Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I myself have seen it, declares the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights a shocking disconnect: the people are using the very house meant for God's presence as a hideout for their wicked deeds. They see it as a safe haven for their sins, not realizing that God, who dwells there, sees everything they do.
Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I myself have seen it, declares the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Jeremiah is confronting the people of Judah for their hypocrisy, revealing that their outward religious acts in the Temple are meaningless because their lives are filled with sin, theft, and idolatry. He asks if they believe God sees their actions as they use the sacred house as a cover for their wickedness, implying that God's judgment is inevitable.
You might think that going to church or participating in religious activities automatically makes everything okay. But what if those very actions become a way to hide deeper issues?
Jeremiah confronts the people of Judah with a shocking question: they've turned God's Temple, a place meant for worship and connection with Him, into a 'den of robbers.' This wasn't just about literal thieves hiding out. It was about people committing serious sins – stealing, murdering, adultery, lying, and idolatry – and then using their presence and sacrifices in the Temple as a cover.
Think of it like this: they were using religious rituals as a 'smokescreen' to hide their wicked deeds. They believed that by showing up and offering sacrifices, they could get away with anything. But God sees through this hypocrisy. He's not impressed by outward appearances when the heart is far from Him.
This is a powerful reminder that true worship isn't just about going through the motions. It's about a changed heart and life that aligns with God's commands.
We often try to hide our flaws and mistakes, hoping no one will notice. But what happens when the One you can't hide from speaks up?
The most arresting part of this verse is God's direct intervention: 'Behold, even I have seen it, declares the LORD.' Jeremiah’s rhetorical question highlights the people's warped perspective. They thought their actions were acceptable, or at least hidden, because they were within the Temple's walls. But God’s perspective is the only one that truly matters.
God is not fooled by outward displays of piety. He sees the true condition of the heart, the hidden motives, and the secret sins. The phrase 'I have seen it' is a profound declaration of God's omniscience and His active involvement in judging human behavior. It’s a warning that no one can deceive God. Your actions, your intentions, and the 'den of robbers' mentality, if present, are laid bare before His gaze.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
bayith · Hebrew Noun
A physical structure dedicated to the worship of God, representing His presence among His people; in the Old Testament, it primarily refers to the Tabernacle or the Temple in Jerusalem.
mearah · Hebrew Noun
A term used to describe a place where people hide or retreat; metaphorically, it denotes a place where wicked or corrupt people feel secure in their wrongdoing.
parits · Hebrew Noun
One who seizes property by force or fraud; in a spiritual sense, it refers to those who exploit their position or God’s provision for selfish, sinful ends.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of the God of Israel (YHWH), signifying His self-existence, faithfulness to His promises, and supreme authority.
This verse is a powerful indictment of religious hypocrisy, delivered at a time when the physical Temple in Jerusalem, God's dwelling place, was being defiled by the very people who claimed to worship Him. It underscores that outward religious practice is meaningless without inner transformation and obedience.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern kingdom of Israel, scattering its people and leading to significant religious and cultural assimilation. This event serves as a stark warning to the southern kingdom of Judah about the consequences of disobedience.
626 BC
Jeremiah Begins Prophesying
Jeremiah receives his call from the LORD to prophesy. He begins his ministry during a time of religious decay and political instability in Judah.
c. 609 BC
Josiah's Reforms and Death
King Josiah implements major religious reforms after the discovery of the Book of the Law, centralizing worship in Jerusalem. However, his death in battle marks a turning point towards renewed spiritual decline.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah and takes a first group of exiles, including members of the royal family and educated elite, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of Judah's subjugation.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports another significant group of Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon. The Temple in Jerusalem is looted.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar's forces destroy Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple. This cataclysmic event fulfills Jeremiah's prophecies of judgment and marks the end of Judah as an independent kingdom.
c. 590 BC— this verse
Jeremiah's Temple Sermon
Jeremiah delivers this powerful sermon within the Temple courts, confronting the people and religious leaders with their hypocrisy. He denounces their outward rituals while their hearts are far from God, leading to the condemnation of the Temple as a 'den of robbers'.
Jesus directly quotes Jeremiah's accusation, calling the temple a 'den of robbers,' highlighting how the practice of profaning God's house with worldly business continued through generations.
Isaiah 56:7This passage parallels Jeremiah's message by stating that God's house is meant to be 'a house of prayer for all nations,' directly contrasting with the idea of it becoming a place for illicit gain or selfish dealings.
Luke 19:46This account shows Jesus again using the imagery of a 'den of robbers' for the temple, demonstrating that this prophetic condemnation of its misuse remained relevant and forceful even centuries later.
Ezekiel 22:26The prophet Ezekiel describes a similar situation where the leaders and priests have profaned God's sanctuary, acting like robbers and treating the holy place as common ground, mirroring Jeremiah's complaint.
barnesJeremiah 7:11: "Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD."
Robbers - literally, tearers, those who rob with violence. The temple was the place which sheltered them. It had been consecrated to God. Now that it harbors miscreants, must it not as inevitably be destroyed as a den of robbers would be by any righteous ruler?
calvinJeremiah 7:9-11: "Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;"
Et venientes et stantes coram facie mea in domo hac (hoc est, in hoc templo,) super quam (vel, super quod) invocatum est nomen meum, dicetis, Liberati sumus ad faciendum (ut faciamus) omnes abominationes istas.
Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD.…
The verse highlights a shocking disconnect: the people are using the very house meant for God's presence as a hideout for their wicked deeds. They see it as a safe haven for their sins, not realizing that God, who dwells there, sees everything they do.
The prophet Jeremiah is confronting the people of Judah for their hypocrisy, revealing that their outward religious acts in the Temple are meaningless because their lives are filled with sin, theft, and idolatry. He asks if they believe God sees their actions as they use the sacred house as a cover for their wickedness, implying that God's judgment is inevitable.
The prophet Jeremiah is confronting the people of Judah for their hypocrisy, revealing that their outward religious acts in the Temple are meaningless because their lives are filled with sin, theft, and idolatry. He asks if they believe God sees their actions as they use the sacred house as a cover for their wickedness, implying that God's judgment is inevitable.
"Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I myself have seen it, declares the LORD." — The verse highlights a shocking disconnect: the people are using the very house meant for God's presence as a hideout for their wicked deeds. They see it as a safe haven for their sins, not realizing…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026