Jeremiah 7:9
Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse doesn't just list sins; it contrasts actions with knowledge. Jeremiah highlights that they're not only chasing after "other gods" but gods they "have not known," emphasizing the absurdity of abandoning the God who had revealed Himself so clearly through miracles and law.
Jeremiah is challenging the people of Judah about their hollow religious practices. Despite their outward show of worship, including coming to the Temple and offering sacrifices, they were deeply entangled in sin – from violations of the covenant's moral commands to outright idolatry. The prophet exposes their hypocrisy, revealing that their supposed religious fidelity was a cover for their continued wickedness, making a mockery of God's presence.
Imagine walking into a courtroom, reeking of a crime, and expecting the judge to welcome you with open arms. That's the picture Jeremiah paints.
Jeremiah lists a series of horrific sins: stealing, murder, adultery, false oaths, and idolatry. These aren't minor slip-ups; they are profound violations of God's law, affecting both how people treat each other (the second table of the law) and how they worship God (the first table).
What's shocking is that after committing these acts, the people 'come and stand before Me in this house.' They literally enter the Temple, the very place dedicated to God's presence, as if their sins are no big deal. This wasn't just a mistake; it was a deliberate disregard for God's holiness, a boldness that assumed God's presence in the Temple would somehow excuse their actions. They were treating God's holy place as a cover, a 'den of robbers' where they could commit abominations and then pretend to be righteous.
We might think we can get away with things, especially if we keep up appearances. But God's perspective is radically different.
The people believed their worship in the Temple offered them a kind of immunity. They likely thought, 'We've fulfilled our religious obligations; surely God is pleased and overlooks our other misdeeds.' Jeremiah, however, reveals God's sharp retort: 'Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD.'
This isn't just a casual observation; it's a divine declaration that God is not fooled. He sees the hidden sins alongside the public performances. The phrase 'even I have seen it' emphasizes that God's sight penetrates their deception. He sees the theft, the adultery, the idolatry, and He sees their presence in the Temple as a mockery. Their attempt to blind God or make Him an accomplice in their sin is futile. God's knowledge is comprehensive, and His judgment is based on reality, not on outward shows.
Why would anyone turn away from a God they know intimately for gods they've never met?
Jeremiah contrasts the people's actions with the nature of true relationship. They are accused of 'going after other gods whom ye have not known.' This isn't just about worshipping multiple deities; it's about a fundamental misunderstanding of who God is.
Understand the original words
ganav · Hebrew Verb
The taking of something that does not belong to you, violating the commandment against theft. It represents a lack of respect for another’s property and for God’s provision.
ratsach · Hebrew Verb
The act of killing a human being, forbidden by the moral law of God. It is a fundamental violation of the sanctity of human life, which is made in the image of God.
na'aph · Hebrew Verb
Sexual relations between a married person and someone other than their spouse. It is a serious moral transgression that violates the covenant of marriage and reflects unfaithfulness to God’s design for human relationships.
shava sheqer · Hebrew Verb phrase
Jeremiah's scathing indictment in this verse is set against the backdrop of a nation steeped in religious hypocrisy. The people were outwardly performing religious rituals while inwardly indulging in grave sins and idolatry, believing their participation in Temple services would somehow shield them from judgment. Jeremiah exposes this dangerous delusion, highlighting that God sees their actions and despises their corrupted worship.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, exiling many and scattering the population. This event served as a stark warning to the southern Kingdom of Judah about the consequences of disobedience.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, conquers Judah and deports a first wave of elites, including the prophet Daniel. This marks the beginning of Judah's subservience to Babylon.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and many more Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel. This further weakens the kingdom.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple, the center of Israel's worship. The remaining population is exiled to Babylon. This is the ultimate consequence of their unfaithfulness.
This passage lays out the core of God's law, contrasting the specific sins Jeremiah lists (like stealing, murder, adultery, false oaths) with the commands to honor God and not misuse His name, highlighting the hypocrisy of the people.
Isaiah 1:11-15Similar to Jeremiah, Isaiah condemns empty worship where outward rituals are performed with inwardly defiled hands and hearts, showing this is a recurring theme of God's rejection of hypocritical worship.
Matthew 23:25-28Jesus powerfully echoes Jeremiah's condemnation of outward religious cleanliness while inner hearts are corrupt, calling the Pharisees 'whitewashed tombs' who appear righteous but are full of sin, illustrating the same perverted worship.
Romans 2:21-24Paul addresses similar hypocrisy among those who outwardly appear religious but inwardly engage in sin, explaining that such actions lead to God's name being blasphemed among the nations, just as Jeremiah's people were bringing reproach upon God.
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.…
pulpitJeremiah 7:9: "Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;"
Verse 9. - Will ye steal, etc.? rather, What I stealing, murdering, etc.? The construction is formed by a series of infinitives, preceded by an interrogative expressing extreme surprise, equivalent to "Is this your way of life - a course of theft, and so forth?"
The verse doesn't just list sins; it contrasts actions with knowledge. Jeremiah highlights that they're not only chasing after "other gods" but gods they "have not known," emphasizing the absurdity of abandoning the God who had revealed Himself so clearly through miracles and law.
Jeremiah is challenging the people of Judah about their hollow religious practices. Despite their outward show of worship, including coming to the Temple and offering sacrifices, they were deeply entangled in sin – from violations of the covenant's moral commands to outright idolatry. The prophet exposes their hypocrisy, revealing that their supposed religious fidelity was a cover for their continued wickedness, making a mockery of God's presence.
Jeremiah is challenging the people of Judah about their hollow religious practices. Despite their outward show of worship, including coming to the Temple and offering sacrifices, they were deeply entangled in sin – from violations of the covenant's moral commands to outright idolatry. The prophet exposes their hypocrisy, revealing that their supposed religious fidelity was a cover for their continued wickedness, making a mockery of God's presence.
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The true God of Israel had revealed Himself through powerful acts – the Exodus, the wilderness provision, the conquest of Canaan. He had given His Law, demonstrating His character and expectations. He was a God they knew through history and revelation. The gods they were pursuing, however, were unknown. They offered no historical basis, no genuine revelation, no saving power. Their pursuit of these unknown gods was not just religious error, but an act of willful ignorance and ingratitude, turning away from the One who had demonstrably loved and acted on their behalf.
Bearing false witness or giving an untrue testimony under oath. This act is detestable to God as it perverts justice and misuses the sacred invocation of His name.
Ba'al · Hebrew Noun
A Canaanite storm god. Worship of Baal was a frequent trap for ancient Israel, representing the abandonment of the Covenant with Yahweh for the pursuit of material fertility and power.
Jeremiah's Ministry (c. 627–586 BC)— this verse
Jeremiah's Prophetic Ministry
Jeremiah delivers God's message of judgment and a call to repentance during a tumultuous period, witnessing the decline and fall of Judah. He condemns the people's hypocrisy and the misuse of the Temple.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great's Conquest of Babylon
The Persian Empire under Cyrus conquers Babylon, paving the way for the eventual return of Jewish exiles to Jerusalem.
c. 516 BC
Rebuilding of the Second Temple
Under Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest, the Temple is rebuilt in Jerusalem, albeit on a smaller scale than Solomon's original. This marks a return of worship, but the people must remain faithful.
"Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known," — The verse doesn't just list sins; it contrasts actions with knowledge. Jeremiah highlights that they're not only chasing after "other gods" but gods they "have not known," emphasizing the absurdity o…
