Jeremiah 2 26

Jeremiah 2:26 kjv

As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets.

Jeremiah 2:26 nkjv

"As the thief is ashamed when he is found out, So is the house of Israel ashamed; They and their kings and their princes, and their priests and their prophets,

Jeremiah 2:26 niv

"As a thief is disgraced when he is caught, so the people of Israel are disgraced? they, their kings and their officials, their priests and their prophets.

Jeremiah 2:26 esv

"As a thief is shamed when caught, so the house of Israel shall be shamed: they, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets,

Jeremiah 2:26 nlt

"Israel is like a thief
who feels shame only when he gets caught.
They, their kings, officials, priests, and prophets ?
all are alike in this.

Jeremiah 2 verses

Jeremiah 2 26 Meaning

Jeremiah 2:26 declares that just as a thief is utterly disgraced upon being discovered, so too will the entire nation of Israel—encompassing its kings, officials, priests, and prophets—experience profound and inescapable shame and humiliation. This shame is the inevitable divine consequence and public exposure for their widespread spiritual apostasy and persistent idolatry, revealing the moral bankruptcy of their unfaithfulness to God.

Jeremiah 2 26 Context

Jeremiah chapter 2 marks the commencement of God's formal indictment against Judah, expressing profound disappointment that His covenant people, once devoted in the wilderness, have turned away from Him. The core accusation is two-fold: forsaking the Lord, "the fountain of living waters," and hewing out "broken cisterns" (idols) that cannot sustain them (Jer 2:13). The surrounding verses describe Judah's futile and senseless turn to foreign gods and practices, highlighting the deep-seated nature of their apostasy (Jer 2:10-12, 22). Jeremiah 2:26 serves as a climactic statement, emphasizing the inevitable and humiliating consequences of this national spiritual rebellion. Historically, Jeremiah prophesied in the late 7th and early 6th centuries BC, a period characterized by persistent idolatry and moral decline in Judah, even after superficial reforms under King Josiah. The verse highlights that the nation's spiritual adultery and abandonment of God will not remain concealed but will be openly exposed for the shame it truly is, directly preceding the judgments that will ensue.

Jeremiah 2 26 Word analysis

• "As the thief" (כְּגַנָּב - kə·ġan·nāḇ): The simile uses the common, universally understood experience of a thief. A thief typically acts in secrecy and deceit, aiming to conceal their transgression. Spiritually, Israel "stole" God's rightful glory and worship by offering it to pagan idols.
• "is ashamed" (יֵבֹשׁ - yē·ḇōš, from בּוּשׁ - bûsh): This Hebrew verb denotes profound disgrace, public humiliation, or being confounded. It implies more than mere embarrassment; it is the deep sense of humiliation that arises when one's hidden wickedness, foolishness, or rebellion is undeniably exposed for all to see.
• "when he is caught" (בְּהִמָּצְאוֹ - bə·him·mā·tsə·'ōw, from מָצָא - mātsā'): Literally "in his being found" or "in his discovery." This phrase emphasizes the inevitability of revelation. Despite attempts to conceal their idolatry, God's watchful eye will bring all hidden sins to light, making their exposure a certainty, not a possibility.
• "so the house of Israel is ashamed": This forms the core of the analogy. It draws a direct parallel between the private criminal whose shame becomes public upon discovery and the entire nation of Israel whose spiritual infidelity will likewise result in unavoidable, deep public humiliation and disgrace before God and the surrounding nations.
• "they, their kings, their officials, their priests and their prophets": This comprehensive enumeration stresses the pervasive nature of Israel's corruption, indicating that sin permeated every segment of society, from the lowest citizen to the highest echelons of religious and civil authority.
  • "they": Refers to the collective people, indicating national complicity.
  • "their kings": Representing the supreme political leadership who often sanctioned or led idolatrous practices (e.g., Manasseh).
  • "their officials": Denoting civil administrators, judges, and lesser leaders who failed to uphold God's law and permitted or participated in unrighteousness.
  • "their priests": Those consecrated to mediate between God and the people, to teach His law and maintain proper worship, but who instead became corrupted and misled the nation.
  • "their prophets": Referring specifically to the many false prophets who claimed divine authority but spoke lies, providing false comfort and reinforcing the people's sins rather than calling them to genuine repentance.
• Word-group analysis:
  • "As the thief... so the house of Israel is ashamed": This vivid simile underscores that the nation's spiritual infidelity—like hidden theft—will not escape the inevitable consequence of public exposure and humiliation. It serves as a potent warning that divine judgment will strip away any facade of righteousness, revealing their profound moral and spiritual bankruptcy.
  • "they, their kings, their officials, their priests and their prophets": This categorical listing emphasizes that the sin was not isolated but pervasive, extending through all levels of governance and religious life. It reveals that those who were meant to safeguard the nation's spiritual integrity—the leaders and religious guides—were themselves deeply entangled in the apostasy, magnifying the culpability and shame of the entire people.

Jeremiah 2 26 Bonus section

The metaphor of the "thief" not only highlights the secrecy and subsequent exposure of Israel's idolatry but also implicitly underscores the concept of defrauding God. By directing their worship and devotion to foreign gods, Israel was, in essence, "stealing" the glory, honor, and loyalty that belonged exclusively to the Lord God, their covenant partner. This act of spiritual "theft" against the Creator and Sustainer of their nation is painted as a grotesque perversion of the sacred covenant, deserving of the most profound public shame. The fact that the leaders themselves, particularly the priests and prophets, who were meant to guard God's honor and guide the people in His truth, were implicated in this "theft" heightens the tragedy and the severity of the coming judgment.

Jeremiah 2 26 Commentary

Jeremiah 2:26 delivers a profound indictment against Judah, masterfully using the universal imagery of a caught thief to depict the nation's dire spiritual state. The inherent nature of sin is its attempt at concealment, just as a thief operates in darkness. However, God, who sees all, will inevitably bring these hidden transgressions to light. This public exposure will not only lead to external humiliation but also to a deep, internal disgrace—the profound shame of having one's treachery, folly, and rebellion unmistakably revealed. The explicit inclusion of every societal stratum—from kings and officials to priests and prophets—underscores that Israel's apostasy was not peripheral but systemic, corrupting the very fabric of leadership meant to uphold the covenant. This verse serves as a powerful testament to God's righteousness, demonstrating that defiance against Him will ultimately culminate in inescapable judgment and collective ignominy. It powerfully communicates that living in unfaithfulness brings not glory, but profound, irremediable shame.