Jeremiah 7 17

Jeremiah 7:17 kjv

Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?

Jeremiah 7:17 nkjv

Do you not see what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?

Jeremiah 7:17 niv

Do you not see what they are doing in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?

Jeremiah 7:17 esv

Do you not see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?

Jeremiah 7:17 nlt

Don't you see what they are doing throughout the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?

Jeremiah 7 verses

Jeremiah 7 17 Meaning

Jeremiah 7:17 is a rhetorical question posed by God, highlighting His omnipresent awareness and deep concern regarding the pervasive and public idolatrous practices among the people of Judah and Jerusalem. It emphasizes that despite God's clear covenant, His people were openly engaged in detestable acts of worship to other deities, to God's utter dismay. The verse sets the stage for the specific example of idolatry detailed in the subsequent verses, showing that these acts were not hidden but occurred throughout their dwelling places.

Jeremiah 7 17 Context

Jeremiah 7:17 is part of Jeremiah's "Temple Sermon," delivered at the gate of the Lord's house (Jer 7:1-2). This powerful discourse critiques the people's false security in the presence of the Temple in Jerusalem (Jer 7:4) while they openly engaged in widespread idolatry, oppression, and immorality (Jer 7:5-11). The chapter highlights a severe disconnect between their outward religious rituals and their inward moral and spiritual state. God, through Jeremiah, exposes their hypocrisy and warns of impending judgment akin to what befell Shiloh (Jer 7:12-15). Verse 17 directly precedes the specific detailing of their worship of the "Queen of Heaven" in Jer 7:18, emphasizing that their sin was not a secret but a visible, public, and collective act permeating their society from the cities of Judah to the very streets of Jerusalem, deeply affronting God. Historically, this sermon likely took place during the reign of King Jehoiakim, after King Josiah's reforms but during a period of significant backsliding into pagan practices.

Jeremiah 7 17 Word analysis

• Do you not see (הַאֵין֙ אַתֶּ֣ה רֹאֶ֔ה – ha’ein ’atteh ro’eh): This is a rhetorical question. It's not that God literally doesn't see, but rather He implies that the pervasive idolatry is so obvious and blatant that even Jeremiah, or anyone paying attention, should recognize its gravity. It conveys God's intense dismay and frustration, underscoring the audacity and widespread nature of their sin, suggesting a deliberate disregard for God's covenant. The Hebrew root for "see" (רָאָה – ra’ah) signifies observation, perception, and understanding.
• what they are doing (אֲשֶׁר־ הֵ֥ם עֹשִׂ֖ים – ’asher- hem ’osim): Refers to their actions, specifically their idolatrous practices, indicating willful, continuous, and habitual engagement. It's not an isolated incident but a pattern of behavior.
• in the cities of Judah (בְּעָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה – be’arei Yehudah): Signifies that the apostasy was not confined to Jerusalem but was deeply embedded throughout the entire territory of Judah, indicating a widespread societal rejection of Yahweh worship. This reflects a comprehensive national apostasy, where the influence of true faith had eroded beyond the capital.
• and in the streets of Jerusalem (וּבְחֻצ֥וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם – uvehutzot Yerushalayim): Emphasizes the public and open nature of their idolatry within the capital city itself. These practices were not clandestine but took place in public view, mocking God in His own designated holy city. It highlights the audacity of their rebellion, taking place even under the symbolic shadow of the Temple.

• "Do you not see what they are doing": This phrase functions as a lament, not an inquiry into Jeremiah's vision. It emphasizes God's personal anguish and challenge to any human observer who might pretend ignorance. It implies a divine demand for recognition of their flagrant disobedience.
• "in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem": This juxtaposition signifies the total geographical and social scope of the defilement. From the regional towns to the very heart of the religious and political capital, idolatry had become entrenched in the public and private spheres. This widespread activity contrasts sharply with the expectation that Jerusalem should be a light and center of true worship.

Jeremiah 7 17 Bonus section

The imagery of "cities" and "streets" is crucial. "Cities of Judah" broadens the scope from solely Jerusalem to the entire kingdom, illustrating a national crisis. "Streets of Jerusalem" specifically pinpoints the public square, suggesting that idolatry was not hidden in private shrines but celebrated openly, normalized into the fabric of daily life and public culture. This open defiance contrasts sharply with the Mosaic law's commands for exclusive worship of Yahweh and highlights a severe moral breakdown where sin was unashamedly paraded. This widespread, public, and collective sin would, as Jeremiah 7:18 reveals, involve all demographics: "The children gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough." This multi-generational participation underscores the deep entrenchment of apostasy and indicates a complete societal embrace of the very practices God abhorred.

Jeremiah 7 17 Commentary

Jeremiah 7:17 is a profound expression of God's heart-wrenching lament over His people's unfaithfulness. It reveals His omniscient gaze on every facet of their rebellion—nothing escapes His notice. The rhetorical "Do you not see?" serves as both an anguished cry and a challenge, implicitly rebuking their blindness or indifference to the widespread public idolatry. The emphasis on "cities of Judah" and "streets of Jerusalem" demonstrates that the apostasy was not a secret, individual sin but a deeply ingrained, communal, and audacious defilement of their covenant relationship with God. They made their idols in the very places God had blessed, displaying a profound betrayal and an abandonment of the truth for detestable practices, soon to be detailed as the worship of the "Queen of Heaven." This persistent rebellion in the face of such clear divine observation foretold the inevitability of the severe judgment that would follow.