The LORD said to me in the days of King Josiah: “Have you seen what she did, that faithless one, Israel, how she went up on every high hill and under every green tree, and there played the whore?
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "backsliding Israel" isn't just a description; it’s like the name God gives them, personifying their turning away from Him. This wasn't a one-time mistake but an ingrained habit, "she goes up on every high hill," highlighting their pervasive, public pursuit of idols.
The LORD said to me in the days of King Josiah: “Have you seen what she did, that faithless one, Israel, how she went up on every high hill and under every green tree, and there played the whore?
English Standard Version (ESV)
In the days of the reforming King Josiah, God directs Jeremiah to look at the ten northern tribes, "backsliding Israel," who had long since fallen into idolatry. This passage sets up a stark comparison between the sins of Israel and their southern sister, Judah, highlighting how Judah's continued unfaithfulness made her even more culpable, despite Israel having already faced severe judgment for similar actions.
Jeremiah doesn't just call Israel 'backsliding.' He uses a phrase that means they were apostasy. What does it mean to embody sin?
The phrase "backsliding Israel" in the original language is even stronger than it sounds. It's not just that Israel did backslide; the text suggests they became the very definition of apostasy. Think of it like this: when you see a traitor, you think "traitor." When God looks at Israel in this passage, He sees the embodiment of turning away from Him.
This isn't just a description; it's a theological statement about how deeply Israel had strayed. They weren't just a nation that occasionally stumbled; their very identity had become synonymous with rebellion against God. This profound loss of identity meant they had forgotten their covenant relationship and embraced a path that was diametrically opposed to God's design for them.
The imagery of climbing hills and seeking shade might seem innocent, but here it's a picture of deep spiritual corruption. What did these places represent?
The verse vividly describes Israel's idolatry: "she went up on every high hill and under every green tree, and there played the harlot." These weren't random locations; they were specific sites for pagan worship.
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By engaging in these practices, Israel was not just worshipping other gods; they were embracing the very essence of pagan sensuality and superstition, prostituting their covenant relationship with God for fleeting worldly benefits.
This prophecy lands in the days of King Josiah, a time of outward religious reform. Yet, the sin described is deep and pervasive. How could this be?
Jeremiah delivers this message during the reign of King Josiah (640-609 BC). Josiah was a good king who initiated a significant religious reformation, purging idolatry from the land after the Book of the Law was discovered.
However, this verse reveals a crucial truth: outward reform doesn't always mean inward transformation. The people of Israel (the ten tribes, already in exile) and even the people of Judah (under Josiah's rule) were still deeply entrenched in idolatry. The 'high places' and 'green trees' were still active sites of forbidden worship, even while Josiah worked to restore true worship in Jerusalem.
This highlights the danger of religious hypocrisy. People might participate in reforms or maintain a facade of piety without truly turning their hearts to God. Jeremiah's message serves as a stark warning that God sees beyond outward appearances and calls for genuine, wholehearted devotion, not just a superficial adherence to religious practice.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal name of the one true God of Israel, revealed to Moses, emphasizing His eternal, self-existent, and covenant-keeping nature.
meshubah · Hebrew Adjective
A state of being unfaithful, especially in the context of a covenant relationship; it describes the act of turning away from God to follow idols.
zanah · Hebrew Verb
A metaphorical term used in the prophets to describe Israel's idolatry, framing it as a violation of the marriage covenant between God and His people.
Jeremiah is speaking during Josiah's reform, a time when Judah *should* have been turning back to God. However, Jeremiah highlights that Judah's sin is even worse than that of the long-fallen northern kingdom of Israel, because Judah has seen Israel's fate and still stubbornly pursues idolatry.
c. 931 BC
Kingdom Divides
Following the death of King Solomon, the united Kingdom of Israel splits into two: the northern Kingdom of Israel (ten tribes) and the southern Kingdom of Judah (two tribes). This division marks the beginning of separate religious and political paths.
732 BC - 722 BC
Assyrian Conquest of Northern Kingdom
The Neo-Assyrian Empire invades the northern Kingdom of Israel, leading to its eventual destruction and the deportation of its people. This event serves as a stark warning to the southern Kingdom of Judah.
640 BC - 609 BC— this verse
Reign of King Josiah
Josiah becomes king of Judah and initiates a significant religious reformation, purging idolatry and centralizing worship in Jerusalem. This period is marked by a renewed (though perhaps superficial for many) commitment to Mosaic Law.
c. 622 BC
Discovery of the Book of the Law
During Josiah's temple renovation, the Book of the Law (likely Deuteronomy) is found. Its discovery fuels Josiah's intense reforms, aiming to restore true worship and obedience to God.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon begins his campaigns against Judah, leading to the first wave of exiles, including members of the royal family and educated elite. This event signals the impending doom of Judah.
This passage uses similar imagery of spiritual adultery and the use of high places and trees for idolatrous worship, vividly portraying the deep corruption of God's people.
Hosea 1:2Hosea's marriage to an unfaithful woman serves as a powerful metaphor for God's relationship with Israel, mirroring the 'faithless one' described in Jeremiah.
Deuteronomy 12:2This verse explicitly condemns the exact practices mentioned in Jeremiah 3:6 – worship on high mountains and under green trees – highlighting the long history of Israel's disobedience to God's commands.
Jeremiah 2:20This verse, also from Jeremiah, directly precedes the passage in question and further details Israel's widespread idolatry on 'every high hill' and 'under every green tree,' emphasizing the pervasive nature of their sin.
Jeremiah 3:8This verse immediately follows the one provided and directly contrasts Israel's unfaithfulness with Judah's, showing how Judah, despite seeing Israel's punishment, also engaged in similar 'treacherous' acts.
clarkeJeremiah 3:6: "The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot."
The Lord said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king - This is a new discourse, and is supposed to have been delivered after the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah. Here the prophet shows the people of Judah the transgressions, idolatry, obstinacy, and puni…
calvinJeremiah 3:6-8: "The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot."
The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.
Et dixit Jehova ad me in diebus Josiae r…
The phrase "backsliding Israel" isn't just a description; it’s like the name God gives them, personifying their turning away from Him. This wasn't a one-time mistake but an ingrained habit, "she goes up on every high hill," highlighting their pervasive, public pursuit of idols.
In the days of the reforming King Josiah, God directs Jeremiah to look at the ten northern tribes, "backsliding Israel," who had long since fallen into idolatry. This passage sets up a stark comparison between the sins of Israel and their southern sister, Judah, highlighting how Judah's continued unfaithfulness made her even more culpable, despite Israel having already faced severe judgment for similar actions.
In the days of the reforming King Josiah, God directs Jeremiah to look at the ten northern tribes, "backsliding Israel," who had long since fallen into idolatry. This passage sets up a stark comparison between the sins of Israel and their southern sister, Judah, highlighting how Judah's continued unfaithfulness made her even more culpable, despite Israel having already faced severe judgment for similar actions.
"The LORD said to me in the days of King Josiah: “Have you seen what she did, that faithless one, Israel, how she went up on every high hill and under every green tree, and there played the whore?" — The phrase "backsliding Israel" isn't just a description; it’s like the name God gives them, personifying their turning away from Him. This wasn't a one-time mistake but an ingrained habit, "she goes…
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Last reviewed October 2026