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Jeremiah 2:5

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 2:5 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “thus saith Jehovah, What unrighteousness have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

thus saith Jehovah, What unrighteousness have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
Jeremiah 2:5 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 2

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2Go, and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, I remember for thee the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals; how thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
3Israel [was] holiness unto Jehovah, the first-fruits of his increase: all that devour him shall be held guilty; evil shall come upon them, saith Jehovah.
4Hear ye the word of Jehovah, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:
5thus saith Jehovah, What unrighteousness have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
6Neither said they, Where is Jehovah that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought and of the shadow of death, through a land that none passed through, and where no man dwelt?
7And I brought you into a plentiful land, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination.
8The priests said not, Where is Jehovah? and they that handle the law knew me not: the rulers also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
← Jeremiah 2:4Jeremiah 2:6 →
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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
“Thus saith the Lord, what iniquity have your fathers found in me, etc.] What injustice or injury has been done them? there is no unrighteousness in God, nor can any be done by him; or what unfaithfulness, or want of truth and integrity in performing promises, had they found in him? he never suffers his faithfulness to fail, or any of the good things he has promised. So the Targum, “what falsehood have your fathers found in my word?” none at all; God is a covenant keeping God: that they are gone far from me; from my fear, as the Chaldee paraphrase; from the word and worship, and ways of God: and have walked after vanity; after idols, the vanities of the Gentiles, (<241422>Jeremiah 14:22): and…”
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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
“iniquity--wrong done to them (Isa 5:4; Mic 6:3; compare Deu 32:4). walked after vanity--contrasted with "walkest after me in the wilderness" (Jer 2:2): then I was their guide in the barren desert; now they take idols as their guides. vanity . . . vain--An idol is not only vain (impotent and empty), but vanity itself. Its worshippers acquire its character, becoming vain as it is (Deu 7:26; Psa 115:8). A people's character never rises above that of its gods, which are its "better nature" [BACON] (Kg2 17:15; Jon 2:8).”
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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
“Vanity - Idols. Vain - Fools; senseless as the stocks and stones that they made their idols of. Jeremiah 2:6”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“2:5 The Israelites worshiped worthless idols, so their lives were ruled by delusions.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“What: Jer 2:31; Isa 5:3, Isa 5:4, Isa 43:22, Isa 43:23; Mic 6:2, Mic 6:3 are gone: Jer 12:2; Isa 29:13; Eze 11:15; Mat 15:8 walked: Jer 10:8, Jer 10:14, Jer 10:15, Jer 14:22; Deu 32:21; Sa1 12:21; Kg2 17:15; Jon 2:8; Act 14:15 and are: Jer 51:17, Jer 51:18; Psa 115:8; Isa 44:9; Rom 1:21 Jeremiah 2:6”
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Related study paths

Read Jeremiah 2 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification