Jeremiah 19 4

Jeremiah 19:4 kjv

Because they have forsaken me, and have estranged this place, and have burned incense in it unto other gods, whom neither they nor their fathers have known, nor the kings of Judah, and have filled this place with the blood of innocents;

Jeremiah 19:4 nkjv

"Because they have forsaken Me and made this an alien place, because they have burned incense in it to other gods whom neither they, their fathers, nor the kings of Judah have known, and have filled this place with the blood of the innocents

Jeremiah 19:4 niv

For they have forsaken me and made this a place of foreign gods; they have burned incense in it to gods that neither they nor their ancestors nor the kings of Judah ever knew, and they have filled this place with the blood of the innocent.

Jeremiah 19:4 esv

Because the people have forsaken me and have profaned this place by making offerings in it to other gods whom neither they nor their fathers nor the kings of Judah have known; and because they have filled this place with the blood of innocents,

Jeremiah 19:4 nlt

"'For Israel has forsaken me and turned this valley into a place of wickedness. The people burn incense to foreign gods ? idols never before acknowledged by this generation, by their ancestors, or by the kings of Judah. And they have filled this place with the blood of innocent children.

Jeremiah 19 verses

Jeremiah 19 4 Meaning

The verse describes God's declaration of bringing severe judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem, specifically their king and their leaders, for their idolatry and disobedience. This judgment is presented as a consequence of their actions, mirroring the destruction of those who came before them and the breaking of the covenant.

Jeremiah 19 4 Context

Jeremiah chapter 19 is part of God's condemnation of Judah's persistent sin and idolatry. The prophet Jeremiah is commanded to go to the Valley of Hinnom (Gehenna), a place associated with pagan child sacrifice and later with hell, and prophesy destruction. This location symbolizes the ultimate consequence of their wickedness. The verse specifically addresses the rulers and leaders of Judah and Jerusalem for their apostasy and the place where God’s name is called upon. This prophecy is set against the backdrop of increasing social injustice, false prophecy, and the abandonment of God's law, leading up to the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 19 4 Word Analysis

• "Therefore thus saith the LORD": This phrase establishes divine authority. God Himself is the speaker, issuing a declaration and pronouncement of judgment.
  • "Therefore" ( Hebrew: עַל־כֵּן – al-ken) signifies consequence, linking the following judgment to preceding actions.
  • "Thus saith the LORD" (Hebrew: כֹּה־אָמַר יְהוָה – koh-amar YHWH) is a standard prophetic formula asserting divine origin and absolute certainty of the message.
• "Behold": This interjection (Hebrew: הִנֵּה – hinneh) draws immediate attention to what follows, emphasizing the seriousness and imminent nature of the event.
• "I will bring": This indicates God’s active role in enacting the judgment.
  • "Bring" (Hebrew: בֹּא – bo') in this context implies causing something to come upon them.
• "upon this place": Refers to Jerusalem and its vicinity, specifically highlighting the place where God's name is invoked.
  • "This place" (Hebrew: הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה – ham-makom ha-zeh) refers to Jerusalem, a specific geographical location and sacred site.
• "all the evil": Denotes comprehensive and severe judgment. It is not a minor offense, but a totality of afflictions and punishments.
• "that I have pronounced against it": Refers to the curses and judgments previously declared through prophets and in the Law, contingent upon disobedience.
  • "Pronounced" (Hebrew: דִּבֵּר – diber) meaning to speak, but in this context, to ordain or decree.
• "because they have forsaken Me": States the primary reason for the judgment – abandonment of God.
  • "Forsaken" (Hebrew: עָזַב – ‘azav) means to abandon, leave, forsake, neglect, or utterly disregard.
• "and have estranged this place": Denotes making the place unfamiliar or alien, turning it into a place that no longer belongs to or is favored by God due to their actions.
  • "Estranged" (Hebrew: הֵפִיחַ – hephiach in its Hiphil conjugation, though this is not the precise word used here; the verse likely uses a derivative meaning to make foreign or unfaithful, akin to making it desolate or void of God's presence. A more accurate reading might involve words related to turning away or defiling, as in 2 Chron 7:20 which speaks of "rooted out" which has similar conceptual weight.) More directly, the Hebrew behind "estranged" can imply making something to be a stranger, a foreign land, or desolate. It signifies alienation from God's presence and protection.
• "with their burnt offerings unto other gods": Specifies one form of idolatry, offering sacrifices to pagan deities.
  • "Burnt offerings" (Hebrew: עוֹלָה – ‘olah) is a type of sacrifice completely consumed by fire.
  • "Other gods" (Hebrew: אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים – elohim acherim) refers to deities other than the LORD.
• "which neither they nor their fathers nor the kings of Judah have known": This highlights the unnaturalness and perversity of their worship. It was not merely a deviation but a complete turning away from the known and covenanted God, including historical examples of their ancestors and rulers who adhered to Yahweh.

Words Group Analysis:

• "forsaken Me and have estranged this place": These two phrases are in parallel, emphasizing the active rebellion against God and the resultant desecration of His covenant place. Forsaking God is the cause, and estranging the place is the consequence and manifestation of their turning away from Him.

Jeremiah 19 4 Bonus Section

The specific mention of "kings of Judah" in conjunction with their fathers and themselves points to the ongoing nature of disobedience throughout the Davidic monarchy. This suggests that the judgment is not a sudden consequence but the culmination of generations of failure to uphold the covenant. The placement of this verse, after Jeremiah's visit to the potter's house (chapter 18) where God showed him how clay could be marred, and before the symbolic destruction of the potter's vessel (chapter 19, verses 10-13), reinforces the theme of God's sovereign power to both create and destroy, to build up and to tear down in judgment. The Valley of Hinnom, mentioned contextually with this chapter, became a symbol of hell, a stark foreshadowing of the utter desolation and suffering that awaits those who turn from the Lord.

Jeremiah 19 4 Commentary

Jeremiah 19:4 serves as a powerful declaration of divine retribution against Judah's leadership and people for their deep-seated apostasy. God states He will bring severe judgment upon Jerusalem because they have abandoned Him, offering sacrifices to foreign gods. This abandonment signifies a radical shift from their covenantal relationship with Yahweh. The verse emphasizes that this turning to other gods was a perversion of true worship, offered by them, their fathers, and even their kings, indicating a long history of straying and a present crisis of faith that made their land alien to God’s favor. The prophecy highlights the totality of the coming judgment and its root cause: a complete disregard for God's presence and authority, and a defilement of the land sanctified by His name.