And the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah, shall be defiled as the place of Tophet, because of all the houses upon whose roofs they have burned incense unto all the host of heaven, and have poured out drink offerings unto other gods.
And the houses {H1004} of Jerusalem {H3389}, and the houses {H1004} of the kings {H4428} of Judah {H3063}, shall be defiled {H2931} as the place {H4725} of Tophet {H8612}, because of all the houses {H1004} upon whose roofs {H1406} they have burned incense {H6999} unto all the host {H6635} of heaven {H8064}, and have poured out {H5258} drink offerings {H5262} unto other {H312} gods {H430}.
The houses of Yerushalayim and those of the kings of Y'hudah will be defiled like this place Tofet - yes, all the houses on whose roofs they have offered to all the stars in heaven and poured out drink offerings to other gods.'"
The houses of Jerusalem and the houses of the kings of Judah will be defiled like that place, Topheth—all the houses on whose rooftops they burned incense to all the host of heaven and poured out drink offerings to other gods.”
and the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah, which are defiled, shall be as the place of Topheth, even all the houses upon whose roofs they have burned incense unto all the host of heaven, and have poured out drink-offerings unto other gods.
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Jeremiah 32:29
And the Chaldeans, that fight against this city, shall come and set fire on this city, and burn it with the houses, upon whose roofs they have offered incense unto Baal, and poured out drink offerings unto other gods, to provoke me to anger. -
2 Kings 23:12
And the altars that [were] on the top of the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the LORD, did the king beat down, and brake [them] down from thence, and cast the dust of them into the brook Kidron. -
Zephaniah 1:5
And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship [and] that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham; -
Jeremiah 7:18
The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead [their] dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger. -
Deuteronomy 4:19
And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, [even] all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven. -
Ezekiel 7:21
And I will give it into the hands of the strangers for a prey, and to the wicked of the earth for a spoil; and they shall pollute it. -
Ezekiel 7:22
My face will I turn also from them, and they shall pollute my secret [place]: for the robbers shall enter into it, and defile it.
Jeremiah 19:13 delivers a stark prophetic warning against the pervasive idolatry in Jerusalem and Judah, pronouncing a severe judgment from God. This verse is part of a dramatic prophecy involving the breaking of a potter's flask, symbolizing God's intention to shatter the nation of Judah for its unfaithfulness.
Historical and Cultural Context
The prophet Jeremiah ministered during a tumultuous period leading up to the Babylonian exile, a time characterized by spiritual decline despite occasional reforms. King Manasseh, for example, had previously engaged in widespread idolatry, including the worship of the "host of heaven" and child sacrifice in the Valley of Hinnom (2 Kings 21:3). While King Josiah later attempted to purify the land, the people's hearts largely remained unchanged, quickly reverting to pagan practices after his death.
The "houses of Jerusalem" and "houses of the kings of Judah" signify that the corruption extended from common citizens to the highest levels of leadership. The practice of burning incense and pouring out drink offerings on rooftops was a common form of worship in the ancient Near East, but in Judah, it was tragically directed towards "the host of heaven" (celestial bodies like the sun, moon, and stars) and "other gods," a direct violation of the first commandment.
The comparison to "the place of Tophet" is particularly damning. Tophet, located in the Valley of Hinnom (Gehenna), just outside Jerusalem, was infamous as a site where horrific child sacrifices were offered to the pagan god Molech (Jeremiah 7:31). It was a place of utter abomination, defilement, and death. By saying their houses would be defiled like Tophet, Jeremiah prophesied that Jerusalem itself, once holy, would become a place of abhorrence, filled with corpses and rendered ritually unclean due to their pervasive idolatry.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The term "Tophet" (Hebrew: תֹּפֶת, Topheth) is often associated with burning and disgrace, a place where fire was used for abominable rituals, and later became a symbol of divine judgment and destruction. The phrase "host of heaven" (Hebrew: צְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם, tzva ha-shamayim) refers to the celestial bodies, which were worshipped as deities by surrounding nations and expressly forbidden as objects of worship for Israel (Deuteronomy 17:3).
Practical Application
Jeremiah 19:13 serves as a timeless warning about the dangers of spiritual compromise and idolatry. While we may not burn incense to literal celestial bodies today, modern forms of idolatry can include anything that takes precedence over God in our lives—money, power, possessions, relationships, or even self-worship. The verse reminds us that:
- God is Sovereign: He demands exclusive worship and is just in His judgment against anything that displaces Him.
- Beware of Subtle Idolatry: We must constantly examine our hearts to ensure that our affections and priorities align with God's will, avoiding anything that defiles our spiritual walk.
- Sin Has Consequences: Disobedience and spiritual defilement lead to negative outcomes, both individually and collectively, echoing the principle that we reap what we sow.
This prophecy calls believers to a life of undivided devotion and holiness, recognizing that true blessing comes from honoring God above all else.