Jeremiah 2:7

And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination.

And I brought {H935} you into a plentiful {H3759} country {H776}, to eat {H398} the fruit {H6529} thereof and the goodness {H2898} thereof; but when ye entered {H935}, ye defiled {H2930} my land {H776}, and made {H7760} mine heritage {H5159} an abomination {H8441}.

I brought you into a fertile land to enjoy its fruit and all its good things; but when you entered, you defiled my land and made my heritage loathsome.

I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and bounty, but you came and defiled My land, and made My inheritance detestable.

And I brought you into a plentiful land, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination.

Commentary

Jeremiah 2:7 powerfully encapsulates God's benevolent provision for Israel and their subsequent profound betrayal. The verse serves as a poignant lament from the Lord through the prophet Jeremiah, highlighting the stark contrast between divine grace and human ingratitude.

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse recalls the pivotal moment in Israel's history when God miraculously delivered them from slavery in Egypt and led them through the wilderness into the rich and fertile Promised Land, Canaan. This land, described as a "plentiful country," was a direct fulfillment of God's covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It was a land of abundance, intended for their sustenance and prosperity under God's blessing.

However, Jeremiah prophesied during a period of deep spiritual decline in Judah, centuries after the initial entry into Canaan. The people had consistently turned away from the Lord, embracing the idolatrous practices of the surrounding nations. Despite God's incredible provision and protection, they had defiled the very land He had given them, turning His sacred "heritage" into something abominable through their worship of false gods and immoral practices, as detailed in other prophetic books.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Grace and Provision: The opening phrase, "And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof," underscores God's unfailing faithfulness and boundless generosity. He provided everything His people needed for a prosperous life.
  • Human Ingratitude and Disobedience: The stark "but when ye entered" marks a tragic turning point. Instead of gratitude and obedience, Israel responded with spiritual rebellion. This highlights the human tendency to forget God's blessings and pursue self-serving desires.
  • The Sanctity of God's Heritage: The land was not merely territory; it was "my land" and "mine heritage." It was holy because God dwelt among His people there and had chosen it for His purposes. Their defilement was not just a sin against themselves but a direct affront to God's holiness and ownership, making His sacred possession "an abomination." This concept of defiling the land is also found in Leviticus 18:25, where it states the land itself vomited out its inhabitants due to their wickedness.
  • The Severity of Sin: To "defile" (Hebrew: chanap) means to pollute or profane, often implying a moral or spiritual corruption. To make something an "abomination" (Hebrew: to'evah) signifies something utterly detestable, particularly in the context of idolatry and practices forbidden by God's law. This strong language emphasizes the gravity of Israel's spiritual adultery.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "defiled" (ื—ึฒื ึทืคึฐืชึถึผื - chanaptem) carries the sense of profaning, corrupting, or making something unholy. It's often used in contexts of moral and religious impurity. The term "abomination" (ืชึผื•ึนืขึตื‘ึธื” - to'evah) is a very strong word in the Old Testament, frequently referring to practices that are utterly repulsive to God, especially idolatry and associated immoral acts. Its use here indicates the severity of Israel's sin in God's eyes, as they turned His holy gift into something detestable.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 2:7 serves as a timeless warning and a call to reflection for believers today:

  1. Acknowledge God's Blessings: We are called to recognize the "plentiful country" that God has provided in our livesโ€”our resources, talents, opportunities, and spiritual blessings in Christ. Ingraining a spirit of gratitude helps us avoid the pitfalls of ingratitude.
  2. Guard Against Spiritual Defilement: Just as Israel defiled their physical land, we can defile our spiritual "heritage" (our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit, our minds, our relationships, our witness) through sin, worldliness, and spiritual idolatry. We must be vigilant against anything that turns our hearts away from God.
  3. Stewardship of What God Gives: Everything we have is a gift from God. This verse reminds us of our responsibility to be faithful stewards of these gifts, using them in ways that honor Him rather than profaning them through selfish or sinful pursuits.
  4. The Seriousness of Sin: God does not take sin lightly, especially when it comes from those He has blessed. This verse underscores that our actions have consequences and can grieve the heart of God. Understanding this can lead to deeper repentance and a commitment to holiness, knowing that the wages of sin is death.
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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 8:7

    For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills;

  • Deuteronomy 8:9

    A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any [thing] in it; a land whose stones [are] iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.

  • Jeremiah 16:18

    And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double; because they have defiled my land, they have filled mine inheritance with the carcases of their detestable and abominable things.

  • Numbers 13:27

    And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this [is] the fruit of it.

  • Jeremiah 3:9

    And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks.

  • Ezekiel 36:17

    Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings: their way was before me as the uncleanness of a removed woman.

  • Psalms 106:38

    And shed innocent blood, [even] the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.
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