Jeremiah 19 2

Jeremiah 19:2 kjv

And go forth unto the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is by the entry of the east gate, and proclaim there the words that I shall tell thee,

Jeremiah 19:2 nkjv

And go out to the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, which is by the entry of the Potsherd Gate; and proclaim there the words that I will tell you,

Jeremiah 19:2 niv

and go out to the Valley of Ben Hinnom, near the entrance of the Potsherd Gate. There proclaim the words I tell you,

Jeremiah 19:2 esv

and go out to the Valley of the Son of Hinnom at the entry of the Potsherd Gate, and proclaim there the words that I tell you.

Jeremiah 19:2 nlt

Go out through the Gate of Broken Pots to the garbage dump in the valley of Ben-Hinnom, and give them this message.

Jeremiah 19 verses

Jeremiah 19 2 Meaning

Jeremiah 19:2 is a divine command given to the prophet Jeremiah, instructing him to go to a specific and notoriously defiled location, the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, near one of Jerusalem's gates. There, he is to publicly deliver a message of divine judgment. This verse sets the stage for a symbolic prophetic act and a harsh pronouncement against Judah's idolatry and rebellion, particularly their abhorrent practice of child sacrifice. The choice of location amplifies the gravity and a somber finality of God's word.

Jeremiah 19 2 Context

Jeremiah 19 opens a dramatic prophetic act symbolizing Jerusalem's impending destruction due to its persistent apostasy and grave sins. The prophet is commanded to purchase a potter's flask, take it to the Valley of the Son of Hinnom (Tophet), and, in the presence of elders and priests, break the flask to illustrate God's irreparable shattering of Jerusalem and its inhabitants. Verse 2 is the initial divine instruction, setting the stage for this grim prophecy. This valley was infamous for child sacrifice to Molech, making it a powerful and horrifying symbol of Judah's spiritual corruption and the site of future judgment. Historically, this location, south of Jerusalem, was deeply stained by the horrific ritual sacrifice of children during the reigns of kings Ahaz and Manasseh, turning it into a byword for extreme wickedness and, later, a place of constant burning waste. This act also serves as a polemic, a direct and public confrontation, against the false security felt by the people who believed their idolatrous practices were permissible, or that God would never abandon Jerusalem because of the Temple.

Jeremiah 19 2 Word analysis

• And go forth (וְיָצָאתָ - v'yatzata): A direct divine imperative. It implies purposeful action and obedient departure. Jeremiah is not just observing but actively participating in a symbolic journey towards the site of pronouncement. This immediate obedience underscores the prophet's role as God's messenger.
• unto the valley (אֶל-גֵּיא - 'el gei): "Gei" specifically denotes a ravine or gorge, often associated with a desolate or narrow path. The pre-position "el" (to, into) emphasizes entering this specific, foreboding locale, not merely passing by.
• of the son of Hinnom (בֶן-הִנֹּם - ben-hinnom): This proper noun refers to a specific geographic valley south and west of Jerusalem. Its full Hebrew name is "Gê' Hinnôm," often abbreviated or referred to with the son of. Historically, it became notoriously linked with "Tophet" (תֹּפֶת - tofeth), meaning "a place of burning" or "fireplace," where pagan worship, especially child sacrifice to Molech and Baal, was conducted. The name itself might derive from a person named Hinnom or relate to the "wailing" sound (hen in some Semitic languages) associated with the cries of the sacrificed children. Its later Greek transliteration, Gehenna (Γέεννα), became a New Testament term for hell and eternal punishment, symbolizing extreme defilement and divine judgment.
• which is by the entry (אֲשֶׁר פֶּתַח - 'asher petach): "Petach" means "opening" or "entrance." It signifies a threshold, a prominent or easily accessible point leading into the valley. This indicates a public place, not a secluded spot, making the prophetic act observable.
• of the east gate (שַׁעַר הַחַרְסִית - sha'ar hacharsit): This phrase presents a significant interpretive point. While some translations render it as "East Gate," the Hebrew "hacharsit" (הַחַרְסִית) is derived from "cheres" (חֶרֶס), meaning "potsherd" or "earthenware." Therefore, "Sha'ar haCharsit" is more accurately translated as the "Potsherd Gate" or "Pottery Gate." This detail is crucial because Jeremiah is about to break a potter's flask (כַּד הַיּוֹצֵר - kad ha-yotzer, 19:1) at this very location, which emphasizes the gate's connection to pottery. This "Potsherd Gate" likely referred to an area where refuse, especially broken pottery, was disposed of or processed, tying into the themes of waste, destruction, and a place where the people's "vessels" would be shattered and discarded. Its location, though specified here, may refer to a particular area of this gate rather than its cardinal direction (which in Jeremiah 19:2 in KJV mentions "east gate"). This makes the choice of location highly symbolic, juxtaposing the site of idol worship with a gate linked to the very object Jeremiah would break.
• and proclaim there (וְקָרָאתָ שָׁם - v'karata sham): "Karata" (you shall proclaim/call out) signifies a public and authoritative declaration, often used for prophetic announcements. "Sham" (there) specifically ties the message to the infamous location. The message is meant to be heard clearly and associated with the dreadful practices of the valley.
• the words that I shall tell thee (אֶת-הַדְּבָרִים אֲשֶׁר אֲדַבֵּר אֵלֶיךָ - et ha'dvarim asher adaber eilekha): This emphasizes that the message originates directly from God, not from Jeremiah. It highlights Jeremiah's role as a conduit, faithfully relaying divine revelation. The authority of the words rests solely with the Lord.

Jeremiah 19 2 Bonus section

The transformation of "Gehenna" from a literal valley near Jerusalem into a theological concept representing hell or eternal judgment in post-exilic Judaism and the New Testament is one of the most significant aspects arising from passages like Jeremiah 19. The Valley of Hinnom's historical association with child sacrifice and later, potentially, with the burning of refuse, imbued it with an intense symbolism of ultimate wickedness, defilement, and irreversible destruction. This shift illustrates how God's severe judgment on physical places associated with extreme sin foreshadowed and laid the groundwork for the concept of eternal consequence for unrepentant evil. It is a powerful reminder that God's justice is profound and that the consequences of rejecting Him and His commands can have both temporal and eternal ramifications.

Jeremiah 19 2 Commentary

Jeremiah 19:2 initiates a grim, visually potent prophecy, a theatrical act commanded by God to underscore the gravity of Judah's spiritual state. The destination, the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, is central to the verse's meaning. This site, notoriously defiled by child sacrifice, represented the nadir of Judah's spiritual corruption. God's choice of this location for His prophet to proclaim judgment is deliberate: it connects their abhorrent actions directly to their imminent judgment. The specific mention of "the Potsherd Gate" further amplifies the symbolism, linking the place of their detestable rituals with a site of waste, where broken pottery – mirroring the coming shattering of Jerusalem – might be discarded. Jeremiah's mission is not merely to speak, but to perform an object lesson in a place that has been profaned by unspeakable sins, making the prophetic message undeniable and unforgettable. The passage is a stark warning of inevitable divine wrath against the pervasive idolatry and the heinous practice of offering children to pagan deities.