Read & explore together
The Valley of Slaughter
Jeremiah 7:30–34 is a severe prophetic warning. Yahweh names Judah’s evil, especially defiling his house and burning children, then declares judgement with stark images of renaming, death, silence, and a wasted land.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
In this passage, Yahweh speaks about the children of Judah. The message names evil done in his sight, defilement of the house called by his name, and the building of the high places of Topheth in the valley of the son of Hinnom for burning sons and daughters in the fire. Then the passage turns to the consequences Yahweh declares.
Jeremiah 7:30–34Main takeaway
This passage teaches that Yahweh utterly rejects these acts and announces devastating judgement on the people, the place, and the land.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Evil done in Yahweh’s sightThe passage begins with Yahweh’s charge against the children of Judah. Their actions are called evil in his sight.
Explanation
The passage begins with Yahweh’s charge against the children of Judah. Their actions are called evil in his sight. The specific offence here is that they set abominations in the house called by his name, defiling it. The wording joins evil, abominations, and defilement in one accusation.
02The high places of TophethThe next verse names the high places of Topheth in the valley of the son of Hinnom. There the people burned their sons and daughters in the fire.
Explanation
The next verse names the high places of Topheth in the valley of the son of Hinnom. There the people burned their sons and daughters in the fire. Yahweh says this was not something he commanded, nor something that came into his mind. The passage presents this practice as entirely contrary to him.
03A new name: the Valley of SlaughterBecause of this evil, Yahweh says days are coming when the place will no longer be called Topheth or the valley of the son of Hinnom.
Explanation
Because of this evil, Yahweh says days are coming when the place will no longer be called Topheth or the valley of the son of Hinnom. Instead it will be called the Valley of Slaughter. The new name marks judgement, with so many burials in Topheth that there is no place left.
04Death and silence across the landThe warning then widens. The dead bodies of this people will become food for birds and animals, and no one will frighten them away.
Explanation
The warning then widens. The dead bodies of this people will become food for birds and animals, and no one will frighten them away. Joyful sounds will cease in Judah and Jerusalem, including the voices of bridegroom and bride. The final picture is a land that becomes waste.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What two sins are named before the judgement is described?
Look for what Judah placed in the house called by Yahweh’s name and the high places of Topheth they built.
02What does Yahweh say about the burning of sons and daughters?
Notice the twofold statement that this was not commanded by him and did not come into his mind.
03How does the passage describe the change from ordinary life to judgement?
Compare the new name Valley of Slaughter with the ending of mirth, gladness, and wedding voices.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Jeremiah 7:30–34
30“For the children of Judah have done that which is evil in my sight,” says Yahweh. “They have set their abominations in the house which is called by my name, to defile it.
31They have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I didn’t command, nor did it come into my mind.
32Therefore behold, the days come”, says Yahweh, “that it will no more be called ‘Topheth’ or ‘The valley of the son of Hinnom’, but ‘The valley of Slaughter’; for they will bury in Topheth until there is no place to bury.
33The dead bodies of this people will be food for the birds of the sky, and for the animals of the earth. No one will frighten them away.
34Then I will cause to cease from the cities of Judah and from the streets of Jerusalem the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride; for the land will become a waste.”