Also on your skirts is found the lifeblood of the guiltless poor; you did not find them breaking in. Yet in spite of all these things
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "you did not find them breaking in" is a crucial detail that highlights the injustice. It references a law where someone caught breaking into a house could be killed, but here, the innocent poor weren't thieves; their deaths weren't justified by any crime at all. This reveals their murder was an act of pure, unprovoked cruelty.
Also on your skirts is found the lifeblood of the guiltless poor; you did not find them breaking in. Yet in spite of all these things
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah is laying out a final, damning indictment against Judah for their persistent idolatry and unfaithfulness to God. He’s just spoken about how they’ve rejected his teaching and even killed the prophets he sent to guide them. Now, he reveals that their sin isn't hidden away in secret places; the evidence of their cruelty, specifically the innocent blood shed, is smeared openly on their garments, proving their guilt is undeniable and widespread.
Imagine a robe so stained with blood that the stains are visible on its very edges. This verse paints a stark, visual picture of Judah's deep sin.
Jeremiah uses vivid imagery to expose Judah's guilt. The phrase "in thy skirts" refers to the hem or fringe of their garments, a place where blood would be very noticeable.
A Public Display of Sin
This isn't hidden evil; it's open, flagrant sin. The blood of the "poor innocents" isn't buried or concealed. It's splashed onto their religious attire, symbolizing that their worship and religious life are fundamentally corrupted by their cruelty and oppression.
More Than Just Murder
The "innocent poor" could refer to those unjustly killed during times of persecution, like the prophets, or even children sacrificed to idols. The prophet emphasizes that the sin wasn't a secret, clandestine act, but something openly committed and visible for all to see.
What if the people you punished weren't caught breaking the law, but killed anyway? This verse reveals a chilling lack of legitimate reason for their violence.
The verse directly addresses the lack of justification for the violence committed by Judah. It states, "you did not find them breaking in."
The Law of the Thief
In ancient Israelite law, if a thief was caught "breaking in" (i.e., illegally entering a home), the homeowner could legally kill them without incurring guilt for bloodshed (Exodus 22:2). This implies that the people Judah killed were thieves caught in the act.
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Innocent Victims
Since the victims weren't caught in the act of theft or any other capital crime, their deaths were not legally defensible. They were innocent, and their blood was shed unjustly. This highlights the depth of Judah's sin – they weren't executing justice, but perpetrating murder under the guise of security or perhaps religious zeal.
Understand the original words
dām · Hebrew Noun
The literal life-force found in blood; here, it refers to the shed blood of the innocent, symbolizing the grievous crime of murder and the violation of God’s sanctity of life.
’ebyôn · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Those who are weak, vulnerable, or oppressed, lacking social power or legal protection; the Bible emphasizes God's special care for them and judgment against those who exploit them.
The verse vividly portrays Judah's ingrained corruption, pointing to the readily visible evidence of innocent blood spilled—not in hidden crimes, but openly, like a stain on their very garments. This points to a society where injustice, likely including the persecution of prophets and perhaps even child sacrifice, had become normalized and brazen.
c. 642-640 BC
Manasseh's Reign and Idolatry
King Manasseh of Judah reigned, marked by extreme religious syncretism and the shedding of much innocent blood, including, according to tradition, the prophets.
c. 640 BC
Josiah's Religious Reforms
Upon Manasseh's death, his young son Josiah ascended the throne and later initiated a sweeping religious reformation, purging idolatry and restoring the worship of Yahweh.
c. 609 BC
Death of Josiah
King Josiah was killed in battle at Megiddo while attempting to intercept the Egyptian army. This marked a turning point, leading to political instability and the eventual decline of Judah.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Under King Jehoiakim, Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon first besieged Jerusalem, deporting some of the elite and royal family, including Daniel, to Babylon.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a revolt, King Jehoiachin and many more prominent citizens were exiled to Babylon. This event intensified the prophetic warnings of impending doom.
587/586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling most of the remaining population to Babylon. This catastrophic event marked the end of the Davidic monarchy.
Early to mid-6th century BC— this verse
Jeremiah's Ministry and Prophecies
Jeremiah prophesied during the tumultuous decades leading up to and during the Babylonian exiles, condemning Judah's deep-seated corruption, idolatry, and injustice.
This passage directly names King Manasseh, who, according to historical accounts and the commentary, is likely responsible for the widespread shedding of innocent blood that Jeremiah is addressing.
Psalm 106:37-38This psalm describes the Israelites sacrificing their sons and daughters to demons, an act of extreme violence against the innocent that aligns with the 'blood of the guiltless poor' found on Judah's 'skirts'.
Ezekiel 24:7-8This passage uses similar imagery of blood being found on a blade or a weapon, directly relating to the bloodshed and violence that has occurred, underscoring the prophet's message about visible guilt.
Exodus 22:2The commentary references this law regarding 'breaking in,' highlighting that the innocent victims were not thieves caught in the act, and therefore their murder was unjustifiable and exposed Judah's deep guilt.
Jeremiah 2:30This verse, referenced in the commentary, explicitly states that God struck the people but they showed no remorse, and it also mentions the killing of prophets, which is seen as a major component of the 'blood of innocents' here.
clarkeJeremiah 2:34: "Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these."
The blood of the souls of the poor innocents - We find from the sacred history that Manasseh had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; see 2 Kings 21:16 , and Ezekiel 34:10 . I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these - Such deeds of darkness and profligacy are found only in Israel. Dr. Blayney translates, "I have not found it in a di…
pulpitJeremiah 2:34: "Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these."
Verse 34. - Also in thy skirts, etc.; or, there is even fennel in thy skirts (or, perhaps, in thy sleeves - the wide sleeves of an Eastern mantle). The fact which follows is adduced as the crowning evidence of wickedness. Blood of the souls is explained by the statement in Leviticus 17:11, "The soul of the flesh [i.e. of the body] is in the blood;"…
The phrase "you did not find them breaking in" is a crucial detail that highlights the injustice. It references a law where someone caught breaking into a house could be killed, but here, the innocent poor weren't thieves; their deaths weren't justified by any crime at all. This reveals their murder was an act of pure, unprovoked cruelty.
Jeremiah is laying out a final, damning indictment against Judah for their persistent idolatry and unfaithfulness to God. He’s just spoken about how they’ve rejected his teaching and even killed the prophets he sent to guide them. Now, he reveals that their sin isn't hidden away in secret places; the evidence of their cruelty, specifically the innocent blood shed, is smeared openly on their garments, proving their guilt is undeniable and widespread.
Jeremiah is laying out a final, damning indictment against Judah for their persistent idolatry and unfaithfulness to God. He’s just spoken about how they’ve rejected his teaching and even killed the prophets he sent to guide them. Now, he reveals that their sin isn't hidden away in secret places; the evidence of their cruelty, specifically the innocent blood shed, is smeared openly on their garments, proving their guilt is undeniable and widespread.
"Also on your skirts is found the lifeblood of the guiltless poor; you did not find them breaking in. Yet in spite of all these things" — The phrase "you did not find them breaking in" is a crucial detail that highlights the injustice. It references a law where someone caught breaking into a house could be killed, but here, the innocen…
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Last reviewed October 2026