Jeremiah 3:23 kjv
Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel.
Jeremiah 3:23 nkjv
Truly, in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, And from the multitude of mountains; Truly, in the LORD our God Is the salvation of Israel.
Jeremiah 3:23 niv
Surely the idolatrous commotion on the hills and mountains is a deception; surely in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel.
Jeremiah 3:23 esv
Truly the hills are a delusion, the orgies on the mountains. Truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel.
Jeremiah 3:23 nlt
Our worship of idols on the hills
and our religious orgies on the mountains
are a delusion.
Only in the LORD our God
will Israel ever find salvation.
Jeremiah 3 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 3:23 | Truly the hills, the outcry of the multitude on the mountains... | Jeremiah 3:23 |
| Isa 44:17 | And the rest thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down | Isaiah 44:17 |
| Isa 45:16 | They shall be ashamed, and even confounded, all of them... | Isaiah 45:16 |
| Psa 115:4 | Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. | Psalm 115:4 |
| Psa 135:15 | The idols of the Gentiles are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. | Psalm 135:15 |
| Jer 2:11 | But my people hath changed my glory for that which doth not profit. | Jeremiah 2:11 |
| Jer 2:13 | For my people have committed two evils... | Jeremiah 2:13 |
| Jer 7:30 | For the children of Judah hath done evil in my sight, saith the LORD. | Jeremiah 7:30 |
| Jer 11:14 | Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer... | Jeremiah 11:14 |
| Jer 14:22 | Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? | Jeremiah 14:22 |
| Jer 16:19 | O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction | Jeremiah 16:19 |
| Hos 10:1 | Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself... | Hosea 10:1 |
| Hos 13:4 | Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt... | Hosea 13:4 |
| Gal 4:8 | Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature... | Galatians 4:8 |
| 1 Cor 8:4 | As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. | 1 Corinthians 8:4 |
| Acts 19:26 | Moreover ye see and hear, that that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands. | Acts 19:26 |
| Ps 49:20 | That man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish. | Psalm 49:20 |
| Isa 55:2 | Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? | Isaiah 55:2 |
| Rom 1:21-23 | Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God... | Romans 1:21-23 |
| Deut 28:36 | The LORD shall bring thee and thy king which shall rule over thee unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known; and there shalt thou serve other gods of wood and stone. | Deuteronomy 28:36 |
Jeremiah 3 verses
Jeremiah 3 23 Meaning
This verse signifies the futility and self-deception involved in relying on false gods and idols. Israel's return to their idolatrous ways is characterized by a return to seeking deliverance from these powerless creations, rather than from the LORD, their true source of salvation and strength. The imagery highlights the emptiness and deceit inherent in pagan worship.
Jeremiah 3 23 Context
Jeremiah chapter 3 addresses the unfaithfulness of Israel, likening them to an adulterous wife. The Lord recounts Israel's historical pattern of turning away from Him to chase after other gods and engaging in pagan practices. In verse 23, the prophet is exposing the spiritual blindness and folly of the nation's continued reliance on their idols. This message comes during a time when the people are still participating in the worship of false deities, despite God's repeated warnings and judgments. The imagery of hills and multitudes points to public and widespread idolatrous practices, perhaps associated with Canaanite fertility cults prominent on the high places.
Jeremiah 3 23 Word Analysis
- Truly (אַךְ - akh): This adverb indicates certainty or emphasis, often introducing a contrast or a stark reality. Here, it underscores the absolute falsity of the perceived help from idols.
- the hills (הָהָר - hahar): Refers to the "high places" (הַבָּמוֹת - habbāmōth) that were prevalent sites for pagan worship in ancient Israel and surrounding nations, often associated with idolatry and forbidden by God's law.
- the outcry (שָׁוְא - sho'av): Means vanity, worthlessness, emptiness, falsehood, deceit. It describes the sound made in a misguided or fruitless endeavor.
- of the multitude (מִפְרֶה - miphrēh): This word typically refers to the tumult, the rushing or clamor of a crowd, suggesting a loud but disorganized and meaningless religious fervor.
- on the mountains (עַל־הָרִים - al-harim): Again emphasizing the high places, these were not just geographical locations but symbolic centers of illicit worship and covenant-breaking.
- Behold (הִנֵּה - hinneh): An interjection calling for attention, drawing the listener to a significant observation.
- Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל - Yisrael): The name of the covenant people, ironically here identified with their idolatrous actions.
- shall be healed (תְּרֻפָּא - teruppā): From the root רָפָא (râpâ), meaning to heal, to mend, to restore. This word highlights the complete lack of restorative power in the idols they pursue.
Words/group by words analysis:
- Truly the hills, the outcry of the multitude on the mountains: This phrase powerfully captures the collective and visible nature of their apostasy. The "outcry" isn't a prayer for deliverance to the true God but a misguided noise made in the places of illicit worship.
- Behold, Israel shall be healed: This is presented sarcastically. The statement of "healing" is entirely dependent on their continued involvement with idols, implying a false, delusional healing that will never materialize. It's the opposite of the true spiritual and national healing offered by the LORD.
Jeremiah 3 23 Bonus Section
The "high places" (bamot) were a major point of contention between the LORD and Israel throughout the Old Testament. They often represented syncretism, blending Yahweh worship with Canaanite religious practices. God's commandment in Deuteronomy 12 explicitly commanded the destruction of these high places and centralization of worship at the designated place (later, Jerusalem). The persistence of this practice highlights Israel's ongoing struggle with idolatry and disobedience, setting the stage for further prophetic judgment and exile. The healing promised here is a perverse counterpoint to the true healing offered by the LORD in passages like Jeremiah 17:14 ("Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved").
Jeremiah 3 23 Commentary
This verse condemns Israel's deeply ingrained pattern of seeking spiritual or practical relief from their idol worship conducted on the "high places." The imagery is vivid: the chaotic "outcry" on the mountains represents the futile noise of their pagan ceremonies, seeking help from powers that are utterly powerless. The prophet uses "Behold, Israel shall be healed" as a bitter irony. They believe their rituals on the hills bring healing and order, but in reality, they are deeply diseased and fragmented by their sin. The "healing" they perceive is a deceptive mirage provided by their idols, rather than the true restoration that only the LORD can offer. This emphasizes their profound spiritual delusion and the hollowness of their chosen paths of worship, which only exacerbate their condition.