Jeremiah 2:27-28
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It's easy to miss the subtle but profound irony in calling a stone "mother"—in Hebrew, the word for "stone" is feminine, highlighting the absurdity of attributing the act of birth to an inanimate object. This detail underscores the depth of their spiritual confusion, turning their backs on the true Creator for lifeless idols that can never truly give life.
who say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’ For they have turned their back to me, and not their face. But in the time of their trouble they say, ‘Arise and save us!’ But where are your gods that you made for yourself? Let them arise, if they can save you, in your time of trouble; for as many as your cities are your gods, O Judah.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah confronts his people for their blatant idolatry, describing their utter foolishness in turning to lifeless objects like trees and stones as their "father" and "mother." This act of rebellion signifies a complete turning away from God, yet in their times of distress, they expect this same God to rescue them. The prophet highlights this hypocrisy: they abandon God in good times, only to cry out to Him when their idols inevitably fail to save them.
Imagine talking to a tree, calling it 'Dad.' Or a rock, 'Mom.' That's exactly what God accuses His people of doing!
Jeremiah 2:27 paints a stark picture of the Israelites' idolatry. They addressed wooden idols ('stocks') as their father and stone idols as their mother.
Jeremiah calls out their posture: not just a casual turning away, but a deliberate, defiant rejection of God's face.
The verse explains the why behind their foolishness: 'For they have turned their back to me, and not their face.' This wasn't a minor slip; it was a fundamental orientation against God.
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When life hits the fan, who do you really call out to? Jeremiah reveals the desperate cry of the idolater when their false gods fail.
The dramatic shift in the verse reveals the hollow nature of their devotion: 'But in the time of their trouble they say, ‘Arise and save us!’
Jeremiah's sharp words condemn a people who, in times of peace, openly worship inanimate objects as their source of life and salvation. This idolatry isn't just a ritual; it's a rejection of God's true fatherly care, only to cry out to Him in crisis when their false gods fail.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting many Israelites and replacing them with foreign populations. This event deeply impacts Judah, serving as a stark warning of divine judgment for unfaithfulness.
626 BC
Jeremiah Begins Prophesying
Jeremiah is called by God to prophesy in Judah, during a time of spiritual decline and growing threat from the Neo-Babylonian Empire. He warns the people of impending judgment due to their idolatry and unfaithfulness.
c. 612 BC
Fall of Nineveh
The Assyrian capital falls to a coalition of Babylonians and Medes. While a brief respite for Judah, it signifies a shift in regional power towards Babylon, increasing the pressure on Judah.
609 BC
King Josiah's Death
Josiah, a righteous king who had led religious reforms, is killed in battle against the Egyptians. His death leaves Judah vulnerable and without strong spiritual leadership, exacerbating the crisis Jeremiah addresses.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Under Nebuchadnezzar II, Babylon conquers Judah and deports a group of elites, including Daniel. This marks the beginning of Judah's subjugation and exile, a direct consequence of their turning away from God.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Babylonian forces under Nebuchadnezzar destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the majority of the remaining population. This catastrophic event fulfills Jeremiah's warnings about the consequences of persistent idolatry and turning away from God.
This passage shows Israel crying out to God in their distress after abandoning Him for foreign gods, mirroring Jeremiah 2:27 where they call on idols when things are good but turn to God in trouble.
Isaiah 44:17Similar to Jeremiah's accusation, Isaiah mocks the foolishness of idolaters who fashion a god from wood, treating it as a savior, highlighting the absurdity of worshipping inanimate objects.
Psalm 115:4-7This psalm directly contrasts the living God with idols made of gold and silver, emphasizing that idols have mouths but cannot speak, eyes but cannot see, and hands but cannot feel, rendering them useless saviors as seen in Jeremiah's prophecy.
Hosea 2:3This verse describes a similar situation where Israel turns away from God, committing adultery with idols, and then calls upon their idols for help in times of trouble, echoing the core theme of misplaced trust and eventual desperation found in Jeremiah 2:27.
Jeremiah 3:23This verse directly follows the sentiment of Jeremiah 2:27, describing the people's turning away from God and their fruitless pursuit of idols, reinforcing the idea that their cries for help from idols are in vain.
pulpitJeremiah 2:27: "Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us."
Verse 27. - And to a stone, etc. Stone ('ebhen) is feminine in Hebrew, and therefore addressed as the mother.
clarkeJeremiah 2:27: "Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us."
Thou art my father - By thee we have been produced, and by thee we are sustained. This was the property of the true God; for he is the Author and Supporter of being. How deeply fallen and brutishly ignorant must they be when they could attribute this to the stock of a t…
It's easy to miss the subtle but profound irony in calling a stone "mother"—in Hebrew, the word for "stone" is feminine, highlighting the absurdity of attributing the act of birth to an inanimate object. This detail underscores the depth of their spiritual confusion, turning their backs on the true Creator for lifeless idols that can never truly give life.
Jeremiah confronts his people for their blatant idolatry, describing their utter foolishness in turning to lifeless objects like trees and stones as their "father" and "mother." This act of rebellion signifies a complete turning away from God, yet in their times of distress, they expect this same God to rescue them. The prophet highlights this hypocrisy: they abandon God in good times, only to cry out to Him when their idols inevitably fail to save them.
Jeremiah confronts his people for their blatant idolatry, describing their utter foolishness in turning to lifeless objects like trees and stones as their "father" and "mother." This act of rebellion signifies a complete turning away from God, yet in their times of distress, they expect this same God to rescue them. The prophet highlights this hypocrisy: they abandon God in good times, only to cry out to Him when their idols inevitably fail to save them.
"who say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’ For they have turned their back to me, and not their face. But in the time of their trouble they say, ‘Arise and save us!’ But whe…" — It's easy to miss the subtle but profound irony in calling a stone "mother"—in Hebrew, the word for "stone" is feminine, highlighting the absurdity of attributing the act of birth to an inanimate obj…
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Last reviewed October 2026
