God’s Word Translation
Jeremiah 19:5
5They have built worship sites to burn their children as sacrifices to Baal. I didn’t ask them or command them to do this. It never entered my mind.
Jeremiah 19:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind:
- New International Version (NIV)They have built the high places of Baal to burn their children in the fire as offerings to Baal—something I did not command or mention, nor did it enter my mind.
- English Standard Version (ESV)and have built the high places of Baal to burn their sons in the fire as burnt offerings to Baal, which I did not command or decree, nor did it come into my mind—
- New King James Version (NKJV)(they have also built the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings to Baal, which I did not command or speak, nor did it come into My mind),
Context of Jeremiah 19:5
3Say, “Listen to the Lord’s word, you kings of Judah and those who live in Jerusalem. This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: I’m going to bring such a disaster on this place that the ears of everyone who hears about it will ring. 4“The people, their ancestors, and the kings of Judah have abandoned me. They have made this place unrecognizable by burning incense as an offering to other gods that they hadn’t heard of. They have filled this place with the blood of innocent people. They have built worship sites to burn their children as sacrifices to Baal. I didn’t ask them or command them to do this. It never entered my mind. 6“That is why the days are coming, declares the Lord, when this place will no longer be called Topheth or the valley of Ben Hinnom. Instead, it will be called Slaughter Valley. 7I will smash the plans of Judah and Jerusalem in this place. I will cut them down with swords in front of their enemies and with the hands of those who want to kill them. I will give their bodies as food to birds and to animals.
Read all of Jeremiah 19Jeremiah 19:5 word by word
וּבָנ֞וּ אֶת־בָּמ֣וֹת הַבַּ֗עַל לִשְׂרֹ֧ף אֶת־בְּנֵיהֶ֛ם בָּאֵ֖שׁ עֹל֣וֹת לַבָּ֑עַל אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־צִוִּ֙יתִי֙ וְלֹ֣א דִבַּ֔רְתִּי וְלֹ֥א עָלְתָ֖ה עַל־לִבִּֽי׃ פRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- They have builtבָּנָהbânâh · to buildH1129
- also the high placesבָּמָהbâmâh · high placeH1116
- of Baalבַּעַלba‛al · BaalH1168
- to burnשָׂרַףώâraph · to burnH8313
- their sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- with fireאֵשׁ'êsh · fireH784
- burnt offeringsעֹלָה‛ôlâh ‛ôlâh · burnt offeringH5930
- which I commandedצָוָהtsâvâh · to commandH6680
- not, nor spakeדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
- neither cameעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
- into my mindלֵבlêb · heartH3820
Cross-references for Jeremiah 19:5
- Numbers 22:41The next morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth Baal. From there he could see the outskirts of the Israelites’ camp.
- Jeremiah 7:31They have built worship sites at Topheth in the valley of Ben Hinnom in order to burn their sons and daughters as sacrifices. I did not ask for this. It never entered my mind.
- Deuteronomy 12:31Never worship the Lord your God in the way they worship their gods, because everything they do for their gods is disgusting to the Lord. He hates it! They even burn their sons and daughters as sacrifices to their gods.
- 2 Kings 17:17They sacrificed their sons and daughters by burning them alive. They practiced black magic and cast evil spells. They sold themselves by doing what the Lord considered evil, and they made him furious.
- 2 Chronicles 28:3He burned sacrifices in the valley of Ben Hinnom and sacrificed his son by burning him alive, one of the disgusting things done by the nations that the Lord had forced out of the Israelites’ way.
- Psalms 106:37They sacrificed their sons and daughters to demons.
- Ezekiel 16:20“ ‘You took your sons and daughters, who belonged to me, and you sacrificed them as food to idols. Wasn’t your prostitution enough?
- Ezekiel 20:26I let them dishonor themselves when they sacrificed all their firstborn sons as gifts ⌞to their false gods⌟. I terrified them so that they would know that I am the Lord.’
- Jeremiah 32:35In the valley of Ben Hinnom they built worship sites for Baal to sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molech. I didn’t ask them to do this. It never entered my mind. I didn’t make Judah sin.
- Leviticus 18:21Never give your children as sacrifices to the god Molech ⌞by burning them alive⌟. If you do, you are dishonoring the name of your God. I am the Lord.
- Ezekiel 38:10“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: At that time ideas will enter your head, and you will make wicked plans.
- Daniel 2:29Your Majesty, while you were lying in bed, thoughts about what would happen in the future came to you. The one who reveals secrets told you what is going to happen.
Commentaries on Jeremiah 19:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5Offerings unto Baal - A general name for all the popular idols; Baal, Moloch, Ashtaroth, etc.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-5The have burned incense: In the Sinai covenant, only priests should offer incense when worshiping the Lord (Exodus 30:8). Offering incense to idols was a serious insult to the Lord. the blood of the innocent: Child sacrifice occurred in Baal worship and sometimes by the kings of Judah (2 Kings 17:17; Psalm 106:37–38).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. commanded not--nay, more, I commanded the opposite (Le 18:21; see Jr 7:31, 32).Read the comment
Topics related to Jeremiah 19:5
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Jeremiah 19
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries