Jeremiah 2 5

Jeremiah 2:5 kjv

Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?

Jeremiah 2:5 nkjv

Thus says the LORD: "What injustice have your fathers found in Me, That they have gone far from Me, Have followed idols, And have become idolaters?

Jeremiah 2:5 niv

This is what the LORD says: "What fault did your ancestors find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.

Jeremiah 2:5 esv

Thus says the LORD: "What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?

Jeremiah 2:5 nlt

This is what the LORD says: "What did your ancestors find wrong with me
that led them to stray so far from me?
They worshiped worthless idols,
only to become worthless themselves.

Jeremiah 2 verses

Jeremiah 2 5 Meaning

Jeremiah 2:5 presents God's rhetorical question to the people of Judah, challenging the profound spiritual abandonment that their forefathers initiated and they continued. It posits that God had committed no wrong or injustice against them, providing no legitimate cause for their defection. Instead, they willingly departed from Him, choosing to pursue false gods and empty idols, which are metaphorically called "worthlessness" or "vanity." The verse concludes by stating that by embracing these futile objects of worship, the people themselves became as empty and valueless as the idols they served. It highlights the unprovoked nature of Israel's apostasy and the transformative effect of idol worship.

Jeremiah 2 5 Context

Jeremiah chapter 2 marks the beginning of God's lament and strong indictment against Judah for their spiritual infidelity. Following a brief mention of Judah's youthful devotion (Jer 2:2-3) and a lament over their leaders' failures (Jer 2:4), this verse sets the central theme: God's utterly unwarranted rejection by His people. The verse is framed as a legal dispute, with God as the plaintiff, questioning the grounds for Israel's "divorce" from Him. Historically, this prophecy emerged during a period leading up to Judah's Babylonian exile (likely during King Josiah's reign, a time of both attempted reform and pervasive underlying idolatry). The people had abandoned the covenant faithfulness established with God, turning instead to Canaanite fertility cults and other foreign deities, believing they would bring prosperity. Jeremiah here challenges the very foundation of their apostasy, pointing out God's unblemished character and their irrational choice of "worthless" things. It also indirectly polemicizes against the false promises of pagan gods by calling them "worthlessness" (Hebrew: hevel).

Jeremiah 2 5 Word Analysis

• Thus says the LORD: (כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה, koh amar YHWH)

  • This is the standard prophetic formula, indicating the direct word of God. It conveys absolute divine authority and authenticity to the message that follows. It underscores that the ensuing question is not a human one, but God's direct challenge.

• What wrong: (מֶה־עָוֶל, meh-ʿawel)

  • מה (meh): "What?" – a direct interrogative, emphasizing the lack of justification.
  • עָוֶל (ʿawel): "wrong," "injustice," "iniquity," "perversity." This term denotes a grave moral failing, a twisted or perverse act. The rhetorical question strongly implies that absolutely no "wrong" or "injustice" was found in God, rendering their actions inexcusable. It presents God as perfectly just and righteous.

• did your fathers find in me:

  • "Fathers" (אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם, ʾavoteykhem): Refers to previous generations of Israel, acknowledging a pattern of unfaithfulness passed down. It highlights that the apostasy was not sudden but a generational deviation.
  • "find in me": Implies a search for fault or justification. God is challenging them to name any legitimate flaw in His character or dealings with them. The silence is the answer – there was none.

• that they went far from me: (וַיִּרְחֲקוּ מֵעָלָי, vayirchakū mēʿālāy)

  • רָחַק (rachaq): "to be far off," "to be distant." The Hiphil causative indicates a deliberate, active moving away or withdrawal. It wasn't an accidental drifting, but an intentional turning away from the close relationship they had with God. This separation was a conscious choice, breaking the covenant intimacy.

• and walked after worthlessness: (וַיֵּלְכוּ אַחֲרֵי הַהֶבֶל, vayeilekū acharei hahevel)

  • הָלַךְ אַחֲרֵי (halakh acharei): "walked after" – this is a common Hebrew idiom for following, serving, or submitting to, especially in a religious context. It signifies active pursuit and devotion.
  • הֶבֶל (hevel): "worthlessness," "vanity," "emptiness," "breath," "vapor." This is a crucial theological term in the Old Testament, famously in Ecclesiastes. Here, it refers explicitly to idols and false gods, portraying them as utterly lacking substance, power, or value. They are not merely alternative deities but nothing. The pursuit of idols is presented as the pursuit of ultimate emptiness.

• and became worthless: (וַיֶּהְבָּלוּ, vayehbālū)

  • This is a rare Piel form of הָבַל (haval), directly linked to hevel. It means "they became vain," "they made themselves empty," "they became like hevel." This emphasizes the profound spiritual consequence: by pursuing empty things, the worshippers themselves absorbed that emptiness. Their identity, purpose, and spiritual vitality drained away, mirroring the worthlessness of the objects they adored.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me": This phrase captures the theme of Israel's baseless betrayal. God's faithfulness and their unprovoked rebellion are starkly contrasted, highlighting the irrationality of their spiritual adultery.
  • "walked after worthlessness, and became worthless": This powerful pairing underscores the transformative nature of idolatry. It illustrates that spiritual pursuit is not neutral; what one pursues fundamentally shapes one's being. Serving emptiness results in internal emptiness.

Jeremiah 2 5 Bonus Section

The concept of hevel (worthlessness/vanity) being transferred from the object of worship to the worshipper is a deep theological insight in this verse. It is not simply a judgment, but a natural consequence of choosing something other than the eternal and substantial God. This passage provides a foundational understanding for many New Testament teachings on idolatry, where idols are often referred to as "nothing" (1 Cor 8:4) and the spiritual emptiness of pagan life is depicted (Rom 1:21, Eph 4:17). The choice to depart from God is shown here as illogical and self-destructive, directly leading to an erosion of one's intrinsic worth and purpose.

Jeremiah 2 5 Commentary

Jeremiah 2:5 serves as a poignant theological lament and a sharp legal accusation from God against His unfaithful people. It expresses the deep bewilderment of the Creator when faced with His creation's seemingly inexplicable rejection. God's question, "What wrong did your fathers find in me?", is not seeking information, but demanding a confession of inexcusability. It underscores His unwavering justice, righteousness, and providential care throughout their history, implicitly contrasting it with the immense good He had consistently poured out upon them. The turning away was entirely unprovoked, a perverse choice.

The heart of the indictment lies in their choice to "walked after worthlessness" (hevel). This term reduces idols to nothingness – mere breath, a futile vapor without substance or power. This is a profound polemic against all forms of idolatry, stripping false gods of any perceived dignity or efficacy. By pursuing these empty deceptions, Israel embraced a destructive cycle that culminated in a tragic spiritual assimilation: "and became worthless." They did not merely worship worthless things; they allowed those worthless things to define and deform their very essence. Their spiritual identity, which should have been rooted in their relationship with the living God, withered into the barren emptiness of their chosen idols. This is a stark warning about the corrupting influence of misguided worship – what one reveres, one inevitably becomes like. This truth resonates through scripture: worshippers of idols become like them (Ps 115:8), but those who behold the glory of the Lord are transformed into His likeness (2 Cor 3:18).

Examples:

• A person who dedicates their life to the pursuit of transient material wealth finds their life increasingly hollow and unsatisfying, regardless of their riches.
• Someone who obsesses over fleeting worldly fame discovers that once attained, it does not fulfill their deepest longings, leaving them with an internal emptiness.
• A community that sacrifices moral integrity for political expediency eventually loses its ethical compass, becoming internally bankrupt despite external power.