Jeremiah 2 34

Jeremiah 2:34 kjv

Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.

Jeremiah 2:34 nkjv

Also on your skirts is found The blood of the lives of the poor innocents. I have not found it by secret search, But plainly on all these things.

Jeremiah 2:34 niv

On your clothes is found the lifeblood of the innocent poor, though you did not catch them breaking in. Yet in spite of all this

Jeremiah 2:34 esv

Also on your skirts is found the lifeblood of the guiltless poor; you did not find them breaking in. Yet in spite of all these things

Jeremiah 2:34 nlt

Your clothing is stained with the blood of the innocent and the poor,
though you didn't catch them breaking into your houses!

Jeremiah 2 verses

Jeremiah 2 34 Meaning

Jeremiah 2:34 reveals God's undeniable indictment against Judah, stating that the blood of the poor and innocent is visibly found on their very garments, symbolizing their widespread guilt. This was not a hidden crime requiring secret investigation but an overt, pervasive injustice, contradicting their claims of innocence and highlighting the deep moral corruption within the nation, especially regarding the vulnerable.

Jeremiah 2 34 Context

Jeremiah chapter 2 opens with the Lord's "case" against Judah, recalling His faithfulness to them in their youth and lamenting their profound departure from Him. He recounts their spiritual "harlotry"—abandoning the "fountain of living waters" for broken cisterns (Jer 2:13) and pursuing foreign gods. The nation is portrayed as a once noble vine turned wild (Jer 2:21). Despite their blatant idolatry and unfaithfulness, Judah continually denied her guilt, claiming innocence (Jer 2:23). Verse 34 follows this denial, providing a specific, visible, and deeply defiling indictment. While previous verses accuse them of general rebellion and worshipping idols under every green tree, this verse highlights the tangible evidence of their sin against humanity: bloodshed and injustice, proving their moral corruption went beyond ritual and into the very fabric of their society.

Jeremiah 2 34 Word analysis

• Also (גַּם, gam): An adverb intensifying or adding to what was just stated. It suggests that on top of their deep spiritual unfaithfulness and idolatry, this new accusation (bloodshed and injustice) is another grievous sin, further evidence against their self-proclaimed innocence.

• on thy skirts (עַל כְּנָפַיִךְ, 'al k'naphayich):

  • K'naphayich (plural form of כָּנָף, kānāph) refers to the "wing" or "skirt/hem" of a garment.
  • In ancient cultures, the hem or edge of a robe was often symbolic of a person's character, authority, or actions. To have something on one's skirts signified it was visibly, openly, and indelibly attached to them, symbolizing culpability or possession.
  • Here, it signifies public guilt and defilement, impossible to hide.

• is found (נִמְצְאוּ, nimtseu): Passive verb from mātsā’ (to find). It emphasizes that this blood was not merely suspected but discovered, evident, and discernible, not something God had to seek out in secret. It was readily apparent.

• the blood (דַּם, dam): The vital fluid of life; its shedding signifies death, often violent death or murder. In a legal context, it implies bloodguilt and divine judgment.

• of the souls (נַפְשֹׁות, n'phashot): Plural of nefesh, referring to "lives" or "persons." It highlights the preciousness of the lives taken, emphasizing that these were human lives, not animals.

• of the poor (אֶבְיוֹנִים, evyonim): Refers to the needy, destitute, or economically disadvantaged. These individuals are especially vulnerable to exploitation and injustice in society because they lack power, resources, and connections.

• innocents (נְקִיִּים, neqiyyim): Plural of naqî, meaning "innocent," "blameless," or "guiltless." This emphasizes that those who were killed or unjustly oppressed had done nothing to warrant such treatment; their suffering was a direct result of their oppressors' injustice, not their own transgression.

• I have not found it by secret search (לֹא בְמַחְתֶּרֶת מְצָאתִים, lo b'makheteret metsa'tim):

  • B'makheteret means "by housebreaking" or "breaking in secretly." It refers to clandestine activity, something hidden or needing to be dug up or uncovered.
  • The phrase emphasizes that God did not need to covertly investigate to find this guilt. Their crimes were not concealed but were overtly committed and clearly visible to everyone, including God.

• but upon all these (כִּי עַל כָּל אֵלֶּה, ki 'al kol 'elleh): "But rather upon all these [skirt-hem surfaces/national identity]." This indicates that the evidence of bloodshed was not isolated but pervasive—openly displayed and widely present, affirming the collective guilt of the nation, or at least the leading figures.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Also on thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents": This phrase combines the shocking visual of "blood on skirts" with the profound injustice of taking the lives of "poor innocents." It paints a picture of Judah’s societal defilement—not just spiritual impurity but active participation in oppression and murder against the most vulnerable. It establishes God’s precise charge.
  • "I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these": This declaration is a direct rebuttal to Judah's claim of innocence. It disproves any idea that their sin was negligible, isolated, or cleverly concealed. Instead, it asserts that their guilt was obvious, overt, and pervasive throughout their actions and society, leaving no room for denial. God’s accusation is based on open evidence, not hidden investigation.

Jeremiah 2 34 Bonus section

The imagery of "blood on skirts" (or hands, as in Isa 1:15) serves as a potent forensic metaphor throughout the Bible, signifying undeniable bloodguilt. It directly challenges the false confidence Judah held in their temple worship or their covenant status while actively violating core Mosaic commands regarding justice and the sanctity of life. This indictment underlines a crucial biblical truth: God's concern for covenant faithfulness is inseparable from His demand for righteousness in how people treat one another, particularly the vulnerable. Judah's self-deception was so profound that they denied crimes overtly apparent to God.

Jeremiah 2 34 Commentary

Jeremiah 2:34 delivers a sharp and undeniable divine indictment against Judah, serving as a powerful counter-argument to their persistent claims of innocence. The image of "blood on the skirts" vividly conveys their culpability, not for a single act, but for widespread injustice and the shedding of innocent lives. This isn't just about general sin; it’s a specific charge of violence against the "poor innocents," those without power or voice who were victims of judicial corruption, economic exploitation, or direct assault.

The phrase "I have not found it by secret search" powerfully asserts that Judah's sin was not covert or elusive but blatant and publicly manifest. Their spiritual adultery (as detailed earlier in the chapter) had a tangible, horrific consequence in their social and ethical failures. God, the ultimate Judge, declares that the evidence is on "all these," meaning it's plainly visible on the very fabric of their national identity and deeds, a pervasive defilement that could not be washed away by outward ritual or false claims of purity. This verse highlights that true godliness includes profound care for justice and the vulnerable, demonstrating that spiritual rebellion inevitably leads to social decay.