God’s Word Translation
Jeremiah 2:11
11Has any nation ever exchanged gods? (Their gods aren’t really gods.) Yet, my people have exchanged their Glory for something that doesn’t help them.
Jeremiah 2:11 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.
- New International Version (NIV)Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But my people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Has a nation changed its gods, Which are not gods? But My people have changed their Glory For what does not profit.
Context of Jeremiah 2:11
9“That is why I am bringing charges against you,” declares the Lord, “and I am bringing charges against your grandchildren. 10Go over to the coasts of Cyprus, and see. Send ⌞someone⌟ to Kedar, and observe closely. See if there has ever been anything like this. Has any nation ever exchanged gods? (Their gods aren’t really gods.) Yet, my people have exchanged their Glory for something that doesn’t help them. 12Be horrified over this, heaven. Be terribly afraid,” declares the Lord. 13“My people have done two things wrong. They have abandoned me, the fountain of life-giving water. They have also dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that can’t hold water.
Read all of Jeremiah 2Jeremiah 2:11 word by word
הַהֵימִ֥יר גּוֹי֙ אֱלֹהִ֔ים וְהֵ֖מָּה לֹ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים וְעַמִּ֛י הֵמִ֥יר כְּבוֹד֖וֹ בְּל֥וֹא יוֹעִֽיל׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Jeremiah 2:11
- Jeremiah 2:5This is what the Lord says: What did your ancestors find wrong with me that they went so far away from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.
- Micah 4:5All the nations live by the names of their gods, but we will live by the name of the Lord our God forever.
- 1 Peter 1:18Realize that you weren’t set free from the worthless life handed down to you from your ancestors by a payment of silver or gold which can be destroyed.
- Jeremiah 16:20“People can’t make gods for themselves. They aren’t really gods.
- Psalms 115:4Their idols are made of silver and gold. They were made by human hands.
- Isaiah 37:19They have thrown the gods from these countries into fires because these gods aren’t real gods. They’re only wooden and stone statues made by human hands. So the Assyrians have destroyed them.
- 1 Corinthians 8:4Now about eating food that was offered to false gods: We know that the false gods in this world don’t really exist and that no god exists except the one God.
- Jeremiah 2:8The priests didn’t ask, “Where is the Lord?” Those who deal with my teachings didn’t know me. The rulers rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied in the name of Baal and followed statues that couldn’t help them.
- Deuteronomy 33:29You are blessed, Israel! Who is like you, a nation saved by the Lord? He is a shield that helps you and a sword that wins your victories. Your enemies will come crawling to you, and you will stomp on their backs.”
- Psalms 3:3But you, O Lord, are a shield that surrounds me. You are my glory. You hold my head high.
- Psalms 106:20They traded their glorious God for the statue of a bull that eats grass.
- Romans 1:23They exchanged the glory of the immortal God for statues that looked like mortal humans, birds, animals, and snakes.
Commentaries on Jeremiah 2:11
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11A nation - A Gentile nation, in strong antithesis to people, the appellation of Israel. Their glory - Though the worship of the one true God is a nation‘s greatest glory, yet it is irksome because it puts a constraint on human passions. That which doth not profit - Israel had exchanged the prosperity which was God‘s reward of obedience for the calamities which resulted from idol-worship.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-13Verses 9-13 Before God punishes sinners, he pleads with them, to bring them to repentance. He pleads with us, what we should plead with ourselves. Be afraid to think of the wrath and curse which will be the portion of those who throw themselves out of God's grace and favour. Grace in Christ is compared to water from a fountain, it being cooling and refreshing, cleansing and making fruitful: to living water, because it quickens dead sinners, revives…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11No pagan nation exchanged its gods for those of another nation. Even though pagan nations generally worshiped the same nature deities (using different names), each nation stayed loyal to its own gods. This highlights Israel's disloyalty.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. glory--Jehovah, the glory of Israel (Psa 106:20; Ro 1:23). The Shekinah, or cloud resting on the sanctuary, was the symbol of "the glory of the Lord" (1Ki 8:11; compare Ro 9:4). The golden calf was intended as an image of the true God (compare Ex 32:4, 5), yet it is called an "idol" (Ac 7:41). It (like Roman Catholic images) was a violation of the second commandment, as the heathen multiplying of gods is a violation of the first. not profit--(Jr 2:8).Read the comment
Topics related to Jeremiah 2:11
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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