Jeremiah 5:19

And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore doeth the LORD our God all these [things] unto us? then shalt thou answer them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land [that is] not yours.

And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say {H559}, Wherefore {H8478}{H4100} doeth {H6213} the LORD {H3068} our God {H430} all these things unto us? then shalt thou answer {H559} them, Like as ye have forsaken {H5800} me, and served {H5647} strange {H5236} gods {H430} in your land {H776}, so shall ye serve {H5647} strangers {H2114} in a land {H776} that is not yours.

And when your people ask, 'Why has ADONAI our God done all these things to us?' you are to give them this answer: 'Just as you abandoned me and served strange gods in your own land, so likewise you will serve strangers in a land that is not your own.'

And when the people ask, ‘For what offense has the LORD our God done all these things to us?’ You are to tell them, ‘Just as you have forsaken Me and served foreign gods in your land, so will you serve foreigners in a land that is not your own.’”

And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore hath Jehovah our God done all these things unto us? then shalt thou say unto them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served foreign gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours.

Jeremiah 5:19 is a poignant prophetic declaration from the Lord through the prophet Jeremiah, explaining the reason for the impending judgment on the kingdom of Judah. It directly addresses the people's future lament and provides God's unequivocal answer regarding their suffering.

Context

This verse is set during a period of deep spiritual decline in Judah, prior to the Babylonian exile. Jeremiah, known as the "weeping prophet," continually warned the people of God's impending judgment due to their persistent idolatry, injustice, and refusal to repent. The Lord anticipates the people's future question – "Why is this happening to us?" – and through Jeremiah, provides the direct, painful explanation: their unfaithfulness to the covenant.

Key Themes

  • Divine Retribution and Justice: The verse clearly articulates the principle of divine justice, where consequences are directly linked to actions. God's judgment is not arbitrary but a just response to Judah's rebellion.
  • The Sin of Idolatry: The core transgression highlighted is the forsaking of the Lord and the serving of "strange gods." This spiritual adultery broke the covenant relationship God had established with Israel, particularly as outlined in the First Commandment.
  • Poetic Justice: There is a striking parallelism and irony in God's response. Because they chose to serve "strange gods" (foreign deities) in their own land, they would be forced to serve "strangers" (foreign oppressors) in a foreign land. This serves as a powerful illustration of the principle of sowing and reaping.
  • Covenant Accountability: The verse underscores the accountability of God's people to the covenant He made with them. Their failure to uphold their end of the agreement led directly to the severe penalties outlined in the Law, such as exile (see Deuteronomy 28:47-48).

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "strange" (זָר, zar) is significant here. It is used to describe both the "strange gods" they served and the "strangers" (foreigners) they would serve. This linguistic connection emphasizes the direct, reciprocal nature of God's judgment. Their choice to align with foreign deities led to their subjugation by foreign powers, a perfect fit of consequence to transgression.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 5:19 serves as a timeless warning about the consequences of spiritual unfaithfulness. While we may not serve literal idols today, modern "strange gods" can include anything that takes precedence over God in our lives—money, power, reputation, comfort, or personal desires. This verse reminds us:

  • God is Just: His judgments are not arbitrary but are rooted in His righteousness and our choices.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: There are spiritual and often natural consequences for turning away from God's commands and His exclusive claim on our worship.
  • Call to Exclusive Devotion: The passage calls believers to a wholehearted and undivided devotion to the Lord, recognizing that true freedom and blessing come from serving Him alone. It encourages introspection: What "strange gods" might we be serving, and what might be the consequences?
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.

  • Deuteronomy 28:47

    Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all [things];

  • Deuteronomy 28:48

    Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all [things]: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.

  • 1 Kings 9:8

    And at this house, [which] is high, every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and to this house?

  • 1 Kings 9:9

    And they shall answer, Because they forsook the LORD their God, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon other gods, and have worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath the LORD brought upon them all this evil.

  • Jeremiah 22:8

    And many nations shall pass by this city, and they shall say every man to his neighbour, Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this great city?

  • Jeremiah 22:9

    Then they shall answer, Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God, and worshipped other gods, and served them.

  • Jeremiah 16:13

    Therefore will I cast you out of this land into a land that ye know not, [neither] ye nor your fathers; and there shall ye serve other gods day and night; where I will not shew you favour.

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