Jeremiah 2:35

Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.

Yet thou sayest {H559}, Because I am innocent {H5352}, surely his anger {H639} shall turn {H7725} from me. Behold, I will plead {H8199} with thee, because thou sayest {H559}, I have not sinned {H2398}.

you say, 'I am innocent; surely he's no longer angry at me.' Here, I am passing sentence on you, because you say, 'I have done nothing wrong.'

you say, ‘I am innocent. Surely His anger will turn from me.’ Behold, I will judge you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’

Yet thou saidst, I am innocent; surely his anger is turned away from me. Behold, I will enter into judgment with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.

Jeremiah 2:35 captures the Lord's exasperation and righteous indignation towards Judah's persistent denial of their sin, despite overwhelming evidence of their spiritual apostasy. The nation, through the prophet Jeremiah, is confronted for claiming innocence even as they engaged in widespread idolatry and unfaithfulness to the covenant with God.

Context

This verse is situated early in the Book of Jeremiah, during a period when the prophet was calling the people of Judah to repentance before the impending Babylonian exile. Chapter 2 vividly describes Israel's history of rebellion, likening their abandonment of God to a bride forsaking her husband (Jeremiah 2:2) and to digging broken cisterns that can hold no water instead of relying on the living God. Despite their clear departure from God's ways, the people stubbornly clung to the belief that they were righteous, or at least not guilty enough to warrant divine anger. This verse is God's direct challenge to their self-deception.

Key Themes

  • Denial of Sin: The central theme is Judah's profound self-deception and refusal to acknowledge their idolatry and unfaithfulness. They declared themselves "innocent" even as their actions screamed rebellion against the Lord.
  • False Security: They believed their claim of innocence would automatically cause God's "anger shall turn from me," illustrating a superficial and mistaken understanding of God's justice and holiness. They thought their denial would appease God's wrath.
  • Divine Confrontation: God's response, "Behold, I will plead with thee," signifies a direct and forceful confrontation. It's not a gentle request but a divine legal challenge, where God Himself will lay out the case against their false claims of righteousness.
  • Stubborn Unrepentance: The verse highlights the dangerous spiritual state of a heart that refuses to admit wrongdoing, making genuine repentance impossible and inviting further divine judgment.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "plead" is shaphat (שָׁפַט), which carries a stronger connotation than a simple plea or argument. It often means to "judge," "contend," "govern," or "enter into a legal dispute." In this context, it underscores God's role as a righteous judge who will bring charges against their false claims of innocence, rather than merely asking them to reconsider. It implies a divine reckoning or a judicial process for their persistent denial.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 2:35 serves as a powerful warning against the dangers of self-righteousness and the denial of personal sin. It reminds us that God sees our hearts and actions, and He will confront our unacknowledged transgressions. For believers today, this verse underscores the critical importance of honest self-examination and confession of sin. True peace with God comes not from denying our faults, but from humbly admitting them and seeking His forgiveness, as taught in passages like Psalm 32:5. God's desire is for genuine repentance and a contrite heart, not a superficial claim of innocence that masks spiritual rebellion.

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.

  • Proverbs 28:13

    ¶ He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh [them] shall have mercy.

  • 1 John 1:8

    ¶ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

  • 1 John 1:10

    If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

  • Isaiah 58:3

    ¶ Wherefore have we fasted, [say they], and thou seest not? [wherefore] have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.

  • Jeremiah 2:23

    How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: [thou art] a swift dromedary traversing her ways;

  • Romans 7:9

    For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

  • Job 33:9

    I am clean without transgression, I [am] innocent; neither [is there] iniquity in me.

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