Jeremiah 2:10-12
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This verse is a rhetorical challenge: God dares Israel to survey the entire known world, from the "civilized" west (Cyprus and beyond) to the "barbarous" east (Kedar), and find even one other nation that has so foolishly abandoned its deities. The point isn't that other nations were perfect, but that Israel's radical fickleness in forsaking their true God was utterly unique and inexcusable.
For cross to the coasts of Cyprus and see, or send to Kedar and examine with care; see if there has been such a thing. Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah is challenging Israel to look beyond their own borders, from the sophisticated West (Cyprus and other islands) to the nomadic East (Kedar), to see if any other nation has ever been so unfaithful. He's setting up a stark comparison: even pagan nations, who worship fake gods, show more loyalty to their deities than Israel has shown to the one true God. This intense comparison highlights the unique and profound betrayal of God's covenant by His own people.
Imagine God challenging you to find a parallel to Israel's unfaithfulness. He points to the farthest reaches of the known world. What does this tell us about the gravity of their sin?
Jeremiah is called to issue a bold challenge: 'Go over to Cyprus, travel to Kedar, search high and low!' This isn't a literal vacation itinerary. God is using hyperbole to paint a picture.
Searching West and East
By directing Jeremiah to look at both the 'civilized' West and the 'uncivilized' East, God emphasizes that no nation, no matter how advanced or how simple, has acted like Israel.
The Unwavering Pagan
The nations around Israel kept their gods, even though they were fake. Israel, however, traded their true God for... nothing. What was lost in that exchange?
The core of Israel's sin, as revealed in the verses following this one, is a radical, inexplicable change. While pagan nations might have been foolish in worshipping false gods, they at least showed a perverse kind of loyalty. They their deities.
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Loyalty in Error
This isn't just a simple switch; it's a downgrading of the supreme, the eternal, the true, for the worthless and the empty. The contrast highlights the shocking ingratitude and spiritual blindness of God's own people.
Understand the original words
goy · Hebrew Noun
Refers to a people group or ethnic body, often used in contrast to Israel (the nations/Gentiles) or to describe the corporate entity of Israel itself. In the Old Testament, it emphasizes the collective identity and political structure of a people.
Yahweh · Hebrew Proper Noun
The Hebrew term for the God of Israel, the covenant-keeping I AM who revealed Himself to Moses. It signifies His holiness, faithfulness, and supreme authority as the Creator and Redeemer.
kabod · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the manifestation of God's presence, majesty, and character. In this context, it speaks to the honor and unique dignity that belongs to God, which Israel foolishly traded away.
shamem · Hebrew Verb/Adjective
A condition of extreme desolation, ruin, or spiritual emptiness. It characterizes the consequences of judgment or the state of being forsaken by God.
The prophet Jeremiah calls the people to look across the known world – to the sophisticated West (Cyprus/Chittim) and the nomadic East (Kedar) – challenging them to find any other nation that has so readily abandoned its God, highlighting Israel's unique and profound ingratitude.
c. 1200 BC
Sea Peoples Invasions
Various groups, possibly including peoples from Cyprus (Chittim), migrated and attacked coastal regions of the Mediterranean, disrupting established powers and trade routes.
c. 900 BC - 700 BC
Assyrian Empire's Dominance
The powerful Neo-Assyrian Empire exerted significant influence and control over the Near East, including regions bordering the territories of Kedar (Arabia). This period saw deportations and political subjugation.
c. 605 BC
Babylonian Conquest of Judah
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon conquered Judah, initiating the first major deportation of Judeans to Babylon. This marked a significant shift in regional power and the beginning of the exile.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple, bringing an end to the Southern Kingdom of Judah and leading to a further, larger exile. This was a profound national trauma.
c. 539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered Babylon, allowing exiled peoples, including the Judeans, to return to their homelands. This ushered in the Persian period.
Early 6th century BC— this verse
Jeremiah's Ministry in Jerusalem
Jeremiah prophesied during a tumultuous period leading up to and during the Babylonian exile, warning Judah of impending judgment due to its persistent idolatry and unfaithfulness to God.
Mid-6th century BC
Exile and Return
The Judean exile in Babylon lasted for decades. While some returned after Cyrus's decree, the community grappled with rebuilding their national and religious life, facing ongoing challenges.
This passage echoes Jeremiah's lament, describing Israel as a 'crooked and twisted generation' that has 'forgotten the rock of their salvation,' highlighting a long-standing pattern of unfaithfulness.
Judges 2:11-13This account shows the Israelites forsaking the LORD, the God of their ancestors who brought them out of Egypt, and instead serving other gods, illustrating the very 'change of gods' Jeremiah is so astounded by.
Psalm 106:19-21This psalm recalls Israel's sin of making a golden calf and worshipping it, explicitly stating they 'exchanged their glory for an image of a bull,' which directly parallels Jeremiah's accusation of exchanging God for worthlessness.
Romans 1:21-23Paul describes the Gentile world as having 'exchanged the truth about God for a lie' and worshipping created things, showing that even among non-Israelites, the failure to honor God as God was a profound universal failure, making Israel's chosen status and subsequent apostasy even more egregious.
barnesJeremiah 2:10: "For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing."
Kedar signifies the whole East, and the isles of Chittim ( Isaiah 23:12 note) the West. If then you traverse all lands from west to east, it will be impossible to find any nation guilty of such apostasy as that committed by Israel.
gillJeremiah 2:10: "For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing."
For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see,.... Or, "to the isles of Chittim" (z); so called from Kittim the son of Javan, Genesis 10:4 who, as Josephus says (a), possessed the island of Chethima, now called Cyprus; and, from that, all islands, and most maritime places, are, by the Hebrews, called Chittim, he observes: it may regard all the islands in th…
This verse is a rhetorical challenge: God dares Israel to survey the entire known world, from the "civilized" west (Cyprus and beyond) to the "barbarous" east (Kedar), and find even one other nation that has so foolishly abandoned its deities. The point isn't that other nations were perfect, but that Israel's radical fickleness in forsaking their true God was utterly unique and inexcusable.
Jeremiah is challenging Israel to look beyond their own borders, from the sophisticated West (Cyprus and other islands) to the nomadic East (Kedar), to see if any other nation has ever been so unfaithful. He's setting up a stark comparison: even pagan nations, who worship fake gods, show more loyalty to their deities than Israel has shown to the one true God. This intense comparison highlights the unique and profound betrayal of God's covenant by His own people.
Jeremiah is challenging Israel to look beyond their own borders, from the sophisticated West (Cyprus and other islands) to the nomadic East (Kedar), to see if any other nation has ever been so unfaithful. He's setting up a stark comparison: even pagan nations, who worship fake gods, show more loyalty to their deities than Israel has shown to the one true God. This intense comparison highlights the unique and profound betrayal of God's covenant by His own people.
"For cross to the coasts of Cyprus and see, or send to Kedar and examine with care; see if there has been such a thing. Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed thei…" — This verse is a rhetorical challenge: God dares Israel to survey the entire known world, from the "civilized" west (Cyprus and beyond) to the "barbarous" east (Kedar), and find even one other nation…
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Last reviewed October 2026
