New English Translation
Jeremiah 2:11
11Has a nation ever changed its gods (even though they are not really gods at all)? But my people have exchanged me, their glorious God, for a god that cannot help them at all!
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“So, once more I will state my case against you,” says the Lord. “I will also state it against your children and grandchildren. 10Go west across the sea to the coasts of Cyprus and see. Send someone east to Kedar and have them look carefully. See if such a thing as this has ever happened: Has a nation ever changed its gods (even though they are not really gods at all)? But my people have exchanged me, their glorious God, for a god that cannot help them at all! 12Be amazed at this, O heavens! Be shocked and utterly dumbfounded,” says the Lord. 13“Do so because my people have committed a double wrong: they have rejected me, the fountain of life-giving water, and they have dug cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns which cannot even 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 fault could your ancestors have possibly found in me that they strayed so far from me? They paid allegiance to worthless idols, and so became worthless to me.
- Micah 4:5Though all the nations follow their respective gods, we will follow the Lord our God forever.
- 1 Peter 1:18You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors you were ransomed – not by perishable things like silver or gold,
- Jeremiah 16:20Can people make their own gods? No, what they make are not gods at all.”
- Psalms 115:4Their idols are made of silver and gold – they are man-made.
- Isaiah 37:19They have burned the gods of the nations, for they are not really gods, but only the product of human hands manufactured from wood and stone. That is why the Assyrians could destroy them.
- 1 Corinthians 8:4With regard then to eating food sacrificed to idols, we know that “an idol in this world is nothing,” and that “there is no God but one.”
- Jeremiah 2:8Your priests did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord?’ Those responsible for teaching my law did not really know me. Your rulers rebelled against me. Your prophets prophesied in the name of the god Baal. They all worshiped idols that could not help them.
- Deuteronomy 33:29You have joy, Israel! Who is like you? You are a people delivered by the Lord, your protective shield and your exalted sword. May your enemies cringe before you; may you trample on their backs.
- Psalms 3:3But you, Lord, are a shield that protects me; you are my glory and the one who restores me.
- Psalms 106:20They traded their majestic God for the image of an ox that eats grass.
- Romans 1:23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image resembling mortal human beings or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles.
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
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