Background
This is the first sermon the book records after Jeremiah's call. The chapter gives no date. The Bible Dictionary groups chapters 1–6 as the “Prophecies of reign of Josiah (626–608).” Jeremiah is told to “cry in the ears of Jerusalem” (Jer. 2:2), and then the Lord addresses “house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel” (Jer. 2:4): the whole covenant people, not only the city.
The sermon is a complaint brought by the Lord against His people: He says He will “plead” with them (Jer. 2:9), and where the same Hebrew verb returns in verse 29, the Church edition's footnote gives its sense as “quarrel, contend.” The chapter heading sums it up: “The people of Judah forsook the Lord, the fountain of living waters—They worshipped idols and rejected the prophets.” The first nineteen verses move in three steps: Israel's “early devotion and righteousness” (verses 2–3), “Israel's apostasy” (verses 4–13), and the “tragic results of apostasy” (verses 14–19). Verses 20–37 then denounce Judah's idolatry, with images of a vine, a wild animal, and a bride. The marriage imagery of verse 2 returns in verse 32 and continues into chapter 3.
The Church edition's cross-references tie verses 27 and 35 to the Book of Mormon: to Abinadi's warning to King Noah's people, and to the priests' claim that they were guiltless. The notes on verses 28 and 35 follow them.
The thread through the chapter
Jeremiah 2 turns on one question the Lord puts to His people: “What iniquity have your fathers found in me?” (Jer. 2:5). Everything after it is the answer, and the answer is “none.” The Lord has led them through the wilderness and into a fruitful land, and they have left Him for what cannot help them.
The text itself marks the pattern. Three times Israel is said to have “forsaken” the Lord, in the same Hebrew verb (Jer. 2:13, Jer. 2:17, Jer. 2:19). In verse 13 the two evils are forsaking the fountain and digging cisterns that leak. Verse 18 asks what Judah is doing drinking from the rivers of Egypt and Assyria, and verse 21 says the noble vine has turned into a wild one. Water and marriage carry the argument: the Lord recalls the bride of verse 2, and in verse 32 asks whether a bride can forget her attire.
The chapter moves in three stages. The first charges the people with exchanging God for what cannot help them (verses 2–13). The second shows what that exchange has cost (verses 14–19). The last shows a people who will not admit it: “I am not polluted” (verse 23), “I am innocent” (verse 35).
Tap any highlighted phrase to open a note beneath its versein the margin.
The love of the wilderness
The Lord told Jeremiah to proclaim to Jerusalem: “I remember how devoted you were when you were young, how you loved me as a bride, and followed me through the wilderness, through a land where nothing was sown. Israel was holy to the Lord, the first share of His harvest. Anyone who ate of it was held guilty, and disaster came on them.”
1 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2 Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
3 Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.
What did your fathers find wrong in me?
“Hear the word of the Lord, all you of the house of Jacob. What fault did your fathers find in me, that they went far from me and followed what is empty, and so became empty themselves? They never asked, ‘Where is the Lord who brought us out of Egypt and led us through a dry and dangerous wilderness?’ I brought you into a fruitful land, and you made it unclean. The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord?’ Those who handled the law did not know me. The rulers rebelled against me, and the prophets spoke in Baal's name and followed what cannot help. So I will bring my case against you, and against your children's children. Look west to Cyprus and east to Kedar and see whether anything like this has ever happened: has a nation traded its gods, though they are not gods? My people have traded their glory for what cannot help them. Be appalled, heavens! My people have done two evils: they have left me, the fountain of living water, and dug themselves cisterns, cracked cisterns that hold no water.”
4 Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:
5 Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
6 Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?
7 And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination.
8 The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
9 Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children’s children will I plead.
10 For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.
11 Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.
12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.
13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
What it cost
“Is Israel a slave, born into the household? Then why has he become plunder? Young lions have roared at him, and his land is ruined, and his cities are burned and empty. The people of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shamed you. Did you not bring this on yourself by leaving the Lord your God while He led you on the way? So what have you to do with the road to Egypt, to drink the Nile's water? Or with the road to Assyria, to drink the river's? Your own wickedness will correct you, and your turning away will rebuke you. Know that leaving the Lord your God, and having no fear of me, is evil and bitter.”
14 Is Israel a servant? is he a homeborn slave? why is he spoiled?
15 The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.
16 Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head.
17 Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way?
18 And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?
19 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.
A vine gone wild
“Long ago you broke the yoke and tore off the bonds and said, ‘I will not serve.’ On every high hill and under every green tree you lay down as a prostitute. I planted you a choice vine, all good seed; how did you turn into a wild, foreign vine? Though you wash with lye and use plenty of soap, your guilt is a stain in front of me. How can you say, ‘I am not unclean; I have not gone after the Baals’? Look at what you did in the valley. You are a restless young camel, a wild donkey sniffing the wind in her season, and no one can turn her back. You tell me, ‘It is hopeless; I love foreigners and will go after them.’ As a thief is shamed when he is caught, so Israel is shamed: the people, kings, officials, priests, and prophets, who say to a piece of wood, ‘You are my father,’ and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’ They turn their backs to me, yet in trouble they say, ‘Rise up and save us!’ Where are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them rise up if they can save you; for you have as many gods as you have cities, Judah.”
20 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.
21 Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?
22 For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.
23 How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;
24 A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.
25 Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.
26 As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets,
27 Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.
28 But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.
“I have not sinned”
“Why do you argue with me? You have all rebelled against me. I struck your children in vain; they would not be corrected. Your own sword has eaten up your prophets like a lion. Look at the word of the Lord, you generation: have I been a wilderness to Israel, or a land of darkness? Why do my people say, ‘We are free to roam; we will not come to you again’? Does a girl forget her jewelry, or a bride her sash? Yet my people have forgotten me for days without number. How well you plan your road to find love! You have taught even the wicked your ways. On your clothes is the blood of innocent poor, not found by breaking in, but plain on all of you. And still you say, ‘I am innocent; surely His anger has turned from me.’ So I will bring my case against you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’ Why do you run about so much to change your road? You will be shamed by Egypt as you were shamed by Assyria. You will leave there too with your hands on your head, for the Lord has rejected those you trusted, and you will not prosper by them.”
29 Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD.
30 In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
31 O generation, see ye the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee?
32 Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.
33 Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways.
34 Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.
35 Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.
36 Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.
37 Yea, thou shalt go forth from him, and thine hands upon thine head: for the LORD hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them.
Seeing Christ in Jeremiah 2
The fountain Israel forsook is the Lord Himself. “Living water” is “a symbol of the Lord Jesus Christ and His teachings,” and the fountain is “Jesus Christ (Jehovah in the Old Testament).” At Jacob's well He is the one who gives it: “whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst” (John 4:14). Nephi calls the fountain of living waters “a representation of the love of God” (1 Ne. 11:25). The Lord who asks “What iniquity have your fathers found in me?” is the same who claims Israel as His firstborn (Ex. 4:22) and remembers her love when she was a bride.
Worth exploring next
- The marriage imagery continues in Jer. 3:1–11, which the manual connects to Hosea.
- The fountain returns in Jer. 17:13.
- Compare Nephi's vision of the fountain of living waters (1 Ne. 11:25) with Jesus at Jacob's well (John 4:10–14).
- Compare the Book of Mormon's priests of Noah (Mosiah 12:9–15) and the Lord's words in D&C 101:7–9 with verses 27–35.
Sources & further reading
- “Jeremiah”, Bible Dictionary.
- Chapter 23: As Ye Sow, So Shall Ye Reap (Jeremiah 1–19), Old Testament Student Manual: 1 Kings–Malachi (2003).
- Carl Friedrich Keil, Biblical Commentary on the Prophecies of Jeremiah, Trans. David Patrick and James Kennedy. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1874–1880; in Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament, online at Bible Hub.
- The Holy Scriptures (Latter-day Saint editions), text and chapter headings, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
- Westminster Leningrad Codex, with morphology, Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (OSHB), openscriptures/morphhb.
- The Septuagint (Rahlfs Greek text, with Brenton’s English translation), Elpenor Bilingual Septuagint.
- New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, National Council of Churches, 2021; on BibleGateway.
- “Baal”, Bible Dictionary.
- “Chittim or Kittim”, Bible Dictionary.
- “Cyprus”, Bible Dictionary.
- “Noph”, Bible Dictionary.
- “Living Water”, Guide to the Scriptures.