Jeremiah 3:21

KJV

A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping [and] supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, [and] they have forgotten the LORD their God.

KJV (with Strong's)

A voice {H6963} was heard {H8085} upon the high places {H8205}, weeping {H1065} and supplications {H8469} of the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478}: for they have perverted {H5753} their way {H1870}, and they have forgotten {H7911} the LORD {H3068} their God {H430}.

Complete Jewish Bible

A sound is heard on the heights, the house of Isra'el crying, pleading for mercy, because they have perverted their way and forgotten ADONAI their God.

Berean Standard Bible

A voice is heard on the barren heights, the children of Israel weeping and begging for mercy, because they have perverted their ways and forgotten the LORD their God.

American Standard Version

A voice is heard upon the bare heights, the weeping and the supplications of the children of Israel; because they have perverted their way, they have forgotten Jehovah their God.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 3:21 vividly portrays the profound distress of the children of Israel, whose cries of "weeping and supplications" echo from the "high places"—notorious sites of their spiritual rebellion. This desperate lament is a direct consequence of their profound apostasy: they have "perverted their way" by deviating from God's righteous path and have "forgotten the LORD their God," abandoning their sacred covenant relationship and embracing idolatry. The verse captures a poignant moment of dawning realization and anguish, where the painful repercussions of their unfaithfulness compel them to cry out for divine mercy, even from the very epicenters of their sin.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 3 forms a pivotal section within the prophet's early ministry, primarily addressing the spiritual harlotry of both the northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) and the southern kingdom of Judah. The chapter opens with God's astonishing willingness to receive a repentant Israel, despite their egregious unfaithfulness, contrasting their potential return with Judah's stubborn refusal to learn from Israel's judgment. Verses 1-5 extend a tender invitation for Israel to return, followed by a lament over their persistent sin (vv. 6-11) and a renewed call to repentance with promises of restoration (vv. 12-18). Jeremiah 3:19-25 then details Israel's anticipated response, shifting from God's lament to Israel's confession and plea. This specific verse (3:21) marks the beginning of Israel's collective lament, serving as a direct and sorrowful echo of the prophet's call to "Return, O backsliding Israel" in [Jeremiah 3:12](/jeremiah/3-12 "Jeremiah 3:12 - Return, O Backsliding Israel"). It sets the stage for their subsequent confession of shame and their eventual acknowledgment of God's saving power in the verses that follow.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophetic ministry of Jeremiah unfolds during a tumultuous and pivotal era in Judah's history, leading up to the catastrophic Babylonian exile. By this time, the northern kingdom of Israel had already fallen to Assyria in 722 BC, a direct consequence of their persistent idolatry and flagrant covenant breaking. Jeremiah's message serves as a final, urgent warning to Judah, imploring them to heed the lessons from Israel's tragic fate. The "high places" (Hebrew: _bamot_) were deeply ingrained in the religious landscape of ancient Israel. These elevated sites, whether natural hills or man-made platforms, were often used for syncretistic worship, where Yahweh was worshipped alongside pagan deities like Baal and Asherah, or even for purely pagan cults. Such practices were explicitly condemned and forbidden by Mosaic law, as seen in [Deuteronomy 12:2-4](/deuteronomy/12-2-4 "Deuteronomy 12:2-4 - Destroying Pagan High Places"). The profound significance of "a voice was heard upon the high places" lies in its poignant irony: the very epicenters of Israel's spiritual prostitution and rebellion against God had become the unwilling stages for their cries of distress, revealing the painful and inescapable consequences of their sin.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 3:21 powerfully articulates several core themes that resonate throughout the book of Jeremiah and the broader prophetic corpus. Firstly, it vividly portrays the **consequences of apostasy**, directly linking the "weeping and supplications" to Israel's "perverted way" and their profound "forgotten" relationship with the LORD. This highlights the inevitable pain, distress, and judgment that follow spiritual rebellion and the breaking of divine covenant. Secondly, the verse underscores the theme of **spiritual forgetfulness**, which is far more than a mere intellectual lapse; it denotes a willful and active abandonment of their covenant relationship with God, a neglect of His laws, and a disregard for His enduring faithfulness. This spiritual amnesia led them to seek false gods and rely on their own devices, a danger frequently warned against in the Torah, as exemplified in [Deuteronomy 8:11-19](/deuteronomy/8-11-19 "Deuteronomy 8:11-19 - Warnings Against Forgetting God and Prosperity"). Finally, despite the lament, the verse subtly hints at the possibility of **repentance and restoration**. The cry from the high places, though born of distress, is still a form of acknowledgment and a plea for divine intervention, setting the stage for God's persistent and gracious invitation to return.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **weeping (Hebrew, _Bᵉkîy'_):** from בָּכָה; a weeping; by analogy, a dripping; overflowing, [idiom] sore, (continual) weeping, wept. This term denotes a deep, intense emotional expression of sorrow, anguish, and lamentation. In this context, it signifies not just sadness, but a profound, desperate outpouring of grief, likely stemming from the painful consequences and judgments Israel was experiencing due to their unfaithfulness.
* **perverted (Hebrew, _ʻâvâh'_):** a primitive root; to crook, literally or figuratively; do amiss, bow down, make crooked, commit iniquity, pervert, (do) perverse(-ly), trouble, [idiom] turn, do wickedly, do wrong. This word implies a deliberate twisting, distorting, or making crooked of what was originally straight or right. It speaks to a willful deviation from God's righteous commands and covenant path, indicating a moral and spiritual corruption that has led the nation far astray.
* **forgotten (Hebrew, _shâkach'_):** or שָׁכֵחַ; a primitive root; to mislay, i.e. to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention; [idiom] at all, (cause to) forget. This term signifies more than a simple lapse of memory; it conveys a profound spiritual amnesia, a willful disregard, and an active abandonment of their covenant relationship with Yahweh, their God. It implies a deliberate turning away from His character, His commands, and His saving acts in their history, leading to a neglect of their foundational identity and purpose.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"A voice was heard upon the high places":** This opening clause immediately establishes a dramatic and ironic scene. The "high places" were infamous sites of idolatry and spiritual rebellion against Yahweh. The unexpected sound of a "voice" from these very locations, rather than one of pagan revelry, signals a profound shift—a cry of distress emanating from the heart of their apostasy. It suggests that the consequences of their sin have become so severe that even their places of rebellion are now echoing with lament.
* **"weeping and supplications of the children of Israel":** This specifies the nature of the "voice," revealing it to be one of deep sorrow, mournful lamentation, and earnest pleading. The phrase "children of Israel" emphasizes that this is a collective cry from the covenant people, the nation chosen by God, now in a state of profound brokenness. The combination of "weeping" (expressing grief and pain) and "supplications" (earnest pleas for mercy or intervention) indicates a moment of deep anguish and a nascent, albeit desperate, turning toward God.
* **"for they have perverted their way":** This clause provides the immediate and direct reason for their lament. Their "way" refers to their conduct, their moral and spiritual path. To "pervert" it means they have deliberately twisted, corrupted, or made crooked the straight and righteous path God had established for them through His law and covenant. This is an acknowledgment of their active disobedience, moral corruption, and deviation from divine standards.
* **"and they have forgotten the LORD their God":** This final clause reveals the deeper, foundational root cause of their "perverted way" and subsequent distress. It's not merely that they committed specific sins, but that they had fundamentally abandoned their intimate relationship with Yahweh, their covenant God. This "forgetting" implies a willful disregard for His identity, His commands, His faithfulness, and His past saving acts, leading to a profound spiritual amnesia that allowed them to pursue other gods and rely on their own devices.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 3:21 is rich with powerful **literary devices** that amplify its message. The most striking is **Irony**, as the "voice...heard upon the high places"—sites that epitomized Israel's flagrant idolatry and rebellion—is paradoxically one of "weeping and supplications." This unexpected lament from the very centers of their sin profoundly highlights the severe distress resulting from their apostasy, compelling a cry for help from the most unlikely of locations. A clear **Cause and Effect** relationship is established: the "weeping and supplications" are explicitly attributed to the fact that "they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten the LORD their God." This structural emphasis underscores the direct and inevitable link between their sin and their suffering. The phrase "children of Israel" serves as a poignant reminder of their covenant identity, creating a stark **Contrast** between who they were called to be as God's chosen people and their current state of spiritual degradation and lament. Finally, the "voice" itself can be seen as a form of **Personification**, giving an audible, collective manifestation to the deep anguish and nascent, desperate repentance of the entire nation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 3:21 offers a profound theological statement on the devastating consequences of covenant unfaithfulness and the paradoxical nature of a cry for repentance. It reveals that spiritual apostasy, characterized by a "perverted way" and a "forgotten" relationship with God, inevitably culminates in deep distress, lamentation, and judgment. Yet, even in this lament, echoing from the very heart of their sin, there is a glimmer of hope. God's persistent call for repentance, articulated throughout Jeremiah, is met here with a cry—however desperate—from His people. This suggests that God's mercy is always accessible to those who acknowledge their sin and turn back to Him, even when their initial turning is prompted by suffering rather than pure devotion. The verse underscores God's justice in allowing the natural and spiritual consequences of sin to manifest, while simultaneously demonstrating His enduring readiness to hear the genuine cry of His wayward children and offer a path to restoration.

* [Joel 2:12-13](/joel/2-12-13 "Joel 2:12-13 - Return to the LORD with All Your Heart")
* [Deuteronomy 8:11](/deuteronomy/8-11 "Deuteronomy 8:11 - Beware Lest You Forget the LORD")
* [Jeremiah 2:13](/jeremiah/2-13 "Jeremiah 2:13 - Forsaking the Fountain of Living Waters")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 3:21 serves as a timeless and convicting mirror for humanity, reflecting the painful consequences of straying from God's intended path and underscoring the profound importance of genuine repentance. It powerfully reminds us that spiritual forgetfulness—a willful disregard for God's character, His commands, and His unwavering faithfulness—is often the insidious root cause of many of our "perverted ways." When we neglect our active relationship with the LORD, we inevitably twist our lives away from His good and perfect design, leading to distress, brokenness, and a desperate cry for help. This verse compels us to engage in deep self-examination: In what areas of our lives might we have "perverted our way" through active disobedience, misplaced priorities, or the subtle pursuit of idols? How does "forgetting the LORD our God" manifest in our daily thoughts, actions, and the priorities we set? The lament from the "high places" offers a paradoxical and profound hope: even from the depths of our sin and its painful consequences, God hears the cry of a contrite heart. It encourages us that no matter how far we have strayed, or how deeply entrenched our personal "high places" of sin and rebellion may be, God remains ever-present and open to our "weeping and supplications," ready to receive those who genuinely turn back to Him with humility, confession, and a sincere desire for restoration.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific areas of my life might I have "perverted my way" by deviating from God's righteous path?**
* **How does "forgetting the LORD my God" manifest in my daily thoughts, actions, and the priorities I set for myself?**
* **Am I willing to bring my "weeping and supplications" to God, even from the "high places" of my personal sin and struggle, trusting in His mercy?**
* **What practical steps can I take to actively remember God's character, His commands, and His covenant faithfulness in my life, thereby preventing spiritual amnesia?**

### FAQ
**Why is it significant that the voice was heard "upon the high places"?**

Answer: The "high places" (Hebrew: _bamot_) were elevated sites, often natural hills or constructed platforms, that became notorious centers for pagan worship and idolatrous rituals throughout ancient Israel's history. They represented the epitome of Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness, rebellion, and syncretism against God's covenant. The fact that "a voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications" is deeply significant because it means that even from the very epicenters of their sin and apostasy, the people were experiencing such profound distress and consequences that they were compelled to cry out. It is an ironic and powerful image, suggesting that the very places where they turned away from God became the sites where their pain led them to acknowledge their desperate need for Him. This highlights the inescapable consequences of sin and God's sovereign ability to draw a cry of repentance and acknowledgment even from the most unlikely and defiled circumstances.

**What does it mean for Israel to have "forgotten the LORD their God"?**

Answer: To "forget the LORD their God" (Hebrew: _shâkach_) in this biblical context is far more profound than a simple lapse of memory or an intellectual oversight. It signifies a deep spiritual amnesia, a willful disregard, and an active abandonment of their covenant relationship with Yahweh. It means they neglected His commands, His character, His past acts of salvation (such as the Exodus and the giving of the Law), and His very presence among them. This spiritual forgetfulness led them to seek security, provision, and guidance from other gods and their own human devices, effectively severing their intimate and life-giving relationship with the One who had chosen them, redeemed them, and faithfully sustained them. It implies a deliberate turning away from the source of all life and truth, leading directly to their "perverted way" and subsequent distress, as repeatedly warned in the Torah, for instance, in [Deuteronomy 6:12](/deuteronomy/6-12 "Deuteronomy 6:12 - Beware Lest You Forget the LORD").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 3:21, with its poignant depiction of Israel's lament from the "high places" due to their "perverted way" and having "forgotten the LORD their God," finds its ultimate fulfillment and resolution in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "weeping and supplications" of Israel foreshadow the universal human condition of brokenness, alienation, and spiritual death due to sin, which only Christ can truly address. Humanity, like ancient Israel, has universally "perverted its way" by choosing paths contrary to God's righteous will, and has "forgotten" its Creator, leading to profound spiritual separation. Jesus, however, is the perfect embodiment of [the Way, the Truth, and the Life](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life"), correcting humanity's crooked path and restoring the forgotten, intimate relationship with God. His atoning sacrifice on the cross addresses the deepest root cause of our "perverted way" by providing complete forgiveness for sin and cleansing from all unrighteousness, making true repentance and reconciliation with God profoundly possible (as seen in [1 John 1:9](/1_john/1-9 "1 John 1:9 - Confession and Forgiveness")). Furthermore, through the New Covenant established in His blood, Christ ensures that God's laws are written not on tablets of stone, but on our hearts and minds, guaranteeing that we will "not forget" the LORD, but rather know Him intimately, from the least to the greatest ([Hebrews 8:10-12](/hebrews/8-10-12 "Hebrews 8:10-12 - The New Covenant Promised")). He is the ultimate answer to Israel's lament, transforming cries of distress into songs of salvation, and replacing the defiled "high places" of idolatry with the true worship found in spirit and truth through Him ([John 4:23-24](/john/4-23-24 "John 4:23-24 - True Worshipers")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Jeremiah 31:9

They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim [is] my firstborn.

Isaiah 17:10

Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips:

Jeremiah 3:2

Lift up thine eyes unto the high places, and see where thou hast not been lien with. In the ways hast thou sat for them, as the Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wickedness.

Jeremiah 2:32

Can a maid forget her ornaments, [or] a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

Isaiah 15:2

He is gone up to Bajith, and to Dibon, the high places, to weep: Moab shall howl over Nebo, and over Medeba: on all their heads [shall be] baldness, [and] every beard cut off.

2 Corinthians 7:10

For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Ezekiel 7:16

¶ But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity.