Jeremiah 2 20

Jeremiah 2:20 kjv

For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.

Jeremiah 2:20 nkjv

"For of old I have broken your yoke and burst your bonds; And you said, 'I will not transgress,' When on every high hill and under every green tree You lay down, playing the harlot.

Jeremiah 2:20 niv

"Long ago you broke off your yoke and tore off your bonds; you said, 'I will not serve you!' Indeed, on every high hill and under every spreading tree you lay down as a prostitute.

Jeremiah 2:20 esv

"For long ago I broke your yoke and burst your bonds; but you said, 'I will not serve.' Yes, on every high hill and under every green tree you bowed down like a whore.

Jeremiah 2:20 nlt

"Long ago I broke the yoke that oppressed you
and tore away the chains of your slavery,
but still you said,
'I will not serve you.'
On every hill and under every green tree,
you have prostituted yourselves by bowing down to idols.

Jeremiah 2 verses

Jeremiah 2 20 Meaning

Jeremiah 2:20 articulates God's profound lament and indictment against Israel. It recounts God's gracious act of liberating Israel from bondage ("broken your yoke and burst your bonds"). It then exposes Israel's direct and immediate rejection of this covenantal relationship, captured in the ambiguous yet telling phrase "and you said, ‘I will not transgress’" (often interpreted as "I will not serve [You]"). Immediately following this, the verse highlights Israel's pervasive idolatry on common pagan worship sites, depicting their unfaithfulness as spiritual prostitution, a severe betrayal of their covenant with Yahweh.

Jeremiah 2 20 Context

Jeremiah chapter 2 opens with God's loving appeal to Israel, recalling their early devotion and lamenting their profound apostasy. This specific verse, Jeremiah 2:20, is a pivotal accusation, directly indicting Judah (Israel) for their historical and persistent unfaithfulness to the Lord. It forms part of God's case against His covenant people, highlighting His benevolent acts towards them and their ingratitude and rebellion. Historically, the verse points back to the Exodus liberation from Egypt ("broken your yoke and burst your bonds") and the Sinai covenant, where Israel formally pledged obedience. Culturally, it targets the prevalent Canaanite fertility cults, which involved worship on elevated sites ("high hill") and natural sacred spaces ("green tree"), often involving ritualistic sexual acts, serving as the basis for the "playing the harlot" metaphor for spiritual idolatry. Jeremiah’s prophecies are delivered during a period of national decline, leading up to the Babylonian exile, a time when such idolatry was rampant throughout Judah. The prophet critiques both direct idol worship and the syncretistic practices where Yahweh was ostensibly worshipped alongside pagan deities.

Jeremiah 2 20 Word analysis

• For of old (מֵעוֹלָם - mē‘ôlām): This term signifies from ancient times or from everlasting. It underscores the deep history of God's relationship with Israel, highlighting that His liberating acts and covenant love were not recent but established from the very beginning of their national existence. It also emphasizes the consistency and immutability of God’s character and His claims over Israel.
• I have broken your yoke (שָׁבַרְתִּי מֹטֹתֶךָ - šāḇartî mōṭōṭeḵā): This vividly recalls God's powerful deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt. A "yoke" symbolizes bondage and hard labor. The breaking of the yoke signifies divine intervention, bringing freedom and an end to oppression. It serves as a reminder of God as their redeemer, contrasting sharply with their subsequent actions.
• and burst your bonds (וַתְּנַתֵּק מֹוסְרוֹתֶיךָ - watte-nattek mōsə́rôṯeḵā): This phrase reinforces the idea of liberation. "Bonds" refer to restraints or chains. The breaking or bursting of these bonds signifies complete release from captivity. Together with "broken your yoke," it forms a comprehensive image of divine liberation, forming the very foundation of Israel’s identity as a free people chosen by God.
• and you said, ‘I will not transgress.’ (וַתֹּאמֶר לֹא אֶעֱבֹר - watte’omer lō’ ’e‘ěḇōr): This pivotal phrase is subject to dual interpretations, both profound:
  • Interpretation 1 (Promise): It refers to Israel's initial declaration of faithfulness at Mount Sinai, "All that the Lord has spoken we will do" (Exod 19:8). In this context, "I will not transgress" means "I will not cross the boundary [of your covenant], I will obey." The verse then highlights their swift breach of this sacred vow.
  • Interpretation 2 (Rebellion): Many scholars interpret "לא אעבר" (lo’ ’e‘ěḇōr) as "I will not serve" or "I will not submit (to God's rule/pass under His authority)." In this case, it's a defiant statement, a declaration of independence and refusal to acknowledge God's lordship, possibly made shortly after their liberation. This reading paints a picture of immediate, ungrateful rebellion, making their subsequent actions a direct consequence of this defiant spirit. The surrounding context of Hosea 10:2 and other similar statements often implies defiance. This reading highlights their inherent stubbornness and rebellion right after receiving freedom.
• But on every high hill (כִּי עַל כָּל גִּבְעָה גְּבֹהָה - kî ‘al kol giḇ‘āh geḇōhāh): High places were traditionally associated with pagan worship throughout the ancient Near East. These elevated sites were seen as closer to the gods. In Israel, despite prohibitions, they became ubiquitous sites for altars, pillars, and cultic practices dedicated to Baal, Asherah, and other Canaanite deities.
• and under every green tree (וְתַחַת כָּל עֵץ רַעֲנָן - wetaḥaṯ kol ‘ēṣ ra‘ănān): Alongside high hills, luxuriant (green) trees were also sacred sites for pagan worship, often symbolizing fertility and life in idolatrous rituals. These practices were explicitly forbidden by God, yet they became a deeply ingrained part of Israelite religious life, demonstrating a complete rejection of exclusive devotion to Yahweh.
• you bowed down (אַתְּ צוֹעָה - ’at tsô‘â): This refers to the physical act of worship and submission, specifically to pagan idols. The posture signifies reverence and dedication, showing that Israel prostrated themselves before false gods, a betrayal of their exclusive covenant with the Lord.
• playing the harlot (זֹונָה - zônâ): This is a profound and consistent metaphor throughout the prophetic books, especially Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Hosea, for Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness and idolatry. God is portrayed as the faithful husband (Baal was seen as the husband god in Canaanite fertility cults), and Israel as His covenant wife. Their pursuit of other gods is akin to marital infidelity, a betrayal of the sacred, exclusive bond. This "harlotry" was not merely theological error but an intimate violation of their relationship with God, involving a spiritual debasement that often led to moral degradation.

Jeremiah 2 20 Bonus section

The concept of Israel as an "unfaithful wife" is a foundational prophetic metaphor that deeply shapes Jeremiah's message, not merely an analogy but a reflection of a broken spiritual marriage contract (the covenant). The breaking of the "yoke and bonds" refers to the literal freedom from Egypt, but also implies a removal of spiritual burden and an offering of divine protection and guidance, which Israel willfully discarded. This verse introduces a recurring theme in Jeremiah: the contrast between God's unchanging faithfulness and Israel's constant fickleness. It sets up the understanding that divine judgment is not arbitrary but a just consequence for deep-seated covenant disloyalty and persistent spiritual harlotry. The phrase "you said, 'I will not transgress'" also touches upon the core of human free will and the tragic choice to reject divine benevolence.

Jeremiah 2 20 Commentary

Jeremiah 2:20 powerfully illustrates the fundamental breach of the covenant relationship between Yahweh and Israel. God initiates with grace, remembering His act of unparalleled deliverance from Egyptian slavery—an event so central to Israelite identity that it served as the preamble to the Ten Commandments. He freed them from oppressive external powers and gave them identity and purpose. However, the verse abruptly pivots to Israel’s defiant ingratitude and immediate defection. Their declaration, whether an abandoned vow of obedience or a rebellious "I will not serve," sets the stage for their pervasive idolatry. The widespread adoption of Canaanite worship practices, especially on "every high hill and under every green tree," underscores their total immersion in paganism, turning away from the one who liberated them. This unfaithfulness is graphically portrayed as spiritual "harlotry," emphasizing the intimate betrayal of a marital bond with their divine Husband, Yahweh. This sin was not incidental but foundational to Israel's trajectory towards judgment, a rejection of God's redemptive grace for the transient allure of false gods, leading to national corruption and ultimately, exile.