Jeremiah 32 34

Jeremiah 32:34 kjv

But they set their abominations in the house, which is called by my name, to defile it.

Jeremiah 32:34 nkjv

But they set their abominations in the house which is called by My name, to defile it.

Jeremiah 32:34 niv

They set up their vile images in the house that bears my Name and defiled it.

Jeremiah 32:34 esv

They set up their abominations in the house that is called by my name, to defile it.

Jeremiah 32:34 nlt

They have set up their abominable idols right in my own Temple, defiling it.

Jeremiah 32 verses

Jeremiah 32 34 Meaning

This verse signifies a turning point where God's severe judgment upon Jerusalem, specifically due to the people's defilement of the Temple, is contrasted with a future outpouring of His Spirit upon all flesh. It marks a transition from historical condemnation to a promise of spiritual renewal and universal divine presence.

Jeremiah 32 34 Context

Jeremiah 32:34 describes a specific transgression within the broader context of God's judgment and covenant faithfulness to Israel. The preceding verses (32:26-35) detail God's pronouncement of severe punishment on Jerusalem. This judgment is directly linked to the sins of the people, particularly their idolatrous practices, which defiled God's chosen place of worship, the Temple. Verse 34 specifically mentions the people building "high places of Baal" within the "Valley of the Son of Hinnom." This valley, historically a site of pagan child sacrifice (Jer 7:31), became synonymous with abominable worship. By placing these idolatrous altars within this place and within God's Temple, the Israelites committed an extreme act of spiritual rebellion and defilement.

Historically, this passage addresses the deep-seated corruption and apostasy prevalent in Judah leading up to the Babylonian conquest. The people had consistently turned away from Yahweh, adopting the practices of surrounding nations. This disobedience was a violation of the Mosaic Covenant, which strictly prohibited idolatry and mandated worship at the central sanctuary. The verse thus highlights the severe consequences of national apostasy and the inherent impurity that God abhors, especially within His dwelling place.

Jeremiah 32 34 Word Analysis

• וְשָׂם (wə·śām): This is the waw consecutive imperfect of the verb śām (to put, place, set). The waw signifies a continuation of action or consequence. Here, it links the action of building high places to a preceding event or as part of a continuous pattern of sin.
• בָּמֹת (bā·mōṯ): The plural of bāmâ, meaning "high place." These were often elevated spots or platforms used for worship, typically associated with Canaanite fertility cults and later with syncretistic Israelite worship, usually condemned in the Old Testament.
• בַּעַל (ba·‘al): Meaning "lord" or "master." Baal was the chief deity of the Canaanites, a god of fertility and storms. Worshipping Baal involved practices considered abominable by Israel's faith, such as temple prostitution and sacrifice.
• בְּגֵיא (bə·ḡê ‘): Preposition bĕ (in, at) plus gê ‘ (valley).
• בֶן־ (ḇen-): "Son of."
• הִנֹּם (hinnōm): "Hinnom." Ge-Hinnom, the Valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem. It became known for the idolatrous practices associated with Moloch worship, including child sacrifice (Jer 7:31), and later associated with punishment and condemnation, a concept that influenced the New Testament idea of Gehenna.
• אֲשֶׁר (’ă·šer): "Which," "that." A relative pronoun.
• לֹא־ (lō’-): A negative particle.
• צִוִּיתִי (ṣi·wwî·ṯî): First person singular perfect of the verb ṣā·wâ, meaning "commanded." This emphasizes that the building of these high places was in direct violation of God's explicit commands.
• וְלֹא־ (wə·lō’-): Another "and not."
• עָלְתָה (‘āl·ṯâ): Third person feminine singular perfect of the verb ‘ā·lâ, meaning "to go up" or "to ascend." Here it refers to offerings going up in smoke on an altar.
• עַל־ (‘al-): "Upon."
• לִבִּי (lib·bî): "My heart." Used here in a figurative sense, referring to God's desires or intentions. God states that these abominations did not enter into His mind or purpose; they were contrary to His will.
• וְלֹא־ (wə·lō’-): "Nor."
• עָלְתָה (‘āl·ṯâ): Again, "to go up," referring to sacrifices.
• עַל־ (‘al-): "Upon."
• יָדַי (yā·ḏay): "My hands." Implies actions performed with God's consent or purpose, which these idolatrous acts were not.

Word Group Analysis:

• "Built high places of Baal in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom": This phrase encapsulates a comprehensive act of religious syncretism and rebellion. It combines the forbidden Canaanite worship of Baal with the horrific practices already occurring in the Valley of Hinnom (child sacrifice), symbolizing the absolute defilement of the land and their covenant relationship with God.
• "Which I had not commanded, nor had it come into my mind": This stark declaration by God emphasizes the utter foreignness and alien nature of these acts from His will and intention for His people. It is a direct refutation of any claim that these practices might have been justified or misinterpreted from divine instruction.

Jeremiah 32 34 Bonus Section

This verse vividly illustrates the concept of sacred space defilement. In the ancient Near East, territory was imbued with divine presence, and thus, worshipping foreign gods in a place consecrated to the one true God was considered an extreme act of treason and defilement. The Valley of Hinnom was already a place of horror due to child sacrifice (Moloch), and setting up Baal worship there symbolized the complete inversion of God's holy purposes for the land and His people. This concept of defilement and subsequent purging resonates throughout Scripture, particularly in Leviticus and Ezekiel. The "Valley of the Son of Hinnom" becomes a symbolic precursor to "Gehenna" (Greek for Hinnom), the place of eternal punishment in the New Testament, reflecting its deep association with utter abandonment of God.

Jeremiah 32 34 Commentary

Jeremiah 32:34 serves as a critical indictment of Israel's deepest spiritual corruption. It’s not just about engaging in foreign worship but the deliberate choice to integrate these abominations into the very landscape and religious system God had established. Building high places of Baal in the Valley of Hinnom meant co-mingling Yahweh's designated territory with the foulest Canaanite rites. The valley itself was already a place tainted by child sacrifice to Moloch, and by establishing Baal worship there, they doubled down on the vileness.

God's assertion that these acts were not commanded and did not enter His mind is profoundly significant. It underscores that sin is not merely a deviation but an active opposition to God’s revealed will and His very nature. This verse lays the foundation for understanding God's impending judgment, which is described as a consequence of such egregious defilement. The prophecy that follows, of pouring out His Spirit on all flesh (foreshadowed in Joel and fulfilled in Acts), contrasts this state of impurity and divine withdrawal with a future of overwhelming spiritual presence and renewal, made possible through the new covenant.