Jeremiah 2:14

Jeremiah 2:14 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Is Israel a servant? is he a homeborn slave? why is he spoiled?
• New International Version (NIV)Is Israel a servant, a slave by birth? Why then has he become plunder?
• English Standard Version (ESV)"Is Israel a slave? Is he a homeborn servant? Why then has he become a prey?
• New King James Version (NKJV)“Is Israel a servant? Is he a homeborn slave? Why is he plundered?

Context of Jeremiah 2:14

12Be stunned by this, O heavens; be shocked and utterly appalled,” declares the LORD. 13“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and they have dug their own cisterns— broken cisterns that cannot hold water. Is Israel a slave? Was he born into slavery? Why then has he become prey? 15The young lions have roared at him; they have sounded their voices. They have laid waste his land; his cities lie in ruins, without inhabitant. 16The men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shaved the crown of your head.

Jeremiah 2:14 word by word

הַעֶ֙בֶד֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אִם־יְלִ֥יד בַּ֖יִת ה֑וּא מַדּ֖וּעַ הָיָ֥ה לָבַֽז׃Read the interlinear

• Is Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• Is Israelאִם'im · if: surely noH518
• a slaveעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• Was heהוּאhû' hîy' · he/she/itH1931
• born into slaveryיָלִידyâlîyd · bornH3211
• born into slaveryבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: householdH1004
• Why thenמַדּוּעַmaddûa‛ maddûa‛ · why?H4069
• has he becomeהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
• preyבַּזbaz · plunderH957

Cross-references for Jeremiah 2:14

• Exodus 4:22Then tell Pharaoh that this is what the LORD says: ‘Israel is My firstborn son,
• Isaiah 50:1This is what the LORD says: “Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce with which I sent her away? Or to which of My creditors did I sell you? Look, you were sold for your iniquities, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away.
• Genesis 15:3Abram continued, “Behold, You have given me no offspring, so a servant in my household will be my heir.”
• Ecclesiastes 2:7I acquired menservants and maidservants, and servants were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me,

Commentaries on Jeremiah 2:14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14Is Israel a servant? - Is he a slave purchased with money, or a servant born in the family? He is a son himself. If so, then, why is he spoiled? Not because God has not shown him love and kindness; but because he forsook God, turned to and is joined with idols.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14It was Israel‘s glory to be Yahweh‘s servant Jeremiah 30:10, and slaves born in the house were more prized than those bought with money as being more faithful Genesis 14:14. Cannot Yahweh guard His own household? How happens it that a member of so powerful a family is spoiled? In the next verse the prophet gives the reason. Israel is a runaway slave, who has deserted the family to which he belongs by right of birth, and thereby brought upon himself…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-19Verses 14-19 Is Israel a servant? No, they are the seed of Abraham. We may apply this spiritually: Is the soul of man a slave? No, it is not; but has sold its own liberty, and enslaved itself to divers lusts and passions. The Assyrian princes, like lions, prevailed against Israel. People from Egypt destroyed their glory and strength. They brought these calamities on themselves by departing from the Lord. The use and application of this is, Repent of thy…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14The Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt. However, in Jeremiah's time, they became slaves again due to their agreements with Egypt and Assyria (Jeremiah 2:18).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. is he a homeborn slave--No. "Israel is Jehovah's son, even His first-born" (Ex 4:22). Jr 2:16, 18, 36, and the absence of any express contrast of the two parts of the nation are against Eichorn's view, that the prophet proposes to Judah, as yet spared, the case of Israel (the ten tribes) which had been carried away by Assyria as a warning of what they might expect if they should still put their trust in Egypt. "Were Israel's ten tribes of meaner birth…Read the comment

Topics related to Jeremiah 2:14

• Church
• Servant

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Attire
• Bitter
• Cry
• Degenerate
• Handle
• Hold
• Holiness

Commentaries on Jeremiah 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings