Jeremiah 2:12

Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.

Be astonished {H8074}, O ye heavens {H8064}, at this, and be horribly afraid {H8175}, be ye very {H3966} desolate {H2717}, saith {H5002} the LORD {H3068}.

Be aghast at this, you heavens! Shudder in absolute horror!" says ADONAI.

Be stunned by this, O heavens; be shocked and utterly appalled,” declares the LORD.

Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith Jehovah.

Jeremiah 2:12 KJV is a powerful and dramatic cry from the LORD, expressing profound astonishment and dismay at the spiritual rebellion of His people, Judah. The verse serves as an urgent summons for all of creation, represented by "the heavens," to witness and be horrified by the unprecedented apostasy of a nation chosen by God.

Context

This verse is situated early in the book of Jeremiah, a prophetic lament delivered during a period of deep spiritual decline in the Kingdom of Judah, prior to the Babylonian exile. Jeremiah’s ministry was marked by a relentless call for repentance from widespread idolatry and a return to the covenant relationship with the LORD. The "this" that causes the heavens to be astonished is explicitly detailed in the subsequent verse, Jeremiah 2:13, where God declares, "For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." This highlights Judah's profound betrayal of God for worthless idols, an act so egregious it shocks even the celestial realm.

Key Themes

  • Divine Indignation and Grief: The verse powerfully conveys God's intense emotional reaction – not just anger, but a sense of betrayal, shock, and sorrow. His call to the heavens underscores the cosmic significance of His people's unfaithfulness.
  • Unnatural Rebellion: The idea that the very heavens should be astonished emphasizes the unnatural and perverse nature of Judah's sin. It implies that such a betrayal of the Creator by His chosen people is an anomaly that defies the natural order and divine expectation.
  • Spiritual Apostasy: At its core, the verse speaks to the ultimate sin of forsaking the true God for false gods or self-reliance. This act of spiritual adultery is seen as a rejection of the source of life and blessing, choosing instead emptiness and futility.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses three strong Hebrew verbs to convey the LORD's astonishment:

  • Shamem (astonished/desolate): This word carries the sense of being utterly stunned, horrified, or desolated. It's a profound shock that leaves one in a state of ruin or emptiness.
  • Sa'ar (horribly afraid): Implies a shuddering, a bristling with dread or horror. It's a visceral reaction of fear and disgust.
  • Charab (very desolate): Reinforces the idea of drying up, ruin, and utter destruction. It underscores the devastating consequences of Judah's actions, both for themselves and in God's eyes.
These terms together paint a vivid picture of God's extreme displeasure and the cosmic shock at His people's rebellion.

Related Scriptures

  • For another instance of the heavens being called to witness Israel's rebellion, see Isaiah 1:2.
  • The concept of God as the "fountain of living waters" is echoed in the New Testament, particularly in Christ's teaching, as seen in John 4:14.
  • The recurring theme of Israel's unfaithfulness despite God's goodness is also evident in Deuteronomy 32:15.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 2:12 serves as a timeless warning against spiritual complacency and the subtle forms of idolatry that can draw us away from God today. It reminds us that:

  • God takes our faithfulness seriously: Our commitment to Him is not trivial; it has cosmic implications and deeply affects Him.
  • The danger of "broken cisterns": Like ancient Judah, we can be tempted to seek satisfaction, security, or identity in things other than God – careers, possessions, relationships, or self-reliance. These are "broken cisterns" that ultimately cannot hold the true satisfaction that only God, the fountain of living waters, can provide.
  • A call to self-examination: The verse prompts us to examine our own lives: What are we relying on? Where do we seek our true source of life and joy? Are we giving God the reverence and singular devotion He deserves?
The divine astonishment expressed here underscores the profound tragedy of turning away from the God who is our everything, urging us to remain steadfast in Him.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Isaiah 1:2

    ¶ Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.

  • Jeremiah 22:29

    O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.

  • Jeremiah 6:19

    Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, [even] the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.

  • Micah 6:2

    Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD'S controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.

  • Deuteronomy 32:1

    ¶ Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.

  • Matthew 27:50

    ¶ Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

  • Matthew 27:53

    And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back