Jeremiah 16:13

KJV

Therefore will I cast you out of this land into a land that ye know not, [neither] ye nor your fathers; and there shall ye serve other gods day and night; where I will not shew you favour.

KJV (with Strong's)

Therefore will I cast {H2904} you out of this land {H776} into a land {H776} that ye know {H3045} not, neither ye nor your fathers {H1}; and there shall ye serve {H5647} other {H312} gods {H430} day {H3119} and night {H3915}; where I will not shew {H5414} you favour {H2594}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Therefore I am thrusting you out of this land into a land you have not known, neither you nor your ancestors; and there you will serve other gods day and night; for I will show you no favor.'

Berean Standard Bible

So I will cast you out of this land into a land that neither you nor your fathers have known. There you will serve other gods day and night, for I will show you no favor.’

American Standard Version

therefore will I cast you forth out of this land into the land that ye have not known, neither ye nor your fathers; and there shall ye serve other gods day and night; for I will show you no favor.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 16:13 delivers a stark prophetic judgment from Yahweh against the people of Judah, declaring their imminent and forceful expulsion from their ancestral land into an unfamiliar territory. This severe exile, a direct consequence of their persistent idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness, would compel them to serve foreign gods continuously in a foreign environment, entirely devoid of divine favor. The verse powerfully underscores the gravity of spiritual rebellion and the painful, disorienting consequences of forsaking the one true God for false deities.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 16:13 is situated within a broader section of prophetic pronouncements (Jeremiah 16:1-18) detailing the impending judgment upon Judah. This chapter opens with God instructing Jeremiah not to marry or have children, nor to participate in mourning or feasting, serving as stark symbolic acts foreshadowing the desolation and lack of normal life that would soon engulf Judah. The people's inquiry in [Jeremiah 16:10](/jeremiah/16-10 "Jeremiah 16:10 - Judah's Inquiry About Their Sin") concerning the reason for their suffering directly precedes this verse, and God's answer in [Jeremiah 16:11-12](/jeremiah/16-11-12 "Jeremiah 16:11-12 - God's Answer on Judah's Persistent Sin") explicitly links their current and future plight to their fathers' and their own persistent idolatry and disobedience. Thus, verse 13 serves as a direct, unvarnished declaration of the specific form this judgment will take: a forced, comprehensive exile into an alien land where their idolatrous tendencies would be ironically fulfilled.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophecy of Jeremiah 16:13 was delivered during the late 7th and early 6th centuries BCE, a tumultuous period for the Kingdom of Judah. The Assyrian Empire, which had previously dominated the region, was in decline, giving way to the rising power of Babylon. Judah, caught between these geopolitical shifts, repeatedly vacillated in its loyalty to Yahweh, often engaging in syncretistic worship and outright idolatry, adopting the practices of surrounding Canaanite and Mesopotamian cultures. The worship of Baal, Asherah, and other foreign deities was rampant, even within the temple precincts in Jerusalem, as described in passages like [Jeremiah 7:30-31](/jeremiah/7-30-31 "Jeremiah 7:30-31 - Abominations in the Temple"). The concept of "land" was central to Israelite identity and covenant theology, representing God's promised inheritance and presence (e.g., [Genesis 12:1-3](/genesis/12-1-3 "Genesis 12:1-3 - The Promise to Abraham")). Being "cast out" of this land was not merely a geographical displacement but a profound theological and existential crisis, signifying a breach of the covenant and a loss of divine favor, a fate previously experienced by the Northern Kingdom of Israel (e.g., [2 Kings 17:7-18](/2_kings/17-7-18 "2 Kings 17:7-18 - The Fall of Israel and Its Reasons")).
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully articulates several core themes prevalent in Jeremiah and throughout the Old Testament prophetic tradition. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Judgment** as an inevitable consequence of covenant unfaithfulness; God actively "casts out" His people, demonstrating His sovereignty and justice. Secondly, the theme of **Exile** is central, portraying not just a physical removal but a profound spiritual alienation from the land of promise and the presence of God. The phrase "a land that ye know not" emphasizes the terror and disorientation of being uprooted from one's identity and heritage. Thirdly, the verse underscores the **Consequences of Idolatry**, revealing the bitter irony that those who chose to "serve other gods" in their homeland would be sent to a place where such service would become an inescapable reality, a form of spiritual bondage. Finally, the declaration "where I will not shew you favour" emphasizes the **Withdrawal of Divine Favor**, signifying a period of profound hardship, suffering, and a perceived absence of God's protective hand, a stark contrast to the blessings promised in the covenant for obedience (e.g., [Deuteronomy 28:15-68](/deuteronomy/28-15-68 "Deuteronomy 28:15-68 - Curses for Disobedience")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **cast (Hebrew, _ṭûwl'_):** From H2904, this primitive root signifies "to pitch over or reel; hence (transitively) to cast down or out; carry away, (utterly) cast (down, forth, out), send out." In Jeremiah 16:13, it denotes a forceful, decisive, and complete expulsion. This word emphasizes God's direct and active role in the judgment, not merely a passive allowance of events, but a deliberate act of removal. The intensity of the verb conveys the irreversible nature of the impending exile, highlighting divine agency in the punishment.
* **know (Hebrew, _yâdaʻ'_):** From H3045, a primitive root meaning "to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition)." In this context, "know not" signifies not just a lack of intellectual familiarity but a complete absence of personal experience, cultural understanding, or historical connection. It highlights the alien, terrifying, and disorienting nature of the destination, emphasizing the profound rupture from their heritage and identity tied to the land of promise. This lack of "knowing" implies a deep sense of vulnerability and isolation.
* **favour (Hebrew, _chănîynâh'_):** From H2594, meaning "graciousness; favour." This word refers to God's benevolent disposition, His undeserved kindness, and the blessings that flow from His presence. The declaration "I will not shew you favour" is a devastating pronouncement, indicating a complete withdrawal of God's protective, sustaining, and blessing hand during their time of exile. It implies a period of severe hardship, suffering, and the absence of divine intervention on their behalf, underscoring the full weight of their judgment and the consequences of their unfaithfulness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Therefore will I cast you out of this land into a land that ye know not,"**: This opening clause establishes the divine decree and its immediate consequence. "Therefore" links the judgment directly to the preceding verses' explanation of Judah's idolatry and disobedience. God, as the sovereign judge, declares His intention to forcefully expel them from the land of Israel, the land promised to Abraham and his descendants. The destination is explicitly "a land that ye know not," emphasizing its foreignness, its lack of historical or cultural connection to the Israelites, and the profound disorientation and fear that such an uprooting would entail.
* **"neither ye nor your fathers;"**: This phrase intensifies the alien nature of the destination. It's not just unknown to the current generation, but it has no historical precedent or ancestral connection for the entire lineage of Israel. This underscores the complete break from their heritage and the covenant relationship tied to the land, highlighting the unprecedented severity and comprehensive nature of this divine punishment, severing them from their very identity.
* **"and there shall ye serve other gods day and night;"**: This clause reveals a crucial consequence and bitter irony of their exile. Having chosen to serve "other gods" in their own land, they would now be forced into an environment where pagan worship was pervasive and inescapable. "Day and night" signifies the continuous, all-encompassing nature of this service, implying a relentless exposure to and perhaps even compulsion to participate in foreign religious practices. This is both a punishment and a reflection of their prior spiritual choices, demonstrating the futility and bondage inherent in idolatry.
* **"where I will not shew you favour."**: This final, chilling declaration seals the judgment. In the foreign land, God promises no grace, no blessing, and no protective hand. This signifies a period of profound divine withdrawal, leaving the exiles to face the full brunt of their suffering without the mitigating presence or intervention of Yahweh. It emphasizes the complete rupture of the covenant relationship and the absence of the blessings promised for obedience, highlighting the full weight of their spiritual and physical abandonment.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 16:13 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message of impending judgment. **Irony** is particularly prominent, as the people who chose to "serve other gods" in their homeland are condemned to a place where they "shall ye serve other gods day and night." This serves as a grim fulfillment of their idolatrous desires, turning their sin into their punishment. The phrase "a land that ye know not" uses **Foreshadowing** to evoke a sense of dread and disorientation, hinting at the profound cultural and spiritual dislocation of exile. The repetition of "land" (Hebrew, _ʼerets'_) emphasizes the geographical and existential rupture. The phrase "day and night" is an example of **Merism**, a figure of speech where two contrasting parts represent a whole, signifying the continuous and all-encompassing nature of their forced service to foreign deities. Furthermore, the entire verse functions as a **Prophetic Oracle**, a direct divine pronouncement of judgment, characterized by its declarative and authoritative tone, reinforcing the certainty and inevitability of God's word.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 16:13 profoundly illustrates the biblical principle that God is a righteous judge who holds His people accountable for covenant unfaithfulness. The exile is not an arbitrary act but a just consequence of Judah's persistent idolatry, a violation of the first and second commandments, which demand exclusive worship of Yahweh (e.g., [Exodus 20:3-6](/exodus/20-3-6 "Exodus 20:3-6 - The First Two Commandments")). This verse underscores the exclusivity of Yahweh's claim over His people and the severe repercussions of spiritual adultery. It also highlights the concept of divine sovereignty, as God is the one who "casts out" and determines the conditions of their exile, even the withdrawal of His favor. The experience of being in a "land that ye know not" and serving "other gods" emphasizes the spiritual bondage and disorientation that results from forsaking the true God, contrasting sharply with the freedom and blessing found in faithful obedience. This judgment serves as a stark warning against syncretism and a powerful affirmation of monotheism, demonstrating that God will not share His glory.

* [Deuteronomy 28:64](/deuteronomy/28-64 "Deuteronomy 28:64 - Dispersion Among Nations")
* [Leviticus 26:33](/leviticus/26-33 "Leviticus 26:33 - Scattering Among the Nations")
* [Hosea 8:12](/hosea/8-12 "Hosea 8:12 - Consequences of Idolatry")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 16:13 stands as a sobering reminder that God's justice is real, and His covenant promises come with corresponding obligations. For us today, while we do not face a literal geopolitical exile for our sins, the principles of this verse remain profoundly relevant. It challenges us to examine what "gods" we might be serving "day and night" in our own lives—whether they be career, wealth, comfort, social media, or even self. Anything that displaces God from the center of our devotion becomes an idol, leading to a spiritual "exile" from His presence and favor. This verse calls us to radical faithfulness, reminding us that true freedom and flourishing are found only in exclusive devotion to the Lord. When we drift from Him, we may find ourselves in unfamiliar and uncomfortable circumstances, experiencing a "lack of favor" as a consequence of our choices, prompting us to return to Him. It compels us to consider the long-term spiritual consequences of our daily decisions and to prioritize a life of worship and obedience to the one true God, lest we find ourselves spiritually adrift in a "land we know not."

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "gods" or pursuits might be subtly demanding my "day and night" service, diverting my ultimate devotion from God?**
* **In what areas of my life might I be experiencing a "land that I know not," a sense of disorientation or lack of peace, due to spiritual compromise or a drifting from God's will?**
* **How does the concept of God's "favor" relate to my understanding of His presence and blessing in my life today, and what might its withdrawal signify?**
* **What specific steps can I take to ensure my worship and loyalty remain exclusively focused on the Lord, preventing spiritual "exile" and fostering a deeper relationship with Him?**

### FAQ
**What does "a land that ye know not" signify in this context?**

Answer: The phrase "a land that ye know not" (Hebrew, _ʼerets_ H776, combined with _yâdaʻ_ H3045 for "know") signifies a place that is utterly foreign and unfamiliar, not just geographically but culturally, historically, and spiritually. It emphasizes the profound disorientation, fear, and loss of identity that the exiles would experience. Unlike their homeland, which was intimately tied to God's covenant promises and their ancestral history, this new land would offer no comfort, no familiar traditions, and no connection to their heritage. It underscores the severity of the judgment, as they would be completely uprooted from everything that defined them as God's people in the promised land, as foretold in [Deuteronomy 28:36](/deuteronomy/28-36 "Deuteronomy 28:36 - Exile to Unknown Lands").

**Why would God command them to "serve other gods day and night" if He is punishing them for idolatry?**

Answer: This statement is a powerful example of divine irony and a consequence of their sin, rather than a direct command to worship idols. Having chosen to "serve other gods" (Hebrew, _ʼĕlôhîym_ H430, combined with _ʻâbad_ H5647 for "serve") in their own land, they would now be sent to a place where pagan worship was the pervasive norm. In exile, they would be surrounded by the cultic practices of their captors, potentially compelled to participate, or at least constantly exposed to, the very idolatry they had indulged in. "Day and night" (Hebrew, _yôwmâm_ H3119 and _layil_ H3915) emphasizes the relentless and inescapable nature of this exposure. It highlights the futility and bondage of idolatry: what they chose freely in Judah would become an inescapable reality in Babylon, demonstrating that serving false gods ultimately leads to spiritual slavery and a loss of true freedom, as illustrated in [Romans 6:16](/romans/6-16 "Romans 6:16 - Slaves to Righteousness or Sin").

**Does "where I will not shew you favour" mean God completely abandoned His people during the exile?**

Answer: While the phrase "I will not shew you favour" (Hebrew, _chănîynâh_ H2594) indicates a severe withdrawal of God's active blessing and protection during the immediate period of judgment, it does not imply a complete and permanent abandonment. It signifies that the exiles would experience the unmitigated consequences of their sin, without the usual divine intervention or mitigation of suffering. This "no favour" was a necessary disciplinary measure to bring them to repentance and prepare them for a renewed relationship with God. Even within the book of Jeremiah, there are promises of future restoration and a new covenant (e.g., [Jeremiah 29:10-14](/jeremiah/29-10-14 "Jeremiah 29:10-14 - Hope for the Future in Exile") and [Jeremiah 31:31-34](/jeremiah/31-31-34 "Jeremiah 31:31-34 - The New Covenant")). This demonstrates God's justice while also preserving His ultimate faithfulness to His covenant promises, showing that His discipline is always redemptive in its ultimate purpose.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 16:13, with its stark prophecy of exile, serves as a powerful backdrop for understanding the ultimate spiritual exile of humanity from God due to sin, and the radical fulfillment found in Christ. Humanity, in its fallen state, is cast out of the "land" of God's perfect presence and favor, into a "land" of spiritual alienation and death that it "knows not" in its original design (e.g., the expulsion from Eden in [Genesis 3:23-24](/genesis/3-23-24 "Genesis 3:23-24 - Expulsion from Eden")). We are naturally inclined to "serve other gods day and night"—idols of self, materialism, or false philosophies—which offer no true favor or life, but only spiritual bondage and a lack of divine blessing (e.g., [Romans 1:21-25](/romans/1-21-25 "Romans 1:21-25 - The Exchange of Truth for Lies")). Jesus Christ, however, is the ultimate answer to this spiritual exile. He entered our "land that we know not," bearing the full weight of God's righteous judgment and the "no favour" that our sins deserved (e.g., [2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). Through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, He opens the way for us to be brought back from spiritual exile, not into a mere physical land, but into the very presence of God and the "glorious liberty of the children of God" (e.g., [Romans 8:21](/romans/8-21 "Romans 8:21 - Liberty of the Children of God")). In Christ, we receive not a withdrawal of favor, but abundant grace and mercy, becoming citizens of a heavenly kingdom and heirs of an eternal inheritance, where we truly serve the living God in Spirit and truth (e.g., [Ephesians 2:19-20](/ephesians/2-19-20 "Ephesians 2:19-20 - Fellow Citizens with the Saints") and [Hebrews 12:22-24](/hebrews/12-22-24 "Hebrews 12:22-24 - The Heavenly Jerusalem")). He is the true Israel, embodying the faithful remnant and reversing the curse of exile.

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

Deuteronomy 28:36

The LORD shall bring thee, and thy king which thou shalt set over thee, unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known; and there shalt thou serve other gods, wood and stone.

Deuteronomy 4:26

I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong [your] days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed.

Deuteronomy 4:28

And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.

Jeremiah 15:14

And I will make [thee] to pass with thine enemies into a land [which] thou knowest not: for a fire is kindled in mine anger, [which] shall burn upon you.

Jeremiah 17:4

And thou, even thyself, shalt discontinue from thine heritage that I gave thee; and I will cause thee to serve thine enemies in the land which thou knowest not: for ye have kindled a fire in mine anger, [which] shall burn for ever.

2 Chronicles 7:20

Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it [to be] a proverb and a byword among all nations.

Deuteronomy 30:17

But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;