Jeremiah 17:2

Translation
King James Version
Whilst their children remember their altars and their groves by the green trees upon the high hills.
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KJV (with Strong's)
Whilst their children H1121 remember H2142 their altars H4196 and their groves H842 by the green H7488 trees H6086 upon the high H1364 hills H1389.
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Complete Jewish Bible
As they remember their children, so they remember their altars and their sacred poles by the green trees on the high hills.
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Berean Standard Bible
Even their children remember their altars and Asherah poles by the green trees and on the high hills.
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American Standard Version
whilst their children remember their altars and their Asherim by the green trees upon the high hills.
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World English Bible Messianic
while their children remember their altars and their Asherah poles by the green trees on the high hills.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
They remember their altars as their children, with their groues by the greene trees vpon the hilles.
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Young's Literal Translation
As their sons remember their altars and their shrines, By the green tree, by the high hills.
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See also
2 Chronicles 24:18Jeremiah 2:202 Chronicles 33:3Isaiah 1:29Isaiah 17:8Judges 3:7Psalms 78:58
In the KJVVerse 19,360 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Jeremiah 17:2 serves as a poignant and devastating indictment of the Kingdom of Judah's deep-seated and pervasive idolatry, illustrating how the worship of false gods had become so utterly normalized that it was not merely tolerated but actively remembered, embraced, and perpetuated across successive generations. This verse powerfully underscores the tragic spiritual inheritance of unfaithfulness, where the children of Judah continued to engage in pagan rituals at "altars" and "groves" on "high hills," signifying a profound and unyielding departure from their covenant relationship with Yahweh and setting the inexorable stage for divine judgment.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: Jeremiah 17:2 immediately follows the stark and chilling declaration in Jeremiah 17:1 that Judah's sin is "written with a pen of iron and with the point of a diamond; it is engraved on the tablet of their heart, and on the horns of your altars." This preceding verse establishes the indelible, deeply ingrained nature of their rebellion, making 17:2 a direct, vivid, and tragic illustration of that profound apostasy. The "remembering" by the children is not a nostalgic recollection of God's faithfulness or a historical lesson in divine judgment, but rather an active continuation and embrace of the very sin etched into the national psyche. The broader context of Jeremiah 17 contrasts the cursed path of trusting in humanity and its fleeting resources with the blessed path of unwavering trust in the Lord, with idolatry being a primary and devastating manifestation of the former, leading inevitably to spiritual barrenness and judgment.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: The prophet Jeremiah ministered during the tumultuous final decades of the Kingdom of Judah (late 7th to early 6th centuries BCE), a period marked by profound political instability, the shifting dominance of regional powers (Assyria, Egypt, and the rising Babylonian Empire), and a catastrophic spiritual decline. Despite significant reform efforts by kings like Hezekiah and Josiah, idolatry remained deeply entrenched and rampant among the populace. The "altars" and "groves" (Hebrew: asherim) mentioned refer to the cultic sites and sacred objects dedicated to Canaanite deities, particularly Baal and Asherah, who were falsely believed to be gods of fertility and prosperity. These forbidden practices often occurred at "high places" (Hebrew: bamah), which were elevated locations considered sacred in Canaanite religion. Israel had adopted these pagan customs despite explicit and repeated prohibitions in the Mosaic Law, which commanded the destruction of such sites and the exclusive worship of Yahweh (e.g., Deuteronomy 12:2-4). The "green trees" further highlight the natural, often lush settings chosen for these pagan rituals, which ironically stood in stark contrast to the prescribed, singular worship at the Jerusalem Temple.
  • Key Themes: Jeremiah 17:2 contributes significantly and profoundly to several overarching themes woven throughout the book of Jeremiah. It powerfully underscores the theme of Pervasive Idolatry, demonstrating with chilling clarity how deeply entrenched pagan worship had become within Judah, affecting not only the adults but even the youngest generation. This generational continuity of sin highlights the tragic theme of Generational Sin and Its Legacy, where the unfaithfulness and spiritual compromise of parents are not merely observed but actively embraced and perpetuated by their children. This stands in stark and heartbreaking contrast to the divine command for Israel to diligently teach God's laws to future generations, ensuring a legacy of faithfulness (as seen in Deuteronomy 6:7). Furthermore, the verse implicitly and explicitly points to the Consequences of Apostasy, as this widespread and unrepentant spiritual corruption was the primary catalyst for God's impending judgment and the eventual exile of Judah, a recurring and central motif throughout Jeremiah's prophetic message (e.g., Jeremiah 7:1-15).

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • children (Hebrew, bên', H1121): This term (H1121) refers to a son or offspring in the widest sense, encompassing the next generation. In this context, it powerfully emphasizes that the idolatrous practices were not merely isolated acts by adults but were tragically passed down, adopted, and actively engaged in by the youth. It speaks to a profound and systemic failure in spiritual upbringing, highlighting the devastating perpetuation of sin from one generation to the next.
  • remember (Hebrew, zâkar', H2142): The verb (H2142) fundamentally means "to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e., to remember; by implication, to mention." Here, it signifies far more than mere cognitive recall or passive historical awareness; it implies active recognition, participation, and perpetuation. The children "remember" these altars and groves not as relics of a past era but as active, contemporary sites of worship, indicating a continued and willing engagement with idolatry. This stands in stark and tragic contrast to the divine command for Israel to "remember" Yahweh and His covenant.
  • groves (Hebrew, ʼăshêrâh', H842): This word (H842) specifically refers to Asherah, a prominent Phoenician goddess, or more commonly, the wooden cultic poles or images dedicated to her worship. These asherim were frequently erected alongside altars to Baal and were central to Canaanite fertility rites. Their ubiquitous presence signifies the deeply syncretistic nature of Judah's worship, blending the worship of Yahweh with pagan practices, which was explicitly and strictly forbidden by God's covenant law.

Verse Breakdown

  • "Whilst their children remember": This opening clause immediately establishes the devastating generational aspect of Judah's sin. It is not merely the current adult population that is guilty, but their offspring are actively engaged in and perpetuating the idolatry. The word "remember" here carries the profound weight of active participation and not just passive recollection, indicating that the children are willingly embracing and continuing the forbidden practices of their parents.
  • "their altars and their groves": This phrase precisely specifies the objects and sites of their forbidden and offensive worship. "Altars" refer to places of sacrifice, often for pagan deities, while "groves" (Asherim) denote the sacred poles or images dedicated to the Canaanite goddess Asherah. The possessive "their" underscores the personal and communal ownership of these idolatrous practices, indicating a deep-seated commitment to them, rather than to Yahweh.
  • "by the green trees upon the high hills": This final clause vividly describes the typical and preferred locations for these pagan rituals. "High hills" (Hebrew, gibʻâh H1389, derived from gâbôahh H1364 meaning "elevated" or "lofty") were traditional "high places" (bamah) for Canaanite worship, often associated with fertility cults and perceived proximity to deities. The "green trees" (Hebrew, raʻănân H7488, meaning "verdant" or "flourishing," and ʻêts H6086, meaning "tree") evoke a natural, vibrant, and seemingly idyllic setting, which ironically contrasts sharply with the spiritual barrenness, corruption, and death inherent in the practices occurring there. These prominent locations made the idolatry visible, widespread, and a constant affront to God's holiness.

Literary Devices

Jeremiah 17:2 employs several potent literary devices to convey its somber and urgent message. Imagery is central, painting a vivid and disturbing picture of the "green trees upon the high hills" where idolatrous "altars and groves" stand. This imagery is not merely descriptive but profoundly Symbolic, as the "high hills" and "green trees" represent the pervasive, public, and deeply entrenched nature of Judah's spiritual apostasy, contrasting the vibrant life of nature with the spiritual death and corruption of their actions. The phrase "their children remember" utilizes powerful Irony, as the covenant people of God were repeatedly commanded to remember Yahweh and His commandments (e.g., Deuteronomy 8:2), yet here their children remember and perpetuate the very altars of false gods. This highlights the tragic inversion of spiritual priorities and the profound failure of generational discipleship. Furthermore, the mention of "altars and groves" serves as a Metonymy, where these specific objects stand in for the entire system of pagan worship and the spiritual adultery committed against Yahweh.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Jeremiah 17:2 is a profound theological statement on the insidious nature of sin, particularly idolatry, and its devastating generational impact. It reveals that Judah's rebellion was not superficial or temporary but deeply ingrained within the very fabric of society, passed down and embraced through successive generations. This spiritual inheritance of apostasy stands in stark and tragic contrast to God's covenant desire for His people to diligently teach their children His ways, ensuring a legacy of faithfulness and devotion. The verse underscores the extreme gravity of spiritual compromise, where the worship of foreign gods—often associated with promises of fertility, prosperity, and security—became a seductive and ultimately destructive substitute for exclusive devotion to Yahweh, the true and only source of life, blessing, and covenant fidelity. This persistent and unrepentant idolatry was a direct and flagrant violation of the first two commandments (found in Exodus 20:3-6), demonstrating a complete breakdown of the covenant relationship and necessitating divine judgment as a consequence of their hardened and unrepentant heart.

  • Deuteronomy 6:7 - Emphasizes the divine command for parents to diligently teach God's statutes and principles to their children, highlighting Judah's catastrophic failure in this regard.
  • Exodus 20:3-6 - The foundational commandments against idolatry, which Judah flagrantly violated, leading to their spiritual downfall.
  • Psalm 78:5-8 - Describes God's intention for His testimonies and law to be passed down through generations, specifically so that children would not be like their rebellious and unfaithful ancestors.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Jeremiah 17:2 serves as a sobering and timeless mirror for believers today, prompting us to deeply examine the spiritual legacy we are actively building and passing on to future generations. The "remembering" of altars and groves by children is a powerful and convicting indictment of a generation that tragically failed to transmit true, unadulterated faith, instead perpetuating spiritual compromise and idolatry. This verse challenges us to critically consider what "altars" or "groves"—whether they be subtle allegiances to material possessions, relentless career ambitions, pervasive entertainment, self-righteousness, or even political ideologies—might subtly or overtly compete for our ultimate allegiance in our own lives and in the lives of those we influence. It calls us to intentional, fervent, and consistent discipleship within our families, churches, and communities, ensuring that the next generation genuinely remembers and embraces the Lord, rather than the alluring and deceptive idols of our contemporary culture. Breaking cycles of spiritual apathy, worldliness, or compromise requires a conscious, radical, and repentant return to exclusive worship of the one true God, fostering environments where His truth is deeply cherished, faithfully lived out, and diligently taught, so that our enduring legacy is one of unwavering devotion to Christ, not a tragic remembrance of false gods.

Questions for Reflection

  • What "altars" or "groves" (i.e., competing allegiances, cultural idols, or ungodly patterns) might our children or future generations "remember" and perpetuate from our lives today?
  • How can we intentionally cultivate a spiritual environment in our homes, churches, and communities that ensures the next generation truly "remember" the Lord and His covenant, rather than the pervasive idols of our age?
  • In what specific ways might we, like ancient Judah, be subtly or overtly compromising our exclusive devotion to God with worldly values, practices, or priorities?

FAQ

What are "groves" in this context, and why are they significant?

Answer: In Jeremiah 17:2, "groves" translates the Hebrew word asherah (H842), which refers to a cult object, typically a wooden pole, tree, or image, dedicated to Asherah, a prominent Canaanite goddess of fertility and mother-goddess. These asherim were central to pagan worship practices, often erected alongside altars to Baal or other deities. Their significance lies in their direct and flagrant defiance of God's command for exclusive worship of Him alone (as seen in Exodus 20:3-5). Their widespread presence signifies Judah's deep syncretism—the forbidden blending of the worship of Yahweh with pagan rituals—which was a primary and persistent reason for God's impending judgment against His covenant people.

Why are "green trees upon the high hills" mentioned as locations for worship?

Answer: The phrase "green trees upon the high hills" describes the typical and preferred settings for Canaanite idolatrous worship, often referred to as "high places" (Hebrew: bamah). These elevated locations were considered sacred in pagan religions, believed to be closer to the gods and often associated with fertility rites. The "green trees" (Hebrew: raʻănân ʻêts) suggest a lush, vibrant, and natural setting, which ironically contrasts sharply with the spiritual barrenness, corruption, and death inherent in the idolatrous practices. God had explicitly commanded Israel to destroy these high places and their associated cult objects (e.g., Deuteronomy 12:2), but Judah persistently adopted and maintained these pagan customs. Their prominence and visibility made the idolatry widespread, public, and a constant affront to God's holiness and covenant demands.

What does it mean that the children "remember" these altars and groves?

Answer: The Hebrew word for "remember" (zâkar, H2142) in this context implies far more than just passive recollection or historical awareness. It signifies active recognition, participation, and the willing perpetuation of the idolatrous practices. It means the children were not merely aware of their parents' pagan worship; they were actively engaging in it, embracing it, and carrying on the tradition. This highlights a tragic and profound failure in generational discipleship, where instead of remembering the Lord and His covenant commands, the children remembered and embraced the altars of false gods. It underscores the deep-seated and pervasive nature of Judah's apostasy, permeating even the youngest generation and demonstrating a profound spiritual inheritance of sin, rather than a legacy of faithfulness.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Jeremiah 17:2, with its somber portrayal of deeply ingrained generational idolatry, finds its ultimate fulfillment and radical reversal in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "altars" and "groves" on "high hills" represent humanity's futile, self-devised attempts to find spiritual satisfaction, connection, and blessing through false gods and forbidden worship. Christ, however, is the true and perfect sacrifice, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, rendering all other altars and sacrifices utterly obsolete and powerless. He is the ultimate "high place," not of pagan worship, but of divine encounter and reconciliation, as He ascended to the heavenly sanctuary to make atonement for sin once for all. Furthermore, the tragic "remembering" of idols by children in Jeremiah's day is completely transformed and reversed by Christ through the New Covenant. Through His indwelling Spirit, God no longer writes His law on tablets of stone or on the hardened hearts of idolaters, but on the hearts and minds of His people, enabling them to truly "remember" Him, walk in His ways, and live in faithful obedience. Jesus breaks the generational curse of sin and idolatry, offering a new spiritual inheritance for all who believe—one of grace, truth, and genuine worship in spirit and truth, a worship that is not tied to physical locations or pagan symbols, but centered solely and eternally on Him.

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Commentary on Jeremiah 17 verses 1–4

The people had asked (Jer 16:10), What is our iniquity, and what is our sin? as if they could not be charged with any thing worth speaking of, for which God should enter into judgment with them; their challenge was answered there, but here we have a further reply to it, in which,

I. The indictment is fully proved upon the prisoners, both the fact and the fault; their sin is too plain to be denied and too bad to be excused, and they have nothing to plead either in extenuation of the crime or in arrest and mitigation of the judgment. 1. They cannot plead, Not guilty, for their sins are upon record in the book of God's omniscience and their own conscience; nay, and they are obvious to the eye and observation of the world, Jer 17:1, Jer 17:2. They are written before God in the most legible and indelible characters, and sealed among his treasures, never to be forgotten, Deu 32:34. They are written there with a pen of iron and with the point of a diamond; what is so written will not be worn out by time, but is, as Job speaks, graven in the rock for ever. Note, The sin of sinners is never forgotten till it is forgiven. It is ever before God, till by repentance it comes to be ever before us. It is graven upon the table of their heart; their own consciences witness against them, and are instead of a thousand witnesses. What is graven on the heart, though it may be covered and closed up for a time, yet, being graven, it cannot be erased, but will be produced in evidence when the books shall be opened. Nay, we need not appeal to the tables of the heart, perhaps they will not own the convictions of their consciences. We need go no further, for proof of the charge, than the horns of their altars, on which the blood of their idolatrous sacrifices was sprinkled, and perhaps the names of the idols to whose honour they were erected were inscribed. Their neighbours will witness against them, and all the creatures they have abused by using them in the service of their lusts. To complete the evidence, their own children shall be witnesses against them; they will tell truth when their fathers dissemble and prevaricate; they remember the altars and the groves to which their parents took them when they were little, v. 2. It appears that they were full of them, and acquainted with them betimes, they talked of them so frequently, so familiarly, and with so much delight. 2. They cannot plead that they repent, or are brought to a better mind. No, as the guilt of their sin is undeniable, so their inclination to sin is invincible and incurable. In this sense many understand Jer 17:1, Jer 17:2. Their sin is deeply engraven as with a pen of iron in the tables of their hearts. They have a rooted affection to it; it is woven into their very nature; their sin is dear to them, as that is dear to us of which we say, It is engraven on our hearts. The bias of their minds is still as strong as ever towards their idols, and they are not wrought upon either by the word or rod of God to forget them and abate their affection to them. It is written upon the horns of their altars, for they have given up their names to their idols and resolve to abide by what they have done; they have bound themselves, as with cords, to the horns of their altars. And Jer 17:2 may be read fully to this sense: As they remember their children, so remember they their altars and their groves; they are as fond of them and take as much pleasure in them as men do in their own children, and are as loth to part with them; they will live and die with their idols, and can no more forget them than a woman can forget her sucking child.

II. The indictment being thus fully proved, the judgment is affirmed and the sentence ratified, Jer 17:3, Jer 17:4. Forasmuch as they are thus wedded to their sins, and will not part with them, 1. They shall be made to part with their treasures, and those shall be given into the hands of strangers. Jerusalem is God's mountain in the field; it was built on a hill in the midst of a plain. All the treasures of that wealthy city will God give to the spoil. Or, My mountains with the fields, thy wealth and all thy treasures will I expose to spoil; both the products of the country and the stores of the city shall be seized by the Chaldeans. Justly are men stripped of that which they have served their idols with and have made the food and the fuel of their lusts. My mountain (so the whole land was, Psa 78:54, Deu 11:11) you have turned into your high places for sin, have worshipped your idols upon the high hills (Jer 17:2), and now they shall be give for a spoil in all your borders. What we make for a sin God will make for a spoil; for what comfort can we expect in that wherewith God is dishonoured? 2. They shall be made to part with their inheritance, and shall be carried captives into a strange land (Jer 17:4): Thou, even thyself (or thou thyself and those that are in thee, all the inhabitants), shall discontinue from thy heritage that I gave thee. God owns that it was their heritage, and that he gave it to them; they had an unquestionable title to it, which was an aggravation of their folly in throwing themselves out of the possession of it. It is through thyself (so some read it), through thy own default, that thou art disseised. Thou shalt discontinue, or intermit, the occupation of thy land. The law appointed them to let their land rest (it is the word here used) one year in seven, Exo 23:11. They did not observe that law, and now God would compel them to let it rest (the land shall enjoy her sabbaths, Lev 26:34); and yet it shall be not rest to them; they shall serve their enemies in a land they know not. Observe, (1.) Sin works a discontinuance of our comforts and deprives us of the enjoyment of that which God has given us. Yet, (2.) A discontinuance of the possession is not a defeasance of the right, but it is intimated that upon their repentance they shall recover possession again. For the present, you have kindled a fire in my anger, which burns so fiercely that it seems as if it would burn for ever; and so it will unless you repent, for it is the anger of an everlasting God fastening upon the immortal souls, and who knows the power of that anger?

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–4. Public domain.
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JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Jeremiah
(Verse 2, 3.) When their sons remember their altars, and the groves of trees and leafy branches on the high mountains, sacrificing in the field, I will give your strength and all your treasures to plunder. Your lofty places will be destroyed because of your sins in all your borders. And you will be left alone in the inheritance that I gave you, and I will make your enemies serve you in a land that you do not know, because you kindled the fire in my anger, and it will burn forever. And these are not found in the Septuagint, for the same reason (as I believe) that we have mentioned above, namely, lest the eternal sentence should remain against them. 'You shall be left,' He says, 'alone from your inheritance, which I gave you, and I will make you serve your enemies in a land which you do not know, either under the Babylonians or, as is more accurate, under the Romans. For they themselves have kindled the fire and provoked the most merciful Lord to anger, whose fire of fury will burn forever.' I am ashamed of our argument, which disputes the truth of the Hebrews. The Jews read against themselves, and the Church does not know what is in their favor. Thus, we, who are the sons of the Apostles, remember the injustices of the previous people and testify that they suffered justly. However, the high places, which are called Bamoth in Hebrew, can also be understood as a reference to the heretics who have exalted themselves, and their language has spread throughout the land. Those who have burst forth into such great madness, that they have remained alone without the grace of the Holy Spirit, and have lost the inheritance of the Lord, namely the prior truth of faith. Hence, eternal fire is prepared for them, and the servitude of demons, who are enemies and avengers.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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