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)
The prophet lists common sins like stealing and adultery alongside idolatry, highlighting that these aren't separate issues. He shows how they mixed the worship of God with serving other gods they didn't truly know, revealing a dangerous hypocrisy of thinking outward religious acts could cover up inner corruption.
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)
Jeremiah is confronting the people of Judah right before they enter the Temple for worship, exposing the hypocrisy of their actions. Despite their outward show of devotion, they are secretly living lives filled with theft, murder, adultery, false oaths, and idolatry. The prophet is laying bare the shocking reality that their sins have corrupted even their sacred spaces, turning God's house into a place where wickedness is masked rather than purged.
Ever feel like you're juggling too much? The people Jeremiah addressed were juggling sins. They weren't just dabbling; they were deep in it.
Jeremiah lays out a chillingly extensive list of their wrongdoings. Notice the progression:
This wasn't a casual lapse; it was a deliberate embrace of a lifestyle that violated God's law on every front. The catalog of sins is meant to shock, to show the depth of their rebellion.
They were chasing after gods they 'had not known.' Sounds strange, right? But maybe we do too, in our own ways.
The phrase 'other gods that you have not known' is powerful. It points to a dangerous spiritual reality:
Ask a follow-up
They went to the Temple, the very place God resided, after all that sin. What did they think would happen?
This is where the audacity hits hard. Jeremiah reveals the people's twisted logic:
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
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.
This verse captures the hypocrisy of Judah during a period of growing Babylonian power. Despite facing repeated warnings and actual deportations, the people continued their outward religious practices while engaging in deep moral and spiritual corruption, believing their presence in the Temple offered immunity.
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 serves as a stark warning to the southern kingdom of Judah about the consequences of disobedience and idolatry.
c. 640-609 BC
Reign of Josiah
King Josiah implements religious reforms, purging idolatry and restoring the worship of Yahweh in Judah. This period brings a brief return to covenant faithfulness, but the underlying societal corruption remains.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah and begins deporting some of the elite and skilled workers to Babylon. This marks the start of Judah's vassalage to Babylon and foreshadows greater judgment.
c. 597 BC— this verse
Second Babylonian Deportation
Another wave of deportations to Babylon occurs, including King Jehoiachin and many more prominent citizens. This further weakens the kingdom and intensifies Jeremiah's warnings.
c. 587/586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Destruction of Temple
Nebuchadnezzar's forces destroy Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple, the heart of Israel's worship. The remaining population is largely exiled to Babylon, fulfilling God's judgment against Judah's persistent unfaithfulness.
This passage echoes Jeremiah's condemnation, highlighting how outward religious acts are meaningless to God when they are not accompanied by justice and righteousness, especially when hands are stained with sin.
Micah 6:6-8Micah asks a similar question about what God truly desires, contrasting empty sacrifices with the fundamental commands to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.
Matthew 23:25-28Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for a similar hypocrisy, pointing out that they meticulously clean the outside of their cups and plates while being full of greed and self-indulgence within, a direct parallel to outward worship masking inner corruption.
Romans 2:21-24Paul addresses a similar spiritual hypocrisy, questioning how those who teach others not to steal or commit adultery can themselves commit these acts, and how God's name is blasphemed because of their actions.
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 prophet lists common sins like stealing and adultery alongside idolatry, highlighting that these aren't separate issues. He shows how they mixed the worship of God with serving other gods they didn't truly know, revealing a dangerous hypocrisy of thinking outward religious acts could cover up inner corruption.
Jeremiah is confronting the people of Judah right before they enter the Temple for worship, exposing the hypocrisy of their actions. Despite their outward show of devotion, they are secretly living lives filled with theft, murder, adultery, false oaths, and idolatry. The prophet is laying bare the shocking reality that their sins have corrupted even their sacred spaces, turning God's house into a place where wickedness is masked rather than purged.
Jeremiah is confronting the people of Judah right before they enter the Temple for worship, exposing the hypocrisy of their actions. Despite their outward show of devotion, they are secretly living lives filled with theft, murder, adultery, false oaths, and idolatry. The prophet is laying bare the shocking reality that their sins have corrupted even their sacred spaces, turning God's house into a place where wickedness is masked rather than purged.
"Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known," — The prophet lists common sins like stealing and adultery alongside idolatry, highlighting that these aren't separate issues. He shows how they mixed the worship of God with serving other gods they di…
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Last reviewed October 2026