Jeremiah 11:15

KJV

What hath my beloved to do in mine house, [seeing] she hath wrought lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed from thee? when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest.

KJV (with Strong's)

What hath my beloved {H3039} to do in mine house {H1004}, seeing she hath wrought {H6213} lewdness {H4209} with many {H7227}, and the holy {H6944} flesh {H1320} is passed {H5674} from thee? when thou doest evil {H7451}, then thou rejoicest {H5937}.

Complete Jewish Bible

What right does my beloved have to be in my house, when she has behaved so shamelessly with so many? Offerings of consecrated meat can no longer help, because it is when you are doing evil that you are happy."

Berean Standard Bible

What right has My beloved in My house, having carried out so many evil schemes? Can consecrated meat avert your doom, so that you can rejoice?

American Standard Version

What hath my beloved to do in my house, seeing she hath wrought lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed from thee? when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 11:15 powerfully articulates the Lord's profound grief, indignation, and sense of betrayal over Judah's spiritual apostasy and deep-seated hypocrisy. Portraying Israel as His "beloved," God rhetorically questions her legitimacy to participate in Temple worship when her actions are thoroughly steeped in "lewdness"—a potent metaphor for widespread idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness. The verse laments the defilement and rejection of sacred offerings, signaling the forfeiture of Judah's holy status, and culminates in a chilling indictment: the people not only commit evil but perversely find joy and exultation in their wickedness, revealing a severely hardened heart and a complete disregard for their sacred covenant relationship with God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 11:15 is strategically placed within a significant prophetic section (chapters 11-12) that primarily addresses the broken covenant between Yahweh and His chosen people, Judah. This passage immediately follows God's solemn reminder of the covenant's stipulations and the dire curses for disobedience, echoing the foundational principles laid out in [Deuteronomy 27-28](/deuteronomy/27 "Deuteronomy 27-28 - Covenant Blessings and Curses"). The Lord had previously commanded Jeremiah to proclaim these covenant terms throughout Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, highlighting their persistent failure to uphold their end of the divine agreement. The verses directly preceding 11:15 describe the people's stubborn refusal to listen and obey, frequently likening their rebellion to spiritual adultery (e.g., [Jeremiah 3:8](/jeremiah/3-8 "Jeremiah 3:8 - Judah's Persistent Unfaithfulness")). Consequently, verse 15 serves as a deeply poignant expression of God's heartbroken response to this chronic unfaithfulness, sharply questioning the very legitimacy of their continued presence and ritualistic worship within His sacred sanctuary.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophetic ministry of Jeremiah unfolded during an exceptionally tumultuous period in Judah's history, spanning the reigns of Kings Josiah, Jehoiakim, and Zedekiah, leading inexorably towards the devastating Babylonian exile in the late 7th and early 6th centuries BCE. Despite King Josiah's significant reforms, which earnestly sought to restore covenant faithfulness and eliminate idolatry, the people's hearts remained largely unchanged, often reverting to syncretistic practices. Idolatry, pervasive social injustice, and a superficial adherence to religious rituals continued to plague the nation. The "house" mentioned in the verse unequivocally refers to the Temple in Jerusalem, which served as the central place of worship and sacrifice. Tragically, the people had developed a false sense of security, mistakenly believing that the Temple offered them inviolable protection, irrespective of their moral conduct (cf. [Jeremiah 7:4](/jeremiah/7-4 "Jeremiah 7:4 - The Temple as a False Security")). The "holy flesh" points to the animal sacrifices offered there, which were divinely ordained to atone for sin and maintain fellowship with God. However, in a culture where ritual could be tragically divorced from righteousness, God's rhetorical question profoundly underscores the deep and dangerous disconnect between outward religious practice and inward spiritual reality.

* **Key Themes:** This verse profoundly contributes to several overarching themes prevalent in the book of Jeremiah and the broader prophetic literature. Firstly, it starkly highlights the theme of **Covenant Unfaithfulness**, powerfully demonstrating Judah's consistent breach of the Mosaic Covenant through rampant idolatry and moral corruption, despite God's enduring love and long-suffering patience. Secondly, it powerfully emphasizes **Divine Grief and Impending Judgment**, revealing God's deep sorrow and pain over His people's betrayal, a betrayal that ultimately necessitates severe divine judgment. The Lord's lament here expresses the profound anguish of a spurned lover, yet it also ominously foreshadows the impending consequences of their actions, including the catastrophic destruction of the Temple and the trauma of exile. Thirdly, the verse directly addresses the critical theme of **Hypocrisy in Worship**. It unequivocally exposes the utter futility and offensive nature of engaging in religious rituals (such as offering "holy flesh" in "mine house") while simultaneously pursuing "lewdness" and finding perverse joy in evil. This crucial theme is consistently echoed throughout the prophets, who tirelessly call for genuine repentance and righteous living over mere outward religious observance (e.g., [Isaiah 1:11-17](/isaiah/1-11 "Isaiah 1:11-17 - God's Rejection of Empty Rituals") and [Amos 5:21-24](/amos/5-21 "Amos 5:21-24 - Let Justice Roll Down Like Waters")). The final, damning clause, "when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest," starkly portrays the profound spiritual depravity and the dangerously hardened heart that has taken root in Judah, representing a perilous state of moral inversion.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Beloved (Hebrew, _yᵉdîyd'_ H3039):** Derived from the same root as "loved," this term signifies an intimate, cherished, and affectionate relationship. God's use of "my beloved" for Judah underscores the deep, covenantal love He had for His people, akin to that of a devoted spouse. It highlights the profound pain, grief, and sense of betrayal God feels, as His chosen nation, the very object of His enduring affection, has turned away to spiritual harlotry. This term emphasizes the personal, emotional, and deeply relational dimension of God's bond with Israel, making their unfaithfulness all the more grievous and heartbreaking.
* **Lewdness (Hebrew, _mᵉzimmâh'_ H4209):** This word denotes a "plan," "device," or "scheme," almost invariably carrying a negative connotation, implying wickedness, mischievous intent, or even malicious machination. In Jeremiah 11:15, "lewdness" refers not merely to casual or accidental sin but to deliberate, calculated, and intentional acts of spiritual unfaithfulness, particularly the pervasive idolatry and the formation of unholy alliances with foreign nations that compromised their exclusive devotion to Yahweh. It suggests a premeditated and purposeful rebellion against God's sacred covenant, rather than an unintentional transgression, thereby revealing a deep-seated corruption of heart and purpose within the nation.
* **Rejoicest (Hebrew, _ʻâlaz'_ H5937):** This verb means "to jump for joy," "to exult," or "to triumph." Its chilling use in the context of "when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest" is profoundly ironic and deeply condemnatory. It signifies not just the commission of evil acts, but a perverse delight, a triumphant satisfaction, and an unholy pleasure derived from them. This indicates a severe and dangerous spiritual hardening, where the conscience is seared, and the people find pleasure and exultation in actions that are an abomination to God, demonstrating a complete moral inversion and a shocking lack of remorse or desire for repentance.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"What hath my beloved to do in mine house,"**: This opening clause is a powerful rhetorical question, expressing God's profound dismay, indignation, and implicit rejection. "My beloved" refers to Judah, emphasizing the intimate, covenantal relationship God initiated and sustained with His people. "Mine house" is the Temple in Jerusalem, the sacred dwelling place of God's manifest presence. The question implies that Judah, in her state of profound spiritual defilement and moral corruption, has no legitimate right, place, or standing in the holy sanctuary. Her continued presence there, engaging in religious rituals, is an affront to God's holiness, as her heart and actions are fundamentally alienated from Him.
* **"[seeing] she hath wrought lewdness with many,"**: This clause provides the devastating reason for God's indignation and rhetorical query. "Wrought lewdness" signifies deliberate, calculated, and pervasive acts of wickedness, specifically spiritual adultery – the egregious sin of turning away from Yahweh to worship other gods (idolatry) and forming unholy, compromising alliances with foreign nations. The phrase "with many" underscores the widespread, promiscuous nature of this apostasy, indicating that Judah has engaged in numerous spiritual relationships with false deities and worldly powers, thereby flagrantly betraying her covenant fidelity to the one true God.
* **"and the holy flesh is passed from thee?"**: This refers to the sacrificial offerings made in the Temple. "Holy flesh" denotes the consecrated portions of animals sacrificed to God, which were meant to be pure, acceptable, and effective for atonement. The phrase "is passed from thee" suggests that the sanctity, efficacy, or divine acceptance of these sacrifices has been removed, forfeited, or rendered null and void. Because of Judah's pervasive sin, hypocrisy, and unfaithfulness, their offerings are no longer pleasing or acceptable to God; they have lost their sacred character and are effectively rejected, symbolizing a profound breach in fellowship and the impending withdrawal of divine favor.
* **"when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest."**: This final, damning statement reveals the extreme depth of Judah's spiritual depravity and moral corruption. It is not merely that they commit evil, but they find joy, exultation, and perverse delight in their wrongdoing. This indicates a severely hardened heart, a seared conscience, and a complete absence of remorse, contrition, or desire for repentance. Their delight in evil stands in stark and chilling contrast to God's righteous character and His desire for His people to delight in His ways, powerfully underscoring their profound rebellion and dangerous moral inversion.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 11:15 employs several potent **literary devices** to convey God's profound message and emotional state. The opening phrase, "What hath my beloved to do in mine house," is a striking **rhetorical question**, designed not to elicit an answer but to express God's deep grief, indignation, and overwhelming sense of betrayal. It powerfully underscores the inherent incongruity and blasphemy of Judah's presence in the holy Temple given her defiled spiritual state. The description of Judah as "my beloved" is a powerful example of **personification** and an enduring **metaphor**, portraying the nation as a cherished spouse who has committed egregious **spiritual adultery** by "wrought lewdness with many." This pervasive marital imagery is a common and effective trope in prophetic literature to describe Israel's covenant relationship with God and her infidelity. The stark contrast between "mine house" (the holy Temple, representing divine presence and purity) and "lewdness" (representing wicked, idolatrous acts) creates a sharp **juxtaposition**, highlighting the profound hypocrisy of their outward religious observance. Finally, the concluding statement, "when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest," is a chilling example of **irony** and **hyperbole**, emphasizing the extreme moral inversion and profound spiritual depravity of a people who find perverse pleasure and triumph in their sin, rather than sorrow, repentance, or shame.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 11:15 stands as a profound theological statement concerning the nature of true worship, the inviolable sanctity of covenant, and the devastating consequences of spiritual apostasy. It unveils a God who is deeply relational and emotionally invested, expressing profound heartbreak over the betrayal of His "beloved." The verse unequivocally underscores that outward religious rituals, such as offering "holy flesh" in the Temple, are rendered meaningless and even offensive when tragically divorced from genuine obedience, a transformed heart, and a life characterized by faithfulness. God demands absolute integrity: true worship must flow from a pure and surrendered heart, not merely from prescribed actions or superficial performances. The chilling declaration that Judah "rejoices" in evil highlights the dangerous and insidious progression of sin, where a severely hardened conscience leads to a perverse delight in rebellion, ultimately severing fellowship with God and inevitably inviting divine judgment. This passage serves as a timeless and urgent warning against spiritual hypocrisy and the grave dangers of presuming upon God's grace while living in deliberate and unrepentant disobedience.

* [Isaiah 1:11-17](/isaiah/1-11 "Isaiah 1:11-17 - God's Rejection of Empty Rituals")
* [Hosea 6:6](/hosea/6-6 "Hosea 6:6 - God Desires Steadfast Love, Not Sacrifice")
* [Matthew 15:8](/matthew/15-8 "Matthew 15:8 - Honor with Lips, Heart Far Away")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 11:15 serves as a piercing and convicting mirror for contemporary believers, challenging each of us to critically examine the authenticity and depth of our faith and worship. It directly confronts the insidious danger of spiritual hypocrisy, where outward religious observance or participation in church activities tragically masks an inward heart that is alienated from God. Are we, like ancient Judah, subtly engaging in "lewdness"—perhaps not through overt idolatry of statues, but by prioritizing worldly desires, selfish ambitions, cultural trends, or even our own comfort over our exclusive devotion to Christ? Do we find ourselves rationalizing, excusing, or even, most disturbingly, delighting in activities, attitudes, or thought patterns that directly contradict God's righteous character and revealed will? This verse calls us to a radical and uncompromising integrity, profoundly reminding us that God desires truth in the inward parts and a heart fully surrendered to Him. Our worship, our service, our giving, and our participation in the Church must flow from a genuine, vibrant, and loving relationship with our "Beloved," Jesus Christ, rather than devolving into empty, ritualistic performances. We are called to cultivate a sensitive conscience that genuinely grieves over sin and finds its deepest joy and exultation in righteousness, actively guarding against the spiritual hardening that leads to perverse pleasure in disobedience.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific areas of my life might I be engaging in "lewdness" or spiritual compromise, even subtly, while still maintaining outward religious activities or appearances?**
* **Do I genuinely grieve over my sin and repent of it, or do I sometimes find myself excusing it, minimizing its gravity, or even, disturbingly, taking pleasure in actions that are contrary to God's holy will?**
* **How can I actively ensure that my worship, service, and daily walk are truly authentic expressions of a transformed heart, deeply devoted to God, rather than mere ritualistic performances or superficial duties?**
* **What practical and intentional steps can I take to cultivate a deeper and more passionate love for God's ways and a greater sensitivity to the Holy Spirit's conviction regarding sin in my life?**

### FAQ

**What does "What hath my beloved to do in mine house" mean?**

Answer: This rhetorical question expresses God's profound dismay, indignation, and implicit rejection of Judah. "My beloved" refers to Judah, highlighting the intimate, covenantal relationship God had initiated and sustained with His people. "Mine house" is the Temple in Jerusalem, the central place of worship and the symbolic dwelling place of God's presence. The question implies that Judah, in her state of profound spiritual defilement due to widespread idolatry and unfaithfulness, has no legitimate right, place, or standing in God's holy sanctuary. Her continued presence there, engaging in religious rituals, is an affront to God's holiness because her heart and actions are fundamentally alienated from Him. It is God questioning the very validity and integrity of their participation in His worship when their lives are in open and persistent rebellion against Him.

**What is the significance of "holy flesh is passed from thee"?**

Answer: "Holy flesh" refers to the consecrated portions of animal sacrifices offered in the Temple, which were meant to be pure, acceptable, and effective for atonement and communion with God. The phrase "is passed from thee" signifies that the sanctity, efficacy, or divine acceptance of these sacrifices has been removed, forfeited, or rendered null and void. Because of Judah's pervasive sin, hypocrisy, and unfaithfulness, their offerings are no longer pleasing or acceptable to God. This indicates a profound breach in fellowship and the impending withdrawal of divine favor, meaning their religious rituals have become empty, meaningless, and are no longer accepted by God as a means of atonement or communion. It underscores the timeless biblical principle that outward religious acts are void and offensive without inward righteousness and genuine repentance (cf. [Amos 5:21-24](/amos/5-21 "Amos 5:21-24 - God Desires Justice, Not Empty Rituals")).

**How does "when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest" reveal Judah's spiritual condition?**

Answer: This chilling statement reveals the extreme depth of Judah's spiritual depravity and moral corruption. It is not merely that they commit evil, but they find joy, exultation, and perverse delight in their wrongdoing. This indicates a severely hardened heart, a seared conscience, and a complete absence of remorse, contrition, or desire for repentance. Instead of grieving over their sin, they delight in it, demonstrating a profound moral inversion and a dangerous state of spiritual apathy. This perverse joy in evil is a stark and chilling contrast to God's righteous character and His desire for His people to delight in His ways, signifying a complete and devastating breakdown of their covenant relationship and a profound spiritual sickness.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 11:15, with its poignant depiction of a defiled Temple and a people perversely rejoicing in evil, finds its ultimate fulfillment and redemptive resolution in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Lord's lament, "What hath my beloved to do in mine house," profoundly foreshadows Jesus' own deep sorrow and righteous indignation over Jerusalem's spiritual blindness, hypocrisy, and ultimate rejection of Him, the true Temple and the very dwelling place of God (cf. [John 2:19-21](/john/2-19 "John 2:19-21 - Jesus Speaks of the Temple of His Body")). While Judah's "holy flesh" became unacceptable and defiled due to their "lewdness" and unfaithfulness, Christ, the sinless Lamb of God, offered Himself as the [perfect, once-for-all sacrifice](/hebrews/10-10 "Hebrews 10:10 - The Perfect Sacrifice of Jesus"), whose flesh was truly holy, undefiled, and eternally efficacious. He entered the Father's "house" not with defiled offerings or a hypocritical heart, but as the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), perfectly fulfilling and superseding the entire sacrificial system. Furthermore, the chilling reality of Judah "rejoicing" in evil stands in stark and glorious contrast to Christ, who consistently [did the will of His Father](/john/6-38 "John 6:38 - Jesus' Obedience to the Father") and delighted in righteousness (cf. [Psalm 40:8](/psalms/40-8 "Psalm 40:8 - Delight in Doing God's Will")). Through His atoning work on the cross, believers are thoroughly cleansed from their own "lewdness" and are graciously enabled to enter God's presence, not based on their own defiled offerings or merit, but solely on the infinite merit of His perfect and sufficient sacrifice. He radically transforms hearts that once delighted in sin, enabling them to [rejoice in the Lord always](/philippians/4-4 "Philippians 4:4 - Rejoice in the Lord Always") and in His righteous ways, thereby making them true worshippers who worship in spirit and truth (cf. [John 4:24](/john/4-24 "John 4:24 - Worship in Spirit and Truth")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Proverbs 2:14

Who rejoice to do evil, [and] delight in the frowardness of the wicked;

Titus 1:15

Unto the pure all things [are] pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving [is] nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

Proverbs 21:27

¶ The sacrifice of the wicked [is] abomination: how much more, [when] he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

Proverbs 28:9

¶ He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer [shall be] abomination.

Romans 11:28

As concerning the gospel, [they are] enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, [they are] beloved for the fathers' sakes.

Jeremiah 7:8

Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.

Jeremiah 7:11

Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen [it], saith the LORD.