Jeremiah 2:20

ยถ For of old time I have broken thy yoke, [and] burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.

For of old time {H5769} I have broken {H7665} thy yoke {H5923}, and burst {H5423} thy bands {H4147}; and thou saidst {H559}, I will not transgress {H5674}{H5647}; when upon every high {H1364} hill {H1389} and under every green {H7488} tree {H6086} thou wanderest {H6808}, playing the harlot {H2181}.

"For long ago I broke your yoke; when I snapped your chains, you said, 'I won't sin.' Yet on every high hill, under every green tree, you sprawled and prostituted yourself.

โ€œFor long ago you broke your yoke and tore off your chains, saying, โ€˜I will not serve!โ€™ Indeed, on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down as a prostitute.

For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bonds; and thou saidst, I will not serve; for upon every high hill and under every green tree thou didst bow thyself, playing the harlot.

Commentary

Commentary on Jeremiah 2:20 KJV

Jeremiah 2:20 powerfully encapsulates God's lament over Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness, contrasting His past deliverance with their present idolatry. This verse serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of breaking covenant with the Lord.

Context

The book of Jeremiah is primarily a prophetic message to Judah before its fall to Babylon, warning of impending judgment due to widespread idolatry and social injustice. In chapter 2, God recalls His initial relationship with Israel, portraying it as a faithful bride in the wilderness, but swiftly transitions to expose their subsequent rebellion and spiritual adultery. The phrase "of old time" refers to God's mighty acts of deliverance from Egyptian bondage, where He "broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands," freeing them from slavery to serve Him alone. Despite this divine liberation and their initial promise โ€“ "thou saidst, I will not transgress" (referencing the covenant made at Sinai, see Exodus 24:7) โ€“ Israel quickly turned away.

Key Themes

  • Divine Deliverance and Covenant: The verse highlights God's gracious act of freeing Israel from oppression, establishing a special relationship with them. This foundational act underscores the depth of Israel's ingratitude.
  • Human Unfaithfulness and Rebellion: Despite God's faithfulness, Israel quickly broke their promises, engaging in widespread idolatry. This theme of human failure in response to divine grace is central to biblical narrative.
  • Spiritual Adultery: The vivid imagery of "playing the harlot" on "every high hill and under every green tree" is a pervasive biblical metaphor for Israel's unfaithfulness to Yahweh, their divine husband. These "high hills" and "green trees" were notorious locations for pagan worship, often involving fertility cults and immoral practices (Deuteronomy 12:2).
  • Consequences of Idolatry: The verse foreshadows the judgment that will come upon Israel for their persistent rebellion and spiritual harlotry, a consistent message throughout Jeremiah's prophecies.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "playing the harlot" (Hebrew: ื–ึธื ึธื”, zanah) is a powerful and frequently used metaphor in the Old Testament to describe spiritual unfaithfulness. While it literally means to commit prostitution, prophetically it signifies breaking covenant vows with God by worshipping other gods or adopting pagan practices. This spiritual adultery is a central theme throughout the prophetic books, vividly depicted in places like the book of Hosea. The "yoke" (Hebrew: ืžื•ึนื˜ึธื”, motah) and "bands" (Hebrew: ืžื•ึนืกึฐืจื•ึนืช, moserot) refer to the instruments of slavery or bondage, emphasizing God's complete liberation of His people from physical oppression.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 2:20 serves as a timeless warning against spiritual compromise and unfaithfulness. For believers today, it underscores the importance of:

  • Remembering God's Deliverance: Just as God freed Israel, He delivers us from the bondage of sin and death through Christ (Romans 6:22). Our salvation is a profound act of divine grace that calls for a response of gratitude and loyalty.
  • Maintaining Covenant Faithfulness: Our relationship with God is a covenant of grace, calling for exclusive devotion. Any pursuit that takes precedence over God โ€“ whether materialism, ambition, or even self-righteousness โ€“ can become a form of modern idolatry or "spiritual harlotry."
  • Avoiding Compromise: We are called to be set apart from worldly practices and influences that lead away from God, just as Israel was warned against pagan worship on "high hills." This requires discernment and a commitment to biblical principles in all areas of life.

This verse challenges us to examine our own hearts and ensure our loyalty remains solely with the Lord who has delivered us.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 12:2

    Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree:

  • Leviticus 26:13

    I [am] the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright.

  • Jeremiah 17:2

    Whilst their children remember their altars and their groves by the green trees upon the high hills.

  • Jeremiah 30:8

    For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, [that] I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:

  • Isaiah 1:21

    ยถ How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.

  • Hosea 3:3

    And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for [another] man: so [will] I also [be] for thee.

  • Isaiah 57:5

    Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks?