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Jeremiah 19:4

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 19:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Because they have forsaken me, and have estranged this place, and have burned incense in it unto other gods, that they knew not, they and their fathers and the kings of Judah; and have filled this place with the blood of innocents,” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Because they have forsaken me, and have estranged this place, and have burned incense in it unto other gods, that they knew not, they and their fathers and the kings of Judah; and have filled this place with the blood of innocents,
Jeremiah 19:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 19

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1Thus said Jehovah, Go, and buy a potter`s earthen bottle, and [take] of the elders of the people, and of the elders of the priests;
2and go forth unto the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is by the entry of the gate Harsith, and proclaim there the words that I shall tell thee;
3and say, Hear ye the word of Jehovah, O kings of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem: thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, which whosoever heareth, his ears shall tingle.
4Because they have forsaken me, and have estranged this place, and have burned incense in it unto other gods, that they knew not, they and their fathers and the kings of Judah; and have filled this place with the blood of innocents,
5and have built the high places of Baal, to burn their sons in the fire for burnt-offerings unto Baal; which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind:
6therefore, behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that this place shall no more be called Topheth, nor The valley of the son of Hinnom, but The valley of Slaughter.
7And I will make void the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem in this place; and I will cause them to fall by the sword before their enemies, and by the hand of them that seek their life: and their dead bodies will I give to be food for the birds of the heavens, and for the beasts of the earth.
← Jeremiah 19:3Jeremiah 19:5 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Because they have forsaken me, etc.] My worship, as the Targum; they had apostatized from God, relinquished his service, neglected and despised his word and ordinances, and left the religion they had been brought up in, and was agreeable to the will of God. This, with what follows, contain reasons of the Lord’s threatening them to bring evil upon them, as before: and have estranged this place; or made a strange place of it, so that it could scarcely be known to be the same, nor would the Lord own it as his; meaning either the city of Jerusalem, to which the prophet was near, and could point to it; or the temple, which was in sight, and which they had strangely abused, by offering strange…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“(Isa 65:11). estranged this place--devoted it to the worship of strange gods: alienating a portion of the sacred city from God, the rightful Lord of the temple, city, and whole land. nor their fathers--namely, the godly among them; their ungodly fathers God makes no account of. blood of innocents--slain in honor of Molech (Jer 7:31; Psa 106:37).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Have estranged this place - They have not recognized the sanctity of this place, but have treated it as a strange place, by worshipping in it strange gods. Innocents - i. e., guiltless persons. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“This place - Either this city, or this valley, which they had turned to an use quite contrary to the end for which God gave it them. Jeremiah 19:5”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“19:4-5 The people burn incense: According to the Sinai covenant, offering incense while worshiping the Lord was to be an act of the priests (Exod 30:8). Offering incense to idols was a terrible affront to the Lord. • the blood of innocent children: Child sacrifice was practiced in Baal worship, and sometimes by the kings of Judah (2 Kgs 17:17; Ps 106:37-38).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“they have: Jer 2:13, Jer 2:17, Jer 2:19, Jer 2:34, Jer 5:6, Jer 15:6, Jer 16:11, Jer 17:13; Deu 28:20, Deu 31:16-18; Deu 32:15-23; Kg2 22:16, Kg2 22:17; Isa 65:11; Dan 9:5-15 estranged: Kg2 21:4, Kg2 21:5, Kg2 21:7, Kg2 23:11, Kg2 23:12; Ch2 33:4-7 burned: Jer 7:9, Jer 11:13, Jer 18:15, Jer 32:29-35; Deu 13:6, Deu 13:13, Deu 28:36, Deu 28:64, Deu 32:17 filled: Jer 2:30, Jer 2:34, Jer 7:31, Jer 7:32, Jer 22:17, Jer 26:15, Jer 26:23; Kg2 21:6, Kg2 21:16, Kg2 24:4; Isa 59:7; Lam 4:13; Mat 23:34, Mat 23:35; Luk 11:50; Rev 16:6 Jeremiah 19:5”
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Related study paths

Read Jeremiah 19 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification