Jeremiah 16:18

KJV

And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double; because they have defiled my land, they have filled mine inheritance with the carcases of their detestable and abominable things.

KJV (with Strong's)

And first {H7223} I will recompense {H7999} their iniquity {H5771} and their sin {H2403} double {H4932}; because they have defiled {H2490} my land {H776}, they have filled {H4390} mine inheritance {H5159} with the carcases {H5038} of their detestable {H8251} and abominable things {H8441}.

Complete Jewish Bible

First, I will pay them back double for their crimes and sins; because they have defiled the land which is mine; they have filled my heritage with the corpses of their horrors and abominations.'"

Berean Standard Bible

And I will first repay them double their iniquity and their sin, because they have defiled My land with the carcasses of their detestable idols, and they have filled My inheritance with their abominations.”

American Standard Version

And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double, because they have polluted my land with the carcasses of their detestable things, and have filled mine inheritance with their abominations.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 16:18 powerfully declares God's resolute judgment against Judah for their profound and pervasive unfaithfulness. The verse states that God will fully and comprehensively recompense their iniquity and sin, specifically because they have desecrated the land, which was His sacred inheritance, by filling it with the lifeless, detestable idols and abominable practices of pagan worship. It underscores the certainty of divine justice as a righteous response to their egregious covenant violations and spiritual defilement.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within a significant block of prophetic judgment in Jeremiah, specifically chapters 16-17, which detail the impending disaster and exile for Judah. Jeremiah himself is commanded by God in a poignant passage [where he is forbidden to marry or have children](/jeremiah/16-2 "Jeremiah 16:2 - Jeremiah forbidden to marry"), serving as a living parable of the desolation and lack of future generations that would result from the coming catastrophe. The preceding verses in chapter 16 describe the removal of peace, kindness, and mercy from the people, foreshadowing the severity of the judgment. The immediate context of verse 18 is God's declaration of punishment, which directly answers the people's bewildered question posed earlier in the chapter: "[Why has the Lord pronounced all this great evil against us? What is our iniquity? What is the sin that we have committed against the Lord our God?](/jeremiah/16-10 "Jeremiah 16:10 - Why has the Lord pronounced this great evil against us?")" Verse 18 provides a direct and unequivocal answer to their inquiry, laying bare the specific nature of their transgression.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jeremiah prophesied during the tumultuous late 7th and early 6th centuries BCE, a period marked by the decline of Assyrian power and the rise of Babylon. Judah, caught between these empires, repeatedly vacillated in its loyalty to Yahweh, often embracing the idolatrous practices of surrounding nations. Kings like Manasseh and Amon had actively promoted pagan worship, including the veneration of Baal, Asherah, and even child sacrifice to Molech, which permeated the religious and social fabric of the land. The concept of the "land" (Hebrew: *'erets*) was central to Israelite identity and covenant theology; it was a divine gift, a sacred space where God dwelt among His people. Defiling the land through idolatry, bloodshed, and immoral practices was a direct violation of the Mosaic Covenant, as detailed in books like [Leviticus](/leviticus/18 "Leviticus 18 - Forbidden Sexual Relations and Abominations") and [Deuteronomy](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses for Obedience and Disobedience"), and was understood to provoke God's wrath and lead to the land "vomiting out" its inhabitants.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Jeremiah and the broader Old Testament. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Justice and Retribution**, emphasizing that God's judgment is not arbitrary but a righteous response to persistent sin and covenant unfaithfulness. The "double recompense" signifies a full and complete measure of judgment proportionate to the offense. Secondly, the theme of **Covenant Breach** is central, as Judah's idolatry and defilement of the land represented a profound betrayal of their exclusive covenant relationship with Yahweh, who had chosen them as His people and given them the land. This breach had severe consequences, as warned extensively in [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses for Obedience and Disobedience"). Thirdly, the verse underscores the **Sacredness and Defilement of the Land**. The land of Israel was considered holy, a place consecrated by God's presence and promises. Their actions of filling it "with the carcases of their detestable and abominable things" desecrated this holy space, making it ritually unclean and unfit for God's dwelling, a concept also powerfully articulated in [Numbers 35:33-34](/numbers/35-33 "Numbers 35:33-34 - Do not pollute the land where you live"). Finally, the theme of **Idolatry and Abomination** is explicitly addressed, revealing the depth of Judah's spiritual apostasy and the loathsomeness of their pagan practices in God's sight.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **double (Hebrew, _mishneh'_):** From the root meaning "to repeat" or "to duplicate," this term signifies not merely a literal mathematical doubling, but a full, complete, and ample measure of retribution. It conveys the certainty and totality of God's judgment, ensuring that the punishment fully corresponds to the magnitude of the offense. It implies a just and comprehensive repayment for their actions.
* **defiled (Hebrew, _châlal'_):** This verb, often translated as "to profane," "to wound," or "to pollute," carries the sense of making something holy common or unclean. In this context, it refers to the act of desecrating God's sacred land through their idolatrous practices, violating its sanctity and rendering it ritually impure in God's eyes. It implies a deliberate and grievous act against divine holiness.
* **carcases (Hebrew, _nᵉbêlâh'_):** Literally meaning "a flabby thing," this term refers to a dead body or carrion, often associated with something unclean or worthless. Here, it is used figuratively to describe the lifeless, impotent idols and the remains of their pagan sacrifices. By filling God's inheritance with these "carcases," the people demonstrated the utter worthlessness of their false gods and the extent of their spiritual pollution.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double":** This clause emphasizes God's initiative and certainty in judgment. "First" (H7223, *riʼshôwn*) suggests that this recompense is a primary and immediate divine response. "Iniquity" (H5771, *ʻâvôn*) speaks of moral perversity and guilt, while "sin" (H2403, *chaṭṭâʼâh*) refers to the act of missing the mark or offending God. The combination highlights both the nature of their wrongdoing and its consequences. "Double" (H4932, *mishneh*) signifies a complete and proportionate retribution, not necessarily twice the amount, but a full measure of justice corresponding to their offenses.
* **"because they have defiled my land":** This phrase provides the direct justification for God's judgment. The land of Israel was God's holy possession, given to His people as an inheritance under covenant. Their actions, particularly idolatry, violated its sacredness. "Defiled" (H2490, *châlal*) implies a profanation, rendering something holy common or unclean. This was a direct affront to God's presence and ownership.
* **"they have filled mine inheritance with the carcases of their detestable and abominable things":** This elaborates on the nature and extent of the defilement. "Mine inheritance" (H5159, *nachălâh*) reiterates God's proprietary claim over the land. "Filled" (H4390, *mâlêʼ*) suggests the pervasive and widespread nature of their idolatry. "Carcases" (H5038, *nᵉbêlâh*) refers to the lifeless, worthless idols and the polluted remains of pagan rituals. "Detestable" (H8251, *shiqqûwts*) and "abominable things" (H8441, *tôwʻêbah*) are strong terms used throughout the Old Testament to describe things utterly loathsome to God, particularly idols and the immoral practices associated with their worship (e.g., child sacrifice, cultic prostitution). This imagery paints a vivid picture of the spiritual pollution that permeated the land.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 16:18 employs several powerful **literary devices** to convey the gravity of Judah's sin and God's righteous response. The phrase "recompense... double" functions as **hyperbole**, not in the sense of exaggeration, but to emphasize the absolute certainty and completeness of God's judgment, ensuring full and just retribution rather than a mere tit-for-tat. The land is presented as "my land" and "mine inheritance," using **personification** and **metaphor** to convey its sacred status and God's intimate ownership, making its defilement a personal affront to the divine. The vivid imagery of "carcases of their detestable and abominable things" employs **metaphor** and **concrete imagery** to depict the utter worthlessness and spiritual repugnance of the idols and pagan practices, transforming abstract sin into tangible, polluting objects. The pairing of "detestable" and "abominable" creates a **hendiadys** or **synonymous parallelism**, intensifying the condemnation and underscoring the profound loathsomeness of their idolatry in God's eyes.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 16:18 powerfully articulates the immutable principle of divine justice: God will not tolerate persistent sin, especially idolatry, which directly assaults His holiness and sovereignty. The "double recompense" signifies a full and just measure of judgment, underscoring that God's character demands a righteous response to unrepentant rebellion. This passage reveals God's deep grief over His people's defilement of the sacred land He entrusted to them, demonstrating that sin has tangible consequences not only for individuals but also for the very environment they inhabit. It highlights the profound seriousness of idolatry, which replaces the living God with lifeless objects and abominable practices, thereby severing the covenant relationship and inviting divine wrath.

* [Isaiah 40:2](/isaiah/40-2 "Isaiah 40:2 - Jerusalem has received double for all her sins")
* [Leviticus 18:24](/leviticus/18-24 "Leviticus 18:24-28 - The land vomits out its inhabitants")
* [Deuteronomy 32:16](/deuteronomy/32-16 "Deuteronomy 32:16-17 - They provoked Him to jealousy with foreign gods")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 16:18 serves as a timeless warning about the gravity of spiritual infidelity and the unchanging nature of God's justice. While we may not erect physical idols of wood and stone today, the principle of "defiling the land"—our lives, our communities, our spiritual inheritance—through misplaced affections and priorities remains profoundly relevant. This verse calls us to a radical self-examination: What "detestable and abominable things" have we allowed to fill our hearts and minds, displacing the rightful worship of God? Are we pursuing material wealth, status, comfort, or even good causes with an intensity that borders on idolatry, thereby profaning the "temple" of our bodies and spirits, which belong to God? The "double recompense" reminds us that sin carries a full and certain consequence, yet it also implicitly points to the boundless grace available through repentance. Our application is to diligently guard our hearts against anything that would usurp God's rightful place, to live lives of purity and devotion, and to actively participate in the spiritual cleansing and restoration of our spheres of influence, honoring the sacred trust God has given us.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What are the "detestable and abominable things" in my life or culture that might be defiling my spiritual "land" or "inheritance" in Christ?**
* **How seriously do I take the concept of God's holiness and His just recompense for sin, both in my personal life and in the world?**
* **In what ways might I be subtly replacing God with other objects of devotion or trust, and what steps can I take to restore Him to His rightful place?**

### FAQ
**What does "recompense their iniquity and their sin double" mean?**

Answer: The phrase "recompense... double" (Hebrew: *mishneh*) in this context does not mean God will punish them literally twice as much as they deserve. Instead, it signifies a full, complete, and ample measure of retribution. It emphasizes the certainty and totality of God's judgment, ensuring that the punishment fully corresponds to the magnitude of their offenses, leaving no doubt about the justice and severity of His response. It's about a just and comprehensive repayment for their actions, ensuring that the consequences are proportionate to the depth of their rebellion. This concept is echoed in [Isaiah 40:2](/isaiah/40-2 "Isaiah 40:2 - Jerusalem has received double for all her sins"), where Jerusalem is said to have received double for all her sins.

**What were the "carcases of their detestable and abominable things"?**

Answer: This vivid imagery refers to the lifeless, worthless idols and the polluting remnants of pagan worship practices that the people of Judah had embraced. "Detestable" (Hebrew: *shiqqûwts*) and "abominable" (Hebrew: *tôwʻêbah*) are strong terms used throughout the Old Testament to describe things utterly loathsome to God, primarily associated with idolatry, pagan rituals, and immoral practices such as child sacrifice to gods like Molech or cultic prostitution. By filling God's land with these things, they demonstrated the depth of their spiritual apostasy and the profound disrespect for God's holiness. These practices were explicitly forbidden in the Law, seen in passages like [Deuteronomy 18:9-12](/deuteronomy/18-9 "Deuteronomy 18:9-12 - Abominable practices of the nations").

**Why was defiling the land such a serious offense to God?**

Answer: The land of Israel was considered holy, a sacred trust and a divine inheritance given by God to His people as part of His covenant with them. It was the place where God chose to dwell among them, and its purity reflected His own holiness. Defiling the land through idolatry, bloodshed, and immoral practices was not merely a social transgression but a direct affront to God's character and His covenant. It violated the sacred space where His presence resided and demonstrated a profound disrespect for His ownership and His commands. The Law warned that the land itself would "vomit out" its inhabitants if it became defiled, as described in graphic detail in [Leviticus 18:24-28](/leviticus/18-24 "Leviticus 18:24-28 - The land vomits out its inhabitants"), where the land is depicted as "vomiting out" its inhabitants.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 16:18, with its stark declaration of divine recompense for sin and the defilement of God's inheritance, finds its ultimate fulfillment and resolution in Jesus Christ. Humanity, far more than just Judah, has universally "defiled" God's spiritual "land" and "inheritance"—the perfect relationship and world He created—through sin, becoming [dead in trespasses and sins](/ephesians/2-1 "Ephesians 2:1 - Dead in trespasses and sins"). The "double recompense" of divine justice, the full and complete payment for iniquity, was not exacted upon us, but upon Christ Himself. He, the spotless [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), became the ultimate "sin offering" ([2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ became sin for us](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ became sin for us")), bearing the full weight of humanity's "detestable and abominable things" on the cross. Through His sacrifice, [the curse of the law was absorbed](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law"), and the righteous demands of God's justice were perfectly satisfied. He cleanses us from all defilement, transforming our hearts—which were once filled with spiritual "carcases" of sin and idolatry—into [temples of the Holy Spirit](/1_corinthians/6-19 "1 Corinthians 6:19 - Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit"). Moreover, in Christ, believers receive [a new, imperishable "inheritance"](/1_peter/1-4 "1 Peter 1:4 - An inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading"), not a physical land, but eternal life and a restored relationship with God, secured by His atoning work and resurrection.

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

Isaiah 40:2

Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins.

Numbers 35:33

So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye [are]: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.

Numbers 35:34

Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel.

Jeremiah 17:18

Let them be confounded that persecute me, but let not me be confounded: let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed: bring upon them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction.

Jeremiah 2:7

And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination.

Ezekiel 11:21

But [as for them] whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord GOD.

Revelation 18:6

Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.