Breakdown of Jeremiah 7:31

"And they have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command, nor did it come into my mind." — What’s easy to miss is the chilling, personal language God uses: "neither came it into my heart." This isn't just a rule being broken; it's a horrific practice so unthinkable that it never even cross…

Jeremiah 7:31 Meaning Explained

All verses

Jeremiah 7:31

And they have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command, nor did it come into my mind.

English Standard Version (ESV)

What’s easy to miss is the chilling, personal language God uses: "neither came it into my heart." This isn't just a rule being broken; it's a horrific practice so unthinkable that it never even crossed God's mind as a possibility. It highlights how utterly alien this child sacrifice was to the divine nature, a stark contrast to the loving Father who would never desire such a thing.

What Jeremiah 7:31 means

Jeremiah has just finished calling the people to repent and worship God alone in the Temple, warning them against trusting in false security. Now, he points to a horrifying practice—child sacrifice—as a prime example of their utter abandonment of God and His commands. This horrific ritual took place in a specific location near Jerusalem, the Valley of Hinnom, a place so tainted by this worship that it would later become synonymous with hell itself.

Topheth: A Place of Abhorrence

Jeremiah points to a specific location, Topheth in the Valley of Hinnom, as the site of unspeakable horror. What made this place so detestable?

The place name 'Topheth' itself became synonymous with revulsion and idolatry.

A Name of Shame: Scholars suggest 'Topheth' wasn't an original name but a prophetic substitution, like calling something shameful by a name that evokes disgust. It's a deliberate insult to the horrific practices performed there.
The Valley of Hinnom: This valley, often associated with the god Moloch, became so deeply connected with child sacrifice and later, through its Greek equivalent 'Gehenna,' with eternal damnation, that its name itself evokes dread.
Proximity to Worship: Tragically, this place of abomination was located near Jerusalem, not hidden away. It stood as a constant, visible affront to God's presence in the Temple, a stark contrast to true worship.

Against God's Own Command

Ask a follow-up

Ask Sola about this verse

Ask Sola things like:

“What does "high places" mean in the original Hebrew?”
“Why did Jeremiah, traditionally understood as the sole author, though some scholars suggest possible editorial additions. write Jeremiah 7:31?”
“How does children sacrificed to idols show up in Jeremiah 7:31?”

Ask in the Sola app Get the app

Live chat about Jeremiah 7:31 is available in the Sola app.

This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.

What Jeremiah 7:31 means

Ask Sola about this verse

Ask Sola things like:

“What does "high places" mean in the original Hebrew?”
“Why did Jeremiah, traditionally understood as the sole author, though some scholars suggest possible editorial additions. write Jeremiah 7:31?”
“How does children sacrificed to idols show up in Jeremiah 7:31?”

Ask in the Sola app Get the app

Live chat about Jeremiah 7:31 is available in the Sola app.

What Jeremiah 7:31 means

Topheth: A Place of Abhorrence

Against God's Own Command

Ask Sola about this verse

What Jeremiah 7:31 means

Topheth: A Place of Abhorrence

Against God's Own Command

Ask Sola about this verse

Original language

Historical context

Historical background

Key themes

Cross-references

Scholarly commentary

Frequently asked questions

Study this verse in Sola