Jeremiah 3:6

KJV

¶ The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen [that] which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.

KJV (with Strong's)

The LORD {H3068} said {H559} also unto me in the days {H3117} of Josiah {H2977} the king {H4428}, Hast thou seen {H7200} that which backsliding {H4878} Israel {H3478} hath done {H6213}? she is gone up {H1980} upon every high {H1364} mountain {H2022} and under {H8478} every green {H7488} tree {H6086}, and there hath played the harlot {H2181}.

Complete Jewish Bible

In the days of Yoshiyahu the king, ADONAI asked me, "Have you seen the things that backsliding Isra'el has been doing? She goes up on every bare hill and under every green tree and prostitutes herself there.

Berean Standard Bible

Now in the days of King Josiah, the LORD said to me, “Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every green tree to prostitute herself there.

American Standard Version

Moreover Jehovah said unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 3:6 opens with a poignant divine address to the prophet Jeremiah during King Josiah's reign, revealing the Lord's profound sorrow and confrontation regarding the northern kingdom of Israel's (Ephraim's) pervasive spiritual apostasy. God highlights Israel's persistent and widespread idolatry, vividly depicted as spiritual prostitution, a blatant betrayal of their covenant relationship. This unfaithfulness is portrayed as an open rebellion, committed on prominent pagan worship sites—"every high mountain and under every green tree"—symbolizing their complete abandonment of Yahweh for the allure of false gods.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse marks the beginning of a new prophetic oracle within Jeremiah's early ministry, specifically addressing the deep spiritual unfaithfulness of both the northern kingdom of Israel (often referred to as Ephraim, though long exiled) and the southern kingdom of Judah. Chapters 2 and 3 extensively employ the powerful metaphor of a wayward wife to describe Israel's covenant infidelity. Jeremiah 3:1-5 sets a challenging theological premise, discussing the legal impossibility of a divorced wife returning to her first husband, yet paradoxically, God expresses a longing for Israel's return. Verse 6 then shifts the focus to the historical and pervasive "backsliding" of Israel, serving as a stark example and a prelude to God's subsequent comparison of Judah's even greater guilt (as seen in [Jeremiah 3:7-11](/jeremiah/3-7-11 "Jeremiah 3:7-11 - Judah's Greater Guilt")). The immediate narrative flow emphasizes God's profound grief over His people's persistent rebellion despite His enduring covenant love and repeated calls to repentance.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophecy is delivered "in the days of Josiah the king" (640-609 BC), a significant period in Judah marked by King Josiah's earnest and extensive religious reforms (detailed in [2 Kings 22-23](/2_kings/22 "2 Kings 22-23 - Josiah's Religious Reforms")). However, Jeremiah 3:6 specifically looks back to the historical and deeply entrenched apostasy of the northern kingdom of Israel, which had been conquered and exiled by Assyria in 722 BC due to their idolatry. Despite their physical dispersion, their spiritual legacy of unfaithfulness remained a potent warning for Judah. The phrases "every high mountain and under every green tree" are not merely descriptive but are loaded with cultural significance. These were ubiquitous sites for Canaanite fertility cults and Baal worship, practices explicitly condemned and forbidden by the Mosaic Law (e.g., [Deuteronomy 12:2-4](/deuteronomy/12-2 "Deuteronomy 12:2-4 - Command to Destroy Idolatrous Sites")). These locations were often associated with pagan rituals, including sacred prostitution, which makes the metaphor of "playing the harlot" particularly sharp, culturally resonant, and deeply offensive in its portrayal of spiritual betrayal.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 3:6 profoundly contributes to several overarching themes central to the book of Jeremiah and broader prophetic literature. The primary theme is **Spiritual Adultery**, where Israel's idolatry is depicted as a profound betrayal of their covenant relationship with Yahweh, who is consistently portrayed as their divine "husband" (a metaphor also prominent in [Hosea 2:5](/hosea/2-5 "Hosea 2:5 - Israel's Unfaithfulness")). This highlights God's demand for exclusive devotion and the intimacy inherent in the covenant. Another crucial theme is **Pervasive Idolatry**, underscored by the widespread nature of their pagan worship "upon every high mountain and under every green tree," signifying a complete societal departure from monotheism and the covenant. The term "backsliding Israel" introduces the theme of **Apostasy and Rebellion**, emphasizing a deliberate, persistent, and stubborn turning away from God's truth despite His gracious overtures and warnings. Finally, the Lord's rhetorical question, "Hast thou seen...?", conveys a powerful sense of **Divine Grief and Disappointment**, revealing God's sorrow over His chosen people's deep-seated rebellion and His persistent longing for their repentance and return to Him.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Backsliding (Hebrew, _mᵉshûwbâh'_):** This term (H4878) denotes apostasy, a turning away, or defection. In Jeremiah, it signifies a deliberate and persistent departure from divine truth and covenant obligations, often carrying the nuance of a stubborn refusal to return to God despite His repeated calls and overtures of grace. It implies a deep-seated spiritual rebellion rather than a momentary lapse.
* **High (Hebrew, _gâbôahh'_):** This adjective (H1364) describes something elevated, lofty, or proud. When paired with "mountain," it refers to the elevated geographical locations chosen for pagan worship. Figuratively, it can also suggest the arrogance or haughtiness of those who engage in such practices, exalting their own will or false gods above the true God.
* **Played the harlot (Hebrew, _zânâh'_):** This primitive root (H2181) literally means to commit fornication or adultery. In prophetic literature, it is consistently employed metaphorically to describe idolatry as spiritual infidelity. It vividly portrays the covenant relationship between God and Israel as a marriage, where the worship of other gods constitutes a profound betrayal of that sacred, exclusive bond. The term emphasizes the wanton and deliberate nature of Israel's unfaithfulness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king,"**: This opening clause establishes the divine origin and specific historical setting of the prophecy, underscoring that the message is a direct revelation from [Yahweh](/exodus/3-14 "Exodus 3:14 - God's Self-Revelation as "I AM""), the covenant God of Israel, to His chosen prophet Jeremiah. The mention of King Josiah's reign (640-609 BC) grounds the oracle in a time of attempted spiritual revival in Judah, yet paradoxically, it highlights the deep-seated corruption that still permeated the wider spiritual landscape of God's people.
* **"Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done?"**: This is a powerful rhetorical question, designed not to elicit new information from Jeremiah but to draw his attention, and by extension, the audience's attention, to the undeniable and grievous reality of Israel's apostasy. The term "backsliding Israel" (referring to the northern kingdom, Ephraim) immediately identifies the subject of God's lament. The question carries a tone of divine grief, exasperation, and profound disappointment over their persistent turning away from Him.
* **"she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree,"**: This clause describes the pervasive and public nature of Israel's idolatry. "Every high mountain and under every green tree" were notorious sites for Canaanite fertility cults and pagan worship, where altars to Baal and Asherah poles were erected. These locations were chosen for their perceived sacredness in pagan religions and were explicitly forbidden by God's law. The imagery emphasizes the widespread, open, and deliberate nature of their rebellion, leaving no part of the land untouched by their unfaithfulness.
* **"and there hath played the harlot."**: This final, powerful clause employs the vivid metaphor of prostitution to describe Israel's idolatry. In the biblical context, God is depicted as Israel's faithful husband, having entered into a covenant marriage with them at Sinai. Their worship of other gods is thus portrayed as spiritual adultery, a profound act of betrayal and infidelity against their divine spouse. This imagery highlights the intimacy of the covenant relationship and the severity of their breach, underscoring the wanton and deliberate nature of their unfaithfulness.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 3:6 is rich in literary devices that amplify its message and emotional impact. The most prominent device is **Metaphor**, where Israel's idolatry is powerfully equated with "playing the harlot." This central metaphor transforms a spiritual transgression into a deeply personal and intimate betrayal, evoking the pain and outrage of a faithful husband whose wife has committed adultery. This is further intensified by the **Rhetorical Question**, "Hast thou seen...?", which serves not to seek information but to underscore the obviousness and gravity of Israel's sin, drawing the listener into God's perspective of sorrow, disappointment, and judgment. **Symbolism** is also profoundly at play with "every high mountain and under every green tree," which are not merely geographical locations but potent symbols of pagan worship sites, representing the pervasive, public, and deeply entrenched nature of Israel's apostasy. The repetition implied by "every" highlights the **Hyperbole** or **Exaggeration** of their widespread unfaithfulness, emphasizing that their sin was not isolated but endemic throughout the land, permeating every aspect of their national life.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 3:6 profoundly articulates the theological concept of God's covenant faithfulness contrasted with Israel's persistent spiritual infidelity. It establishes idolatry not merely as a ritualistic error but as a deeply personal betrayal of the exclusive relationship God desired with His people, akin to a spouse's unfaithfulness. This verse sets the stage for understanding God's subsequent judgment as a righteous response to a broken covenant, yet it also subtly hints at His enduring love and willingness to call His people back, even from such profound "backsliding." The imagery of "harlotry" underscores the gravity of worshipping false gods, portraying it as a wanton abandonment of the one true God who had chosen, redeemed, and sustained them.
* [Hosea 2:5](/hosea/2-5 "Hosea 2:5 - Israel's Spiritual Adultery")
* [Ezekiel 16:15-19](/zekiel/16-15-19 "Ezekiel 16:15-19 - Jerusalem's Harlotry and Unfaithfulness")
* [Deuteronomy 12:2-4](/deuteronomy/12-2-4 "Deuteronomy 12:2-4 - Command to Destroy Pagan Worship Sites")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 3:6 serves as a timeless mirror for self-examination, urging believers to consider where their ultimate allegiance lies. While the specific forms of idolatry have changed dramatically since ancient Israel, the human heart's propensity to "backslide" and seek satisfaction, security, or identity in created things rather than the Creator remains a constant spiritual battle. "High mountains" and "green trees" in our contemporary context can represent anything that subtly or overtly competes for the supreme devotion due to God—be it career success, material possessions, social status, comfort, personal relationships, or even intellectual pursuits. This verse challenges us to honestly assess our spiritual landscape: Are there areas where we have allowed lesser loyalties to usurp God's rightful place, engaging in a form of spiritual "harlotry" by giving our primary affections to something other than Him? The call is to recognize the insidious nature of spiritual drift, to guard vigilantly against complacency, and to return to an exclusive, fervent, and undivided devotion to the Lord, remembering that true fulfillment, peace, and purpose are found only in Him.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be "backsliding" or allowing other allegiances to subtly compete with my devotion to God?**
* **What are the "high mountains" or "green trees"—modern idols or distractions—that tempt me away from exclusive worship of the Lord?**
* **How can I cultivate a deeper, more exclusive, and faithful relationship with God, actively resisting the allure of spiritual compromise and pursuing true intimacy with Him?**

### FAQ
**Why does God refer to Israel's idolatry as "playing the harlot"?**

Answer: The metaphor of "playing the harlot" (or spiritual adultery) is a powerful and recurring theme in prophetic literature, especially in Jeremiah and Hosea. It stems from the covenant relationship God established with Israel at Mount Sinai, which is often depicted as a marriage. Just as a wife is bound in exclusive fidelity to her husband, Israel was bound in exclusive worship and and obedience to [Yahweh](/exodus/3-14 "Exodus 3:14 - God's Self-Revelation as "I AM""), who had chosen and redeemed them. When Israel turned to worship other gods (like Baal or Asherah), they were seen as breaking this sacred, intimate bond, committing spiritual infidelity. This imagery highlights the depth of God's pain and the severity of Israel's betrayal, emphasizing that idolatry is not merely a ritualistic error but a profound violation of a loving, covenantal relationship. [Ezekiel 16](/ezekiel/16 "Ezekiel 16 - Allegory of Jerusalem as an Unfaithful Wife") provides another extensive example of this powerful metaphor.

**What is the significance of "every high mountain and under every green tree"?**

Answer: These phrases are highly significant because they refer to the common locations where Canaanite fertility cults and pagan worship rituals were practiced throughout the ancient Near East. High places (mountains or hills) were often seen as closer to the divine and thus chosen for altars and shrines to various gods. "Green trees" (often sacred groves or individual trees) were also associated with pagan deities, particularly Asherah, a Canaanite goddess of fertility and consort of Baal. The Law of Moses explicitly commanded Israel to destroy such sites and their associated idols (e.g., [Deuteronomy 12:2-4](/deuteronomy/12-2-4 "Deuteronomy 12:2-4 - Command to Destroy Pagan Worship Sites")). Therefore, Israel's widespread use of these locations for worship signified their complete and open embrace of forbidden, idolatrous practices, directly violating their covenant with God and demonstrating their pervasive spiritual unfaithfulness. The phrase "every" emphasizes the widespread nature of this rebellion across the land.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Jeremiah 3:6 vividly portrays Israel's spiritual harlotry and the depth of their rebellion against the covenant God, it simultaneously foreshadows the ultimate solution to humanity's pervasive unfaithfulness found in Jesus Christ. Israel's inability to remain faithful, constantly "backsliding" and playing the harlot, underscores the deep-seated sinfulness of the human heart that no law or reform could ultimately rectify. This persistent failure points to the absolute necessity of a new covenant, one not dependent on flawed human obedience but on divine grace and a transformed nature. In Christ, God Himself provides the means for true fidelity and restoration. Jesus is the faithful "husband" who, unlike the unfaithful Israel, perfectly fulfilled the covenant. Through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, Jesus takes upon Himself the spiritual "harlotry" of humanity, offering forgiveness and a new heart (as promised in [Ezekiel 36:26](/ezekiel/36-26 "Ezekiel 36:26 - A New Heart and Spirit")). Believers are now united to Christ, the true Israel, becoming part of His pure and spotless bride ([Ephesians 5:25-27](/ephesians/5-25-27 "Ephesians 5:25-27 - Christ and the Church as Bride and Groom")), washed clean by His blood. The "green trees" of pagan worship are replaced by the true Tree of Life, the cross, where Christ's perfect faithfulness triumphs over human infidelity, enabling a genuine and enduring relationship with God, not based on our fleeting devotion but on His steadfast love and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God's Love Demonstrated")). He is the one who makes us truly faithful.

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

Ezekiel 16:31

In that thou buildest thine eminent place in the head of every way, and makest thine high place in every street; and hast not been as an harlot, in that thou scornest hire;

Ezekiel 16:24

[That] thou hast also built unto thee an eminent place, and hast made thee an high place in every street.

Ezekiel 16:25

Thou hast built thy high place at every head of the way, and hast made thy beauty to be abhorred, and hast opened thy feet to every one that passed by, and multiplied thy whoredoms.

2 Kings 17:7

¶ For [so] it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods,

2 Kings 17:17

And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

Isaiah 57:7

Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice.

Jeremiah 3:11

And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.