Jeremiah 7 9

Jeremiah 7:9 kjv

Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;

Jeremiah 7:9 nkjv

Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know,

Jeremiah 7:9 niv

"?'Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known,

Jeremiah 7:9 esv

Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known,

Jeremiah 7:9 nlt

Do you really think you can steal, murder, commit adultery, lie, and burn incense to Baal and all those other new gods of yours,

Jeremiah 7 verses

Jeremiah 7 9 Meaning

Jeremiah 7:9 starkly lists a series of grievous transgressions committed by the people of Judah: stealing, murder, adultery, swearing falsely, and most crucially, offering incense to Baal and pursuing other unknown gods. This rhetorical question highlights the blatant hypocrisy of their actions, where they simultaneously commit these covenant-breaking sins while expecting the protection of the Lord and His Temple. The verse underlines a comprehensive moral and spiritual decay, asserting that outward religious practice is nullified by inward rebellion and open idolatry, creating an absurd contradiction in their devotion.

Jeremiah 7 9 Context

Jeremiah 7:9 is part of Jeremiah's Temple Sermon (Jer 7:1-15), a prophetic message delivered at the gate of the Lord's house in Jerusalem during a time when the people of Judah faced growing threats from Babylonian aggression. The prevailing national delusion was that their possession of the Temple guaranteed God's protection, regardless of their moral or spiritual state. They clung to the mantra, "The temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD are these!" (Jer 7:4), believing that their rituals and presence in the holy city acted as an amulet against divine judgment. Jeremiah vehemently challenged this false security, arguing that outward religious observance was worthless without true repentance and obedience to the Mosaic Covenant. The specific list of sins in verse 9 demonstrates that the people's hypocrisy wasn't minor but involved foundational violations of the Decalogue (sins against man) combined with flagrant idolatry (sins against God), indicating a complete breakdown of their covenant relationship.

Jeremiah 7 9 Word analysis

• Will you (הֲגָנֹב hă·ḡā·nōv): The Hebrew uses a rhetorical interrogative particle, "Ha-," introducing a question that expects a resounding 'no' but is used here to emphasize the absurd 'yes.' It highlights the shocking contradiction between their actions and their supposed faith.
• steal (גָּנֹב gā·nōv): From the root גָּנַב (ganav), meaning "to steal, to take away secretly." A direct violation of the eighth commandment (Ex 20:15). It indicates disregard for neighbor's property rights.
• murder (רָצֹחַ rā·ṣō·aḥ): From the root רָצַח (ratsach), "to murder, kill." This refers specifically to unlawful taking of human life, not warfare or legal execution. A direct violation of the sixth commandment (Ex 20:13).
• commit adultery (נָאֹף nā·’ōph): From the root נָאַף (na’af), meaning "to commit adultery." A direct violation of the seventh commandment (Ex 20:14). It signifies the breakdown of familial and societal purity and fidelity.
• swear falsely (וְהִשָּׁבֵעַ לַשֶּׁקֶר wəhiššāḇêaʿ laššeqer): Lit. "and swear to the lie/falsehood." This goes beyond simply lying; it's a perjury, taking an oath in God's name to a falsehood or breaking an oath made. A clear violation of the ninth commandment (Ex 20:16) and implies desecration of God's name by invoking it deceitfully.
• offer incense (וְקַטֵּר wəqaṭṭêr): From the root קָטַר (qatar), "to cause to go up in smoke," often referring to burning sacrificial offerings or incense. This action, meant for the Lord, is here directed toward an idol.
• to Baal (לַבַּעַל labbaʿal): "To Baal." Baal was the chief Canaanite god, associated with storms, fertility, and kingship. His worship involved pagan rituals, often with sexual immorality, child sacrifice, and a worldview directly antithetical to YHWH's covenant demands. His name means "owner" or "lord," asserting an idolatrous lordship over Israel.
• and go after (וְהָלַכְתֶּם אַחֲרֵי wəhālaktem ’aḥărê): Lit. "and walk after." This idiom denotes allegiance, following, or devoting oneself to. It signifies a full commitment and pursuit of these other gods, not just a casual acknowledgment.
• other gods (אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים ’ĕlōhîm ’ăḥêrîm): "Different gods, foreign gods." This term directly violates the first and second commandments against polytheism and idolatry (Ex 20:3).
• that you have not known (לֹא יְדַעְתֶּם lō’ yəḏa‘tem): The verb יָדַע (yada') means "to know" and implies deep, experiential knowledge, not merely intellectual awareness. By saying they have not 'known' these gods, Jeremiah points out the foreign, unproven, and ultimately powerless nature of these deities, which have no historical claim of covenant, salvation, or miraculous deliverance over Israel, unlike YHWH. It's a critique of their blind allegiance to powerless entities.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely...": This cluster directly references the core ethical commandments of the Decalogue (from the sixth to the ninth). It demonstrates a societal breakdown where fundamental human rights and covenant loyalty are violated. These are sins against fellow humans and society, but inherently also sins against God who established the law. The rhetorical question mocks their audacity to engage in such practices while claiming spiritual sanctity.
• "...offer incense to Baal and go after other gods...": This second cluster identifies direct acts of apostasy and idolatry. Offering incense to Baal was a public, deliberate act of worship to a pagan deity, contradicting the exclusive worship of YHWH. "Going after other gods" encapsulates a lifestyle of allegiance and devotion to these foreign entities. This part highlights the breach of the first four commandments, particularly the first, demonstrating a direct rebellion against God's supreme authority and uniqueness.
• "...that you have not known": This final phrase is crucial. It underscores the irrationality and spiritual blindness of their idolatry. Unlike YHWH, who delivered them from Egypt, provided for them in the wilderness, and entered into covenant with them, these "other gods" have no proven track record, no redemptive acts, and no real claim on their loyalty. They are unknown entities without historical or existential backing, emphasizing the futility and senselessness of turning away from the living God.

Jeremiah 7 9 Bonus section

The concept of "knowing" (יָדַע yada') in Hebrew scripture is profound, going beyond mere intellectual assent to encompass experiential, intimate relationship. When Jeremiah states the people went after gods they "have not known," he's emphasizing the absence of any true, historical, covenantal relationship with these deities, contrasting sharply with YHWH's known history of interaction and redemption with Israel. This highlights the utterly illogical nature of their idolatry. Furthermore, the term "Baal" (lord/master) being so readily embraced indicates a fundamental challenge to YHWH's unique lordship over Israel. The Israelites were effectively adopting other "lords" who could offer nothing compared to the one true God, further illustrating their spiritual blindness. Jeremiah’s use of such a stark list also prefigures later New Testament teachings where similar lists of moral transgressions (often including idolatry) are cited as antithetical to true faith and kingdom inheritance, reinforcing the continuity of God's demand for holistic obedience.

Jeremiah 7 9 Commentary

Jeremiah 7:9 lays bare the profound spiritual sickness of Judah during the late monarchy. It is a piercing indictment, presenting a logical contradiction in their religious and moral life. The rhetorical question implicitly challenges their audacious belief that God's presence in the Temple would protect them, even as they flagrantly violated the foundational laws of the covenant. The listing of ethical sins—stealing, murder, adultery, and perjury—demonstrates a comprehensive disregard for justice, human life, family integrity, and truth. What elevates this to an utterly deplorable state, however, is the immediate conjunction of these societal transgressions with blatant idolatry: burning incense to Baal and serving "other gods" that hold no legitimate claim on their allegiance. This juxtaposition reveals a theology of convenience, where outward religious ceremony to YHWH was presumed to nullify a life of open rebellion and syncretistic worship. God demands a holistic righteousness, an uncompromised devotion in both action and allegiance. This verse emphasizes that moral depravity and spiritual infidelity are inseparable and equally an offense to a holy God. Their actions negated their claims of covenant relationship, exposing a heart profoundly distant from the Lord they professed to worship.