Jeremiah 8:12
Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they shall be overthrown, says the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The shocking thing here isn't just their shame, but their inability to blush – it reveals a deeper spiritual sickness where they've lost even the capacity for remorse. This lack of shame means they're "past remedy," not just stubborn, but so hardened that they don't even recognize sin for what it is.
Jeremiah is confronting the people of Judah, who have been practicing detestable idolatry and spiritual adultery. Despite God's patient warnings and clear judgment approaching, they remain stubbornly unrepentant and clueless about the gravity of their actions. This lack of shame, the prophet argues, reveals their deep corruption and seals their fate to fall alongside their idols and their destructive practices when God finally brings his punishment.
Imagine a society where wrongdoing doesn't even raise an eyebrow. Jeremiah paints a stark picture of a people so far gone, they've lost the ability to feel shame. What does this say about the state of sin?
Jeremiah confronts Judah with a piercing question: were they ashamed of their wicked deeds, their 'abominations'? The answer is a resounding 'no.' They had lost the capacity to blush, to feel even the slightest discomfort or remorse.
This isn't just about embarrassment; it's a sign of deep spiritual decay. Shame, when healthy, is a God-given alarm system, signaling that we've crossed a line. When it's absent, it means the conscience is seared, the heart is hardened, and the ability to discern right from wrong has been deeply compromised.
This loss of shame means they were 'irredeemable' and 'past remedy,' as one commentator put it. They were so entrenched in their sin that the natural, God-ordained response of guilt or regret was gone. This was a terrifying indicator that they were beyond self-correction.
If sin leaves you unfazed, does that mean God's justice is also unfazed? Jeremiah connects this utter lack of shame directly to inevitable destruction.
The absence of shame wasn't a neutral condition; it was the direct cause of their impending doom. Because they couldn't blush or feel remorse for their 'abominations,' they were destined to 'fall among the fallen.'
This means they would be overthrown and utterly destroyed when God finally judged them. The phrase 'in the time of their visitation' points to a specific, appointed moment when God would step in to punish their persistent disobedience. Their lack of shame meant they had rejected all warnings, all opportunities for repentance, leaving God with no other recourse but judgment.
Their fate was sealed not by a mistake, but by a hardened heart that refused to acknowledge its sin. The ultimate consequence of being 'past remedy' is complete ruin.
Understand the original words
toebah · Hebrew Noun
An act or thing that is morally detestable and repulsive, especially in the sight of God; frequently associated with idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness.
Yahweh · Hebrew Noun
The covenant name of the one true God, emphasizing His self-existence, eternity, and faithfulness to His people.
kalam · Hebrew Verb
A state of total lack of remorse or spiritual numbness; an inability to feel guilt or moral shame before God.
paqad · Hebrew Verb
To act with hostility or to exercise judicial authority upon someone as a consequence of their wrongdoing or covenant-breaking.
The people's complete lack of shame in the face of their abominable actions makes them irredeemable in God's eyes, sealing their fate during the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian Deportations
The Neo-Assyrian Empire deports large populations from conquered territories, including Israelites, to break their national identity and prevent rebellion. This precedent of exile looms large in prophetic warnings.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah, beginning a series of deportations that includes members of the royal family and educated elite, such as Daniel. This marks the start of the Babylonian Captivity.
597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Following a revolt, Nebuchadnezzar deports more Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel and King Jehoiachin. Jerusalem's temple is partially plundered.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem
After a prolonged siege, Jerusalem falls to the Babylonians. The city and the Temple are destroyed, and the majority of the remaining population is exiled to Babylon.
Like Jeremiah, Ezekiel is commissioned by God to speak truth to a rebellious people, and the Lord warns him that they will not listen. This echoes the 'knowing not how to blush' by emphasizing the people's hardened hearts and resistance to God's word, even when directly addressed.
Romans 1:28-32This passage describes people who, because they 'did not see fit to acknowledge God,' were given over to a 'debased mind' and approved of those who practiced evil, without shame. This mirrors Jeremiah's depiction of the Israelites who, having committed 'abomination,' were utterly shameless and headed for judgment.
Zephaniah 3:5Zephaniah also highlights God's righteousness and justice in the face of His people's sin. He states that 'the LORD within her is righteous; he does no wrong; every morning he shows his justice, never failing, before those who have no shame.' This connects to Jeremiah's theme of judgment falling on those who are unashamed of their 'abominations'.
Isaiah 5:12-13This passage speaks of a people who are worldly and ignore God, so 'their mulberries will be torn down.' It connects to Jeremiah's verse by illustrating the consequence of ignoring God: a loss of shame and eventual downfall when God acts against them.
calvinJeremiah 8:12: "Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD."
- Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the Lord.
12.…
henryJeremiah 8:4-13: "Moreover thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; Shall they fall, and not arise? shall he turn away, and not return?"
8:4-13 What brought this ruin? 1. The people would not attend to reason; they would not act in the affairs of their souls with common prudence. Sin is backsliding; it is going back from the way that leads to life, to that which leads to destruction. 2. They would not attend to the warning of conscience. They did not take the first step towards repentance…
The shocking thing here isn't just their shame, but their inability to blush – it reveals a deeper spiritual sickness where they've lost even the capacity for remorse. This lack of shame means they're "past remedy," not just stubborn, but so hardened that they don't even recognize sin for what it is.
Jeremiah is confronting the people of Judah, who have been practicing detestable idolatry and spiritual adultery. Despite God's patient warnings and clear judgment approaching, they remain stubbornly unrepentant and clueless about the gravity of their actions. This lack of shame, the prophet argues, reveals their deep corruption and seals their fate to fall alongside their idols and their destructive practices when God finally brings his punishment.
Jeremiah is confronting the people of Judah, who have been practicing detestable idolatry and spiritual adultery. Despite God's patient warnings and clear judgment approaching, they remain stubbornly unrepentant and clueless about the gravity of their actions. This lack of shame, the prophet argues, reveals their deep corruption and seals their fate to fall alongside their idols and their destructive practices when God finally brings his punishment.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Jeremiah 8:12 is available in the Sola app.
c. 580 BC
Jeremiah's Ministry in Jerusalem
Jeremiah continues to prophesy in Jerusalem during and after the final siege, lamenting the people's unrepentant hearts and their lack of shame for their sins, which led to this devastation.
"Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they shall be overthrown,…" — The shocking thing here isn't just their shame, but their inability to blush – it reveals a deeper spiritual sickness where they've lost even the capacity for remorse. This lack of shame means th…
