Tree of Life Version
Jeremiah 2:27
27They say to wood, ‘You are my father’ and to a stone, ‘You birthed me.’ They have turned their back to Me and not their face. Yet when they are in trouble they say, ‘Rise up and save us!’
Jeremiah 2:27 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)They say to wood, ‘You are my father,’ and to stone, ‘You gave me birth.’ They have turned their backs to me and not their faces; yet when they are in trouble, they say, ‘Come and save us!’
- English Standard Version (ESV)who say to a tree, 'You are my father,' and to a stone, 'You gave me birth.' For they have turned their back to me, and not their face. But in the time of their trouble they say, 'Arise and save us!'
- New King James Version (NKJV)Saying to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ And to a stone, ‘You gave birth to me.’ For they have turned their back to Me, and not their face. But in the time of their trouble They will say, ‘Arise and save us.’
Context of Jeremiah 2:27
25Do not run while your feet are bare and your throat is thirsty. But you said ‘There is no hope! No! For I have loved foreign gods and I will go after them.’ 26As a thief is shamed when caught, so the house of Israel is shamed— they, their kings, their princes, their kohanim and their prophets. They say to wood, ‘You are my father’ and to a stone, ‘You birthed me.’ They have turned their back to Me and not their face. Yet when they are in trouble they say, ‘Rise up and save us!’ 28Where are your gods that you made for yourself? Let them come—if they can save you when you are in trouble! For you have as many gods as y0u have cities, O Judah. 29Why do you strive with Me? You have all rebelled against Me.” It is a declaration of Adonai.
Read all of Jeremiah 2Jeremiah 2:27 word by word
אֹמְרִ֨ים לָעֵ֜ץ אָ֣בִי אַ֗תָּה וְלָאֶ֙בֶן֙ אַ֣תְּ יְלִדְתָּ֔נוּ כִּֽי־פָנ֥וּ אֵלַ֛י עֹ֖רֶף וְלֹ֣א פָנִ֑ים וּבְעֵ֤ת רָֽעָתָם֙ יֹֽאמְר֔וּ ק֖וּמָה וְהוֹשִׁיעֵֽנוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- to a stockעֵץ‛êts · treeH6086
- my fatherאָב'âb · fatherH1
- and to a stoneאֶ֫בֶן'eben · stoneH68
- Thou hast brought me forthיָלַדyâlad · to begetH3205
- for they have turnedפָּנָהpânâh · to turnH6437
- backעֹ֫רֶף‛ôreph · neckH6203
- faceפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
- but in the timeעֵת‛êth · timeH6256
- of their troubleרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: harmH7451
- Ariseקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
- and saveיָשַׁעyâsha‛ · to saveH3467
Cross-references for Jeremiah 2:27
- Jeremiah 10:8They are totally stupid and foolish. Discipline is useless—it’s wood!
- Psalms 115:4Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands.
- Isaiah 44:9Those who fashion idols are empty. Their precious things do not profit. Their witnesses do not see or know, so they will be put to shame.
- Isaiah 46:6They lavish gold from a purse and weigh out silver on the scales. They hire a goldsmith so he makes a god. They bow down. Yes, they worship it.
- Habakkuk 2:18What use is an idol when its craftsman has carved it? Or a metal image—a teacher of lies? For a craftsman has trusted in the image that he created, to make dumb idols.
- Ezekiel 8:16So He brought me into the inner court of Adonai’s House. Behold, at the door of the Temple of Adonai, between the porch and the altar, were about 25 men, with their backs toward the Temple of Adonai and their faces toward the east—and they were bowing in worship eastward toward the sun.
- Ezekiel 23:35Therefore thus says Adonai Elohim: “Because you have forgotten Me and thrust Me behind your back, you will also bear your obscenity and your harlotry.”
- Jeremiah 2:24a wild donkey used to the wilderness— sniffing the wind in her passion— in her heat, who can restrain her? All males that pursue her will not tire themselves. At mating time they will find her.
- Jeremiah 22:23O inhabitant of Lebanon, nestled in the cedars, how you will groan when pangs come on you, pain like a woman in travail!
- Judges 10:8They shattered and crushed Bnei-Yisrael that year—for 18 years all Bnei-Yisrael who were beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.
- Psalms 78:34But when He slew them, then they sought Him, and turned back, and desired God eagerly.
- Isaiah 26:16Adonai, they sought You in distress, they poured out a whispered prayer when Your discipline was upon them.
- Hosea 5:15I will go and return to My place until they admit their guilt. Then they will seek My face. In their distress they will seek Me earnestly:
- Hosea 7:14Nor did they not cry to Me in their heart when they were wailing on their beds. For the sake of grain and new wine they slash themselves— they keep turning away from Me.
Commentaries on Jeremiah 2:27
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 27Thou art my father - By thee we have been produced, and by thee we are sustained. This was the property of the true God; for he is the Author and Supporter of being. How deeply fallen and brutishly ignorant must they be when they could attribute this to the stock of a tree!Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 27“Stone” being feminine in Hebrew is here represented as the mother. Arise, and save us - Whether it be idolatry or infidelity, it satisfies only in tranquil and prosperous times. No sooner does trouble come, than the deep conviction of the existence of a God, which is the witness for Him in our heart, resumes its authority, and man prays.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-28Verses 20-28 Notwithstanding all their advantages, Israel had become like the wild vine that bears poisonous fruit. Men are often as much under the power of their unbridled desires and their sinful lusts, as the brute beasts. But the Lord here warns them not to weary themselves in pursuits which could only bring distress and misery. As we must not despair of the mercy of God, but believe that to be sufficient for the pardon of our sins, so neither must we…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 27These idols of a father and mother likely represented Baal and Asherah. in the time of trouble, they say: See, for example, Judges 10:10; Isaiah 26:16; Hosea 5:15.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2727. Thou art my father--(Contrast Jr 3:4; Is 64:8). in ... trouble they will say--namely, to God (Psa 78:34; Is 26:16). Trouble often brings men to their senses (Lu 15:16-18).Read the comment
Topics related to Jeremiah 2:27
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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