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

The verse vividly describes a recurring negative practice involving domestic idols being set up within the temple courts, a profanation of the sacred space dedicated to God. This action signifies a deep spiritual corruption and a turning away from the true worship of Yahweh towards idolatry, particularly involving the "host of heaven."

Jeremiah 7 17 Context

Jeremiah 7 is a crucial passage, often referred to as the "Temple Sermon." Jeremiah stands at the entrance of the Lord's house, confronting the people of Judah and their leaders. They have been committing severe sins, believing that their physical presence in the temple makes them immune to judgment. Jeremiah, however, reveals that God's judgment is inevitable because their actions contradict their claims of worship. They have abandoned righteous living and have embraced various forms of idolatry and social injustice, despite the outward display of religious observance. This verse highlights a specific and abhorrent practice: setting up idols within the very sanctuary of God.

Jeremiah 7 17 Word Analysis

• Do: (Hebrew: ha-raʾĕtĕm - plural verb "see" or "perceive") - This is a direct rhetorical question challenging their ability to perceive or acknowledge the reality of their actions.
• you (plural): Addresses the collective guilt of the people and their leaders.
• not: Emphasizes the willful blindness and denial of their sin.
• see: (Hebrew: raʾătĕm) - More than mere visual perception; it implies understanding, recognition, and accountability.
• what: Refers to the specific actions and abominations they are engaged in.
• they (plural): Refers to the people mentioned in the preceding verses, including the kings, princes, and ordinary citizens.
• are doing: (Hebrew: ʿăśût - present participle) - Indicates ongoing, continuous, and active participation in sin.
• in (plural cities): Denotes that this corruption is widespread throughout the land, not confined to one location.
• the cities: Refers to the urban centers of Judah, signifying their importance and the prevalence of sin within them.
• of Judah: Specifies the geographical and national scope of the problem.
• and (in): Connects the location of the cities with the further desecration.
• in: Denotes inclusion within the innermost sanctums.
• the streets: Refers to public thoroughfares, indicating boldness in sin or disregard for public purity.
• of Jerusalem: Highlights the capital city, where the spiritual and political corruption is most concentrated, and where the desecration of God's house is most egregious.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Do you not see": This phrase functions as a challenge to their awareness, questioning if they are truly oblivious or pretending to be oblivious to the evident reality of their rebellion against God. It implies that the signs of God's displeasure and the nature of their sins should be undeniably clear.
• "what they are doing": This encompasses the totality of their apostate behaviors, specifically calling out the idolatrous practices mentioned later in the chapter, and in this verse, the disturbing act of establishing images within the temple.
• "in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem": This specifies the locale and pervasiveness of the sin, extending from general city life to the most public spaces of the capital, the heart of the nation, emphasizing that their defilement is extensive and unhidden.

Jeremiah 7 17 Bonus Section

The practice of worshipping the "host of heaven" was common in the ancient Near East. This referred to the celestial bodies—the sun, moon, and stars—which were often deified. Jeremiah's condemnation aligns with the broader Mosaic prohibition against star-gazing and worship of celestial entities (Deuteronomy 4:19, 18:10-12). The specific mention of this practice in relation to the temple indicates that this forbidden worship had infiltrated the heart of Israelite religion. This verse, along with others in Jeremiah, reflects God’s displeasure with syncretism—the blending of true worship with pagan practices—and His demand for exclusive devotion. The desecration described here directly violates the holiness of God’s dwelling place.

Jeremiah 7 17 Commentary

Jeremiah confronts the people with a stinging rhetorical question, accusing them of willful ignorance regarding their deep-seated idolatry. They are placing abominations, particularly images dedicated to the "host of heaven" (sun, moon, stars), not just in their cities or streets, but directly within the Lord's house, the most sacred place. This action is an ultimate act of provocation, a profound insult to God's holiness. It signifies a complete betrayal of their covenant relationship. God's response to this desecration, as the context unfolds, will be severe judgment, including the destruction of the very temple they have defiled. The verse emphasizes that mere physical proximity to the temple or outward rituals cannot save them from the consequences of their inner corruption and active sin.