Jeremiah 2 19

Jeremiah 2:19 kjv

Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

Jeremiah 2:19 nkjv

Your own wickedness will correct you, And your backslidings will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing That you have forsaken the LORD your God, And the fear of Me is not in you," Says the Lord GOD of hosts.

Jeremiah 2:19 niv

Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you. Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the LORD your God and have no awe of me," declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty.

Jeremiah 2:19 esv

Your evil will chastise you, and your apostasy will reprove you. Know and see that it is evil and bitter for you to forsake the LORD your God; the fear of me is not in you, declares the Lord GOD of hosts.

Jeremiah 2:19 nlt

Your wickedness will bring its own punishment.
Your turning from me will shame you.
You will see what an evil, bitter thing it is
to abandon the LORD your God and not to fear him.
I, the Lord, the LORD of Heaven's Armies, have spoken!

Jeremiah 2 verses

Jeremiah 2 19 Meaning

Jeremiah 2:19 declares that the very wickedness and apostasy of the people of Judah will be their corrective and reproof. They will experience the direct, negative consequences of forsaking their covenant God. This experience will reveal to them the inherent evil and bitterness of abandoning the LORD, making it evident that true reverence for God is absent from their hearts, as pronounced by the Sovereign LORD of hosts.

Jeremiah 2 19 Context

Jeremiah chapter 2 initiates a series of divine pronouncements from the LORD through Jeremiah to the people of Judah, recalling their historical relationship. The chapter begins by reminding them of their early faithfulness in the wilderness, likened to a young bride's devotion (v. 2-3). However, this quickly shifts to God's astonishment and lament over Judah's spiritual adultery and rebellion. They abandoned the "fountain of living waters" for "broken cisterns that can hold no water" (v. 13), engaging in widespread idolatry with foreign gods (v. 10-11). Verse 19 acts as a climax to this lament, explaining that the inevitable consequences of their choices will themselves serve as a harsh teacher. Historically, Judah, under kings like Jehoiakim (after Josiah's reforms waned), had plunged deep into pagan worship, syncretism, and injustice, despite repeated warnings from prophets like Jeremiah. The verse predicts that the painful fallout of their spiritual choices will be an undeniable demonstration of their folly and a direct result of their lack of genuine awe and respect for the God of their covenant.

Jeremiah 2 19 Word analysis

• Your own evil / Your own wickedness (rā‘ātek)

  • Word: Hebrew ra'ah (רָעָה). It signifies not just moral wrong (evil actions, sin) but also the calamitous consequences that result from such actions. It is both the offense and the disaster it brings.
  • Significance: Here, it highlights the self-destructive nature of Judah's idolatry and rebellion. Their sin inherently contains the seeds of their downfall; the evil itself will act as an agent of correction.

• will correct you / will discipline you (tĕyasserēk)

  • Word: From the Hebrew verb yasar (יָסַר). It means to instruct, chastise, admonish, discipline. This is corrective discipline, not merely punitive destruction.
  • Significance: Implies a pedagogical aspect. God allows their sin to have its natural consequences so that the people might learn, change course, and return to Him. It's a painful lesson, intended for spiritual growth.

• and your backslidings / and your apostasies (ūmĕšūḇōṯayik)

  • Word: From the Hebrew root shub (שׁוּב), meaning to turn back, return, but in this context, it refers to turning away from God, defection, or apostasy.
  • Significance: Emphasizes Judah's repeated, willful departure from the covenant relationship and the LORD's commands. It's not a single mistake but a persistent turning away from a known path of truth.

• will rebuke you (tôḵīḥak)

  • Word: From the Hebrew verb yāḵaḥ (יָכַח). To argue, reprove, convict, judge. It often implies a demonstration of fault or error through an irrefutable proof.
  • Significance: The consequences of their backsliding will serve as a stark and undeniable conviction, laying bare their error and foolishness. It leaves no room for denial.

• Know therefore and see (Dĕ‘î wū rə’î)

  • Words: Imperative verbs, da‘ (know) from yada' (יָדַע) and ra’ (see) from ra’ah (רָאָה). Both imply deep experiential knowledge and clear understanding, not just intellectual assent.
  • Significance: This is a direct call for Judah to intellectually comprehend and experientially realize the gravity of their actions through the suffering they will endure. They will be forced to internalize the bitter truth.

• that it is an evil and bitter thing for you (rā‘ wāgimār lāḵ)

  • Words: Ra‘ (evil/calamity) and mar (bitter/painful/sorrowful). The repetition of ra‘ links back to "your own evil." Mar intensifies the experience, signifying severe suffering and anguish.
  • Significance: Foreshadows the future experience of hardship and suffering (e.g., invasion, exile). Forsaking God is not just morally wrong but inherently brings sorrow and ruin.

• to forsake the LORD your God (‘ăzōḇēḵ ’eṯ-YHWH ’ĕlōhāyik)

  • Word: From Hebrew ‘āzaḇ (עָזַב), meaning to abandon, leave, neglect. It implies a deliberate severing of ties or turning away from allegiance.
  • Significance: Emphasizes the broken covenant relationship. Judah did not just make a mistake; they consciously abandoned the One who redeemed them, the living God. The use of "your God" reminds them of the personal, covenantal bond they violated.

• and that my fear is not in you (wəḵî lō’-yir’āṯî bāḵ)

  • Word: Yir’ah (יִרְאָה) refers to reverential awe, respectful worship, and obedience, stemming from proper understanding of God's power and holiness.
  • Significance: This identifies the root spiritual problem. The absence of yir'ah is not mere oversight but a fundamental rejection of God's authority and rightful place in their lives. It's the opposite of genuine faith.

• declares the Lord GOD of hosts (nə’um YHWH tsĕḇā’ôt)

  • Words: Nə’um (נְאֻם): "A declaration," used primarily for divine pronouncements. YHWH (יהוה): The sacred, personal name of God, indicating His covenant faithfulness. Tsĕḇā’ôt (צְבָאוֹת): "Of hosts" or "of armies," signifying God's sovereign power over all creation and celestial beings.
  • Significance: This powerful divine affirmation stamps the prophecy with absolute authority and certainty. It assures Judah that this truth is from the omnipotent and covenant-keeping God Himself, making the consequences inevitable and His word inviolable.

Jeremiah 2 19 Bonus section

The concept of self-correcting sin (where sin's consequences act as discipline) is a recurring motif in the prophetic literature. It emphasizes that while God's active judgment may fall, much suffering is the direct, logical outcome of choices made in rebellion against Him. It teaches a form of divine pedagogy where experience serves as the ultimate tutor when words are ignored. The phrase "my fear is not in you" points to the fundamental spiritual issue – a heart problem, rather than mere behavioral misconduct. Without a reverential awe of God, all forms of rebellion, including idolatry and injustice, naturally flourish. This fear is not terror, but a recognition of His supreme holiness, authority, and covenant demands, leading to obedience and worship. The bitterness mentioned evokes the painful outcome of living apart from God, akin to tasting the very rotten fruit of one's own disobedience.

Jeremiah 2 19 Commentary

Jeremiah 2:19 is a profound statement articulating the natural consequences of apostasy. It highlights a core biblical truth: sin is self-punishing. Judah's evil actions and repeated spiritual departures are not just observed by God; they are designed by Him to act as internal correctives. Their sin contains the very "switch" that will turn on their discipline and deliver undeniable rebuke. This "correction" is not arbitrary punishment, but a teaching moment intended to bring realization. The verse forcefully impresses upon Judah, and by extension all humanity, that severing their relationship with the true God is fundamentally disastrous ("evil and bitter"). The ultimate diagnosis of Judah's spiritual malady is then revealed: a complete absence of reverential fear or awe for God. This indicates a deep-seated contempt for His holiness and authority. The declaration, coming from the "Lord GOD of hosts," underscores its divine certainty and the inevitability of His just dealings.