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Jeremiah 2:20

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Jeremiah 2:20

Verse 20 of 37

Scripture focus

For of old time I have broken thy yoke, [and] burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.

Jeremiah 2:20 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Jeremiah 2:20

Theological / Devotional

I have broken. The LXX and the Vulgate have “thou hast broken,” which is more consistent with the use of the second person in the remainder of the verse. The yoke and bands refer to the discipline and guidance of the Lord (see ch. 5:5).

I will not transgress. Literally, “I will not serve,” a reading supported by the LXX and the Syriac. A slight change in one letter gives the reading “I will not transgress.” This latter reading was preferred by the Jewish scholars who punctuated the Hebrew, and is found in the Targums. The thought seems to be that Israel was declaring her independence, and asserting her freedom from service to God (see v. 31).

Every high hill. A designation for the numerous sacred places where sacrifices were offered to Baal or where the lascivious rites of Asherah and Ashtoreth were practiced (see Deut. 12:2; 1 Kings 14:23; 2 Kings 16:4; 17:10; Isa. 57:5, 7; Jer. 3:6, 13; 17:2; Eze. 6:13).

Wanderest. Heb. sa‘ah, “to lie down [like a prostitute],” in the shameless spiritual adultery of idolatry (see on Ex. 34:15).

By SdaBc