Jeremiah 17:3-4
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God calls Jerusalem "my mountain in the field," highlighting that its significance comes not from its natural height, but from being His mountain, set apart for Him. This precious designation makes the subsequent judgment even more poignant: all their treasures and places of worship will be plundered, not just as a consequence of their sin, but as the very price they'll pay for their idolatry.
on the mountains in the open country. Your wealth and all your treasures I will give for spoil as the price of your high places for sin throughout all your territory. You shall loosen your hand from your heritage that I gave to you, and I will make you serve your enemies in a land that you do not know, for in my anger a fire is kindled that shall burn forever.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah is addressing Jerusalem, God's chosen mountain city, which has become surrounded by the sinfulness of the surrounding land. Because of their persistent idolatry at "high places" scattered throughout their territory, God declares He will allow their enemies to plunder all their wealth and treasures, leaving even their sacred sites ruined. This judgment, echoing a prophecy from chapter 15, marks a turning point where God's patience with Judah's deep-seated sin has run out.
Jeremiah calls Jerusalem 'my mountain in the field.' What does this poetic, almost contradictory, phrase reveal about God's relationship with His chosen city, and why is it being threatened with plunder?
Jeremiah uses the phrase "my mountain in the field" to refer to Jerusalem (and by extension, Judah). It's a tender, possessive term. Zion, the mountain where God's temple stood, was supposed to be His special dwelling place, set apart and elevated. Yet, the prophets often contrast its divine elevation with the surrounding 'field' – the ordinary, open country.
This verse, however, flips the narrative. God is saying, 'This mountain of mine, this special place you rely on, is now vulnerable.' The 'field' that surrounds it, the land you think is secure, is also part of the threat. The plunder isn't just coming for the outlying territories; it's coming for the heart of God's covenant people, even for the sacred grounds.
The term "my mountain" highlights God's ownership and past protection. But the threat of plunder underscores that this special relationship is jeopardized by their sin. God's judgment is so severe that even His cherished "mountain" will be stripped bare.
The verse directly links the plunder of Jerusalem's wealth to its 'high places for sin.' What were these high places, and why did they carry such a devastating price?
Throughout Israel's history, the 'high places' were locations, often on hills or elevated spots, where people engaged in worship. Tragically, for Judah, these became the primary sites of idolatry and syncretism – blending forbidden pagan practices with the worship of Yahweh.
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God declares that their wealth and treasures will be given as spoil specifically as the price for these sins. This isn't just a random destruction; it's a consequence. The very places where they sought favor through forbidden worship will become the reason for their devastation and loss.
This highlights a crucial theological point: God does not overlook sin, especially the corruption of His worship. The 'high places' represented a deliberate turning away from the true God, an attempt to secure blessings through illegitimate means. The judgment is a stark demonstration that there is a real and terrible cost for such rebellion.
Understand the original words
bamah · Hebrew Noun
Places of worship, often on elevated terrain, which were frequently used for unauthorized or pagan religious practices throughout Israel's history.
nachalah · Hebrew Noun
A God-given portion, inheritance, or land, specifically referring to the land of Israel as the covenantal possession given by the Lord to His people.
Jeremiah's prophecy directly addresses the impending destruction of Jerusalem and its treasured possessions, stemming from the deep-rooted sin of idolatry practiced at the 'high places' scattered throughout the land. The verse highlights that their beloved city, once God's 'mountain,' would be plundered because of its pervasive unfaithfulness.
c. 9th-7th century BC
Rise of High Places Worship
Throughout this period, Israelites increasingly engaged in idolatrous worship at 'high places' – outdoor shrines often on hills or mountains – despite God's commands to worship only at the appointed sanctuary.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern kingdom of Israel, exiling many and scattering the populace. This event served as a stark warning to Judah about the consequences of disobedience.
c. 622 BC
Josiah's Religious Reforms
King Josiah discovers the Book of the Law and institutes sweeping reforms, attempting to centralize worship and destroy the high places. However, the deep-seated idolatry proves difficult to eradicate.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah and begins deporting its elite, including young nobles like Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian threat and exile.
597 BC
Second Deportation and Jehoiachin's Exile
Another wave of exiles, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, are taken to Babylon. Jerusalem is left under a puppet ruler, Zedekiah.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Destruction of the Temple
The Babylonians lay siege to Jerusalem, eventually breaching the walls, destroying the city and Solomon's Temple, and exiling the remaining population. Jeremiah's prophecy of total loss is tragically fulfilled.
This passage is almost identical, directly stating that God will give Judah's wealth and treasures to their enemies as punishment for their sins throughout their land, reinforcing the same theme of divine judgment.
Ezekiel 26:12This passage describes the complete destruction and plunder of Tyre, highlighting how God uses enemies to carry off wealth and treasures as a consequence of sin and pride, mirroring the fate threatened in Jeremiah.
Isaiah 2:2This prophecy describes the 'mountain of the house of the Lord' being exalted above all mountains, a stark contrast to Jeremiah's imagery of Jerusalem ('my mountain in the field') being desecrated and plundered because of sin.
Hosea 2:9This verse shows God directly withdrawing his gifts of grain, new wine, and wool, which were the 'payment' for Israel's idolatry, paralleling how the 'price of your high places for sin' will be taken from Judah.
barnesJeremiah 17:3: "O my mountain in the field, I will give thy substance and all thy treasures to the spoil, and thy high places for sin, throughout all thy borders."
O my mountain in the field - i. e., Jerusalem or Zion, called the Rock of the Plain in Jeremiah 21:13 . "The field" is the open unenclosed country, here contrasted with the privileged height of Zion. Or sin - i. e., because of thy sin.
clarkeJeremiah 17:3: "O my mountain in the field, I will give thy substance and all thy treasures to the spoil, and thy high places for sin, throughout all thy borders."
O my mountain in the field - The prophet here addresses the land of Judea, which was a mountainous country, Deuteronomy 3:25 ; but Jerusalem itself may be meant, which is partly built upon hills which, like itself, are elevated above the rest of the country.
God calls Jerusalem "my mountain in the field," highlighting that its significance comes not from its natural height, but from being His mountain, set apart for Him. This precious designation makes the subsequent judgment even more poignant: all their treasures and places of worship will be plundered, not just as a consequence of their sin, but as the very price they'll pay for their idolatry.
Jeremiah is addressing Jerusalem, God's chosen mountain city, which has become surrounded by the sinfulness of the surrounding land. Because of their persistent idolatry at "high places" scattered throughout their territory, God declares He will allow their enemies to plunder all their wealth and treasures, leaving even their sacred sites ruined. This judgment, echoing a prophecy from chapter 15, marks a turning point where God's patience with Judah's deep-seated sin has run out.
Jeremiah is addressing Jerusalem, God's chosen mountain city, which has become surrounded by the sinfulness of the surrounding land. Because of their persistent idolatry at "high places" scattered throughout their territory, God declares He will allow their enemies to plunder all their wealth and treasures, leaving even their sacred sites ruined. This judgment, echoing a prophecy from chapter 15, marks a turning point where God's patience with Judah's deep-seated sin has run out.
"on the mountains in the open country. Your wealth and all your treasures I will give for spoil as the price of your high places for sin throughout all your territory. You shall loosen your hand from your heritage that I gave to you, and I…" — God calls Jerusalem "my mountain in the field," highlighting that its significance comes not from its natural height, but from being His mountain, set apart for Him. This precious designation makes…
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Last reviewed October 2026
