Jeremiah 13:27

I have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, [and] thine abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! wilt thou not be made clean? when [shall it] once [be]?

I have seen {H7200} thine adulteries {H5004}, and thy neighings {H4684}, the lewdness {H2154} of thy whoredom {H2184}, and thine abominations {H8251} on the hills {H1389} in the fields {H7704}. Woe {H188} unto thee, O Jerusalem {H3389}! wilt thou not be made clean {H2891}? when shall it once {H5750}{H310} be?

On the hills and in the fields, I have seen your abominations - your adulteries, your lustful neighings your shameless prostitution. Woe to you, Yerushalayim! You refuse to be purified! Won't you ever allow it?"

Your adulteries and lustful neighings, your shameless prostitution on the hills and in the fields— I have seen your detestable acts. Woe to you, O Jerusalem! How long will you remain unclean?”

I have seen thine abominations, even thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, on the hills in the field. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! thou wilt not be made clean; how long shall it yet be?

Commentary

Jeremiah 13:27 is a powerful and poignant lament from the prophet Jeremiah, revealing God's profound grief and anger over the spiritual and moral corruption of Judah, specifically Jerusalem. It paints a stark picture of the nation's unfaithfulness.

Context

This verse comes during a period of intense prophetic warnings from Jeremiah to the kingdom of Judah before the Babylonian exile. Jeremiah's message consistently highlighted Judah's persistent idolatry and moral depravity, urging them to repent and return to the Lord. The relationship between God and Israel was often depicted as a marriage covenant, making their turning to other gods a form of spiritual adultery. The "hills in the fields" refer to the pagan high places where detestable idolatrous rituals, including sexual acts, were commonly performed, further illustrating the depths of their sin.

Key Themes

  • Divine Observation and Indignation: The phrase "I have seen thine adulteries" emphasizes God's omniscience and His deep displeasure with their actions. Nothing is hidden from Him, and He intimately knows their spiritual betrayals.
  • Spiritual Adultery and Idolatry: The verse uses graphic imagery—"adulteries," "neighings," "lewdness of thy whoredom," and "abominations"—to describe Judah's unfaithfulness to God. "Neighings" (mitshalot in Hebrew) powerfully conveys unrestrained, lustful desire, likening their spiritual pursuit of other gods to the uncontrolled passion of animals. This imagery underscores the depth of their covenant breaking, where they sought after false gods with fervent zeal. For more on spiritual unfaithfulness, see Ezekiel 16:32.
  • Lament and Impending Judgment: "Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem!" is a prophetic lament, signaling a pronouncement of judgment and sorrow over their impending doom. It reflects God's sorrowful recognition of their stubborn refusal to change.
  • Call for Cleansing and Repentance: The rhetorical question, "wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be?" is a desperate plea from God, expressing His longing for their repentance while simultaneously highlighting their unwillingness. It implies that their defilement is deep-seated and persistent. This echoes similar calls for spiritual washing found in Isaiah 1:16.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew words used are exceptionally strong. Na'aphim (adulteries) and zenut (whoredom/prostitution) are vivid metaphors for Israel's unfaithfulness to the covenant with Yahweh. Mitshalot (neighings) specifically refers to the lustful sounds of horses, painting a picture of uncontrolled, base desires. The term shiqqusim (abominations) refers to detestable idolatrous practices, often involving child sacrifice or sexual rites, which were an affront to God's holiness.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 13:27 serves as a timeless warning against spiritual compromise and idolatry. It reminds us that God sees our hearts and actions, and He desires our complete devotion. For believers today, "adulteries" and "whoredom" can represent anything that takes the place of God in our lives—money, power, relationships, or self-worship. This verse challenges us to examine our own lives: are there "high places" in our hearts where we practice "abominations" that pull us away from God? God's question, "wilt thou not be made clean?", remains a call to sincere repentance and a pursuit of purity, urging us to turn from our spiritual idols and embrace His transforming grace.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Hosea 8:5

    Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast [thee] off; mine anger is kindled against them: how long [will it be] ere they attain to innocency?

  • Ezekiel 24:13

    In thy filthiness [is] lewdness: because I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee.

  • Ezekiel 6:13

    Then shall ye know that I [am] the LORD, when their slain [men] shall be among their idols round about their altars, upon every high hill, in all the tops of the mountains, and under every green tree, and under every thick oak, the place where they did offer sweet savour to all their idols.

  • Isaiah 65:7

    Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom.

  • Proverbs 1:22

    How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

  • Jeremiah 5:7

    How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by [them that are] no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses.

  • Jeremiah 5:8

    They were [as] fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour's wife.
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