Read & explore together
Israel Has Forsaken God
Jeremiah 2:1–13 is a prophetic message in which Yahweh reminds Israel of earlier devotion, then shows how far the people have turned away. The passage uses strong comparisons to expose both ingratitude and spiritual foolishness.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
The passage begins with Yahweh’s word to Jeremiah and is addressed to Jerusalem, the house of Jacob and all the families of Israel. It recalls Yahweh’s care in the wilderness and in a fruitful land, then brings charges against priests, rulers and prophets for turning to what does not profit.
Jeremiah 2:1–13Main takeaway
This passage teaches that forsaking Yahweh, who gave life and care, for worthless substitutes is a serious evil.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Yahweh remembers earlier devotionYahweh tells Jeremiah to proclaim that he remembers Israel’s early kindness and love, pictured as the love of a bride.
Explanation
Yahweh tells Jeremiah to proclaim that he remembers Israel’s early kindness and love, pictured as the love of a bride. The wilderness image highlights a time when Israel followed him in dependence. Israel is also called holy to Yahweh and like first fruits, set apart for him. These opening words stress Yahweh’s prior claim and care.
02The charge: going after what is worthlessYahweh asks what wrong the fathers found in him that made them go far from him. Instead of seeking the God who brought them from Egypt and led them through the wilderness, they followed “worthless vanity” and became worthless.
Explanation
Yahweh asks what wrong the fathers found in him that made them go far from him. Instead of seeking the God who brought them from Egypt and led them through the wilderness, they followed “worthless vanity” and became worthless. The wording connects what they pursued with what they became.
03Blessing answered with defilementYahweh says he brought the people into a plentiful land to enjoy its fruit and goodness. Yet when they entered, they defiled his land and made his heritage an abomination.
Explanation
Yahweh says he brought the people into a plentiful land to enjoy its fruit and goodness. Yet when they entered, they defiled his land and made his heritage an abomination. The contrast is sharp: generous provision from Yahweh is answered not with gratitude, but with corruption of what belongs to him.
04Even leaders turned awayThe failure reached every level. Priests did not ask for Yahweh, those handling the law did not know him, rulers transgressed, and prophets spoke by Baal.
Explanation
The failure reached every level. Priests did not ask for Yahweh, those handling the law did not know him, rulers transgressed, and prophets spoke by Baal. Yahweh therefore says he will contend with them and with their descendants. This shows that public spiritual leadership had also abandoned what was true and profitable.
05Two evils and a vivid pictureYahweh calls distant places to consider whether anything like this has happened: his people have exchanged their glory for what does not profit.
Explanation
Yahweh calls distant places to consider whether anything like this has happened: his people have exchanged their glory for what does not profit. The heavens are summoned to be astonished. Then comes the key image: they have forsaken Yahweh, the spring of living waters, and made broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does Yahweh remember about Israel at the start of the passage, and why does that matter for the rest of the message?
Notice the remembered kindness, bridal love and following in the wilderness before the later accusations begin.
02How does the passage describe the result of following what is worthless?
Look at the link between walking after worthless vanity and what the people themselves became.
03Why is the picture of broken cisterns such a strong ending to this passage?
Compare Yahweh as a spring of living waters with cisterns that cannot even hold water.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Jeremiah 2:1–13
1Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
2“Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Yahweh says, “I remember for you the kindness of your youth, your love as a bride, how you went after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
3Israel was holiness to Yahweh, the first fruits of his increase. All who devour him will be held guilty. Evil will come on them,” ’ says Yahweh.”
4Hear Yahweh’s word, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel!
5Yahweh says, “What unrighteousness have your fathers found in me, that they have gone far from me, and have walked after worthless vanity, and have become worthless?
6They didn’t say, ‘Where is Yahweh who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, who 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 no one passed through, and where no man lived?’
7I brought you into a plentiful land to eat its fruit and its goodness; but when you entered, you defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination.
8The priests didn’t say, ‘Where is Yahweh?’ and those who handle the law didn’t know me. The rulers also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal and followed things that do not profit.
9“Therefore I will yet contend with you,” says Yahweh, “and I will contend with your children’s children.
10For pass over to the islands of Kittim, and see. Send to Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there has been such a thing.
11Has a nation changed its gods, which really are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which doesn’t profit.
12“Be astonished, you heavens, at this and be horribly afraid. Be very desolate,” says Yahweh.
13“For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the spring of living waters, and cut out cisterns for themselves: broken cisterns that can’t hold water.