone after (וַיֵּלְכ֥וּ - vayyelḵū): From halak (to walk, go). Signifies pursuing or following, indicating allegiance.

• other gods (אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֲחֵרִ֑ים - ’ĕlōhīm ’ăḥērīm): Foreign deities, an explicit rejection of the LORD's sovereignty.

• to serve them (לַעֲבֹד־לָהֶ֑ם - la’ăḇōḏ-lāhem): To work, labor for, serve. Indicates devotion and worship.

• And the house of Israel (וּבֵ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל - ūḇēṯ yiśrā’ēl): Refers to the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

• and the house of Judah (וּבֵ֣ית יְהוּדָ֔ה - ūḇēṯ yəhūḏāh): Refers to the Southern Kingdom of Judah.

• have broken (הֵפֵ֗רוּ - hēfērū): To break, annul, violate. A definite transgression of the covenant bond.

• my covenant (אֶת־בְּרִיתִי֙ - ’eṯ-bərīṯî): The formal agreement and relationship established between God and His people.

• which I made (אֲשֶׁר־כָּרַ֙תִּי֙ - ’ăsher-kāraš₶î): To cut or make a covenant, a binding agreement.

• with their fathers (אֶת־אֲבוֹתָ֑ם - ’eṯ-’ăḇōṯām): Refers back to the Patriarchs and the foundational generations.

• in the day (בְּי֛וֹם - bəyōwm): At the specific time of.

• I brought them out (הֽוֹצֵאתִ֣י - hoṣēṯî): God’s action of redemption and deliverance from Egyptian bondage.

• of the land of Egypt (מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם - mē’e rẹṣ miṣ₶rāy₶im): The defining historical event of Israel's formation as a nation and covenant people.

• Groups of words analysis:

  • "turned back to the iniquities of their fathers": This phrase captures the idea of generational sin, where subsequent generations adopt the corrupt ways of their predecessors, especially in the context of violating God's commands. It speaks to a moral and spiritual recidivism.
  • "refused to hear my words": This emphasizes a deliberate rejection of God's communication and guidance. It's not a passive ignoring but an active turning away from divine instruction, implying a hardening of heart and willful ignorance.
  • "gone after other gods to serve them": This points directly to the sin of idolatry, the ultimate breach of the First Commandment and the core of the covenant. It represents a misplaced devotion and worship, turning to that which is not God.
  • "broken my covenant": This signifies the shattering of the solemn agreement and the sacred relationship established by God. It carries the weight of treason and betrayal within the covenantal context.
  • "the day I brought them out of the land of Egypt": This serves as a constant reminder of God's foundational act of redemption and the basis of His relationship with Israel. To break the covenant made on the basis of this deliverance is to reject the very foundation of their identity and privilege.

Jeremiah 11 10 Bonus section

This verse highlights a crucial theological concept: generational sin and responsibility. While individuals are responsible for their own sins, the passage also points to how the iniquities of ancestors can create an environment or predisposition towards further disobedience. Jeremiah’s message challenges the notion that simply belonging to Abraham’s lineage was enough; obedience to God’s covenant was paramount. The “turning back” emphasizes the active nature of sin as a departure from a righteous path. The phrase "refused to hear my words" underscores the importance of receptivity to God's will as revealed through prophets and scripture. The broken covenant is not just a legal term but a relational disaster, signifying the disruption of intimacy with the Divine. The reference to the exodus from Egypt grounds the covenant in God's unmerited grace and power, making their subsequent apostasy all the more grievous.

Jeremiah 11 10 Commentary

Jeremiah 11:10 powerfully illustrates the nature of covenantal breach through inherited sin and deliberate disobedience. The verse reveals a generational pattern where the people of Judah, like their ancestors, reject God's word and turn to idolatry. This not only breaks their sacred covenant but also negates the very foundation of their existence – God’s redemptive act from Egypt. Their "turning back" signifies a relapse into old corruptions, choosing the familiar paths of sin over the demands of faithfulness. This highlights that disobedience is often a choice, not merely an accidental lapse, and that failure to heed God’s words is a direct assault on the relationship He established. The consequence is inherent: breaking the covenant brings God's judgment, a divine response to a broken relationship and persistent betrayal.