Jeremiah 5:7

KJV

How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by [them that are] no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses.

KJV (with Strong's)

How {H335} shall I pardon {H5545} thee for this {H2063}? thy children {H1121} have forsaken {H5800} me, and sworn {H7650} by them that are no {H3808} gods {H430}: when I had fed them to the full {H7650}, they then committed adultery {H5003}, and assembled themselves by troops {H1413} in the harlots {H2181}' houses {H1004}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"Why should I forgive you? Your people have abandoned me and sworn by non-gods. When I fed them to the full, they committed adultery, thronging to the brothels.

Berean Standard Bible

“Why should I forgive you? Your children have forsaken Me and sworn by gods that are not gods. I satisfied their needs, yet they committed adultery and assembled at the houses of prostitutes.

American Standard Version

How can I pardon thee? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods. When I had fed them to the full, they committed adultery, and assembled themselves in troops at the harlots’ houses;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 5:7 is a poignant lament from God, expressing His righteous inability to pardon Judah due to their profound and multifaceted rebellion. Despite being abundantly blessed and sustained by Him, the people of Judah had utterly forsaken the Lord, swearing allegiance to non-existent idols, engaging in widespread spiritual and literal adultery, and openly participating in immoral practices associated with pagan worship. This verse encapsulates the deep ingratitude and covenant infidelity that justified the impending divine judgment, revealing the severity of their sin and the just nature of God's response to persistent, unrepentant apostasy.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 5:7 is situated within a series of prophetic pronouncements (Jeremiah 4-6) where the prophet Jeremiah delivers God's indictment against Judah and Jerusalem, detailing the reasons for the imminent Babylonian invasion and exile. Following God's challenge to Jeremiah to find just one righteous person in Jerusalem (Jeremiah 5:1) – a search that proves fruitless – this verse serves as God's personal justification for withholding pardon. It directly follows descriptions of pervasive moral decay, deceit, and a stubborn refusal to repent among all strata of society, from the poor to the powerful. The verse highlights the depth of their spiritual depravity, explaining why God's patience has reached its limit and why judgment is inevitable.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophecy of Jeremiah occurred during the tumultuous final decades of the Kingdom of Judah, roughly from 627 to 586 BC, preceding the Babylonian exile. This period was marked by political instability, the decline of Assyrian power, and the rise of Babylon. Culturally, Judah had a long history of syncretism, blending the worship of Yahweh with pagan deities, particularly Baal and Asherah. Despite reforms under King Josiah, the people often reverted to idolatry, which frequently involved ritual prostitution and immoral practices. The covenant between God and Israel, established at Sinai, was foundational to their identity, promising blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience (as seen in [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses")). Judah's actions in Jeremiah 5:7 represent a blatant violation of this covenant, particularly the first two commandments against idolatry (found in [Exodus 20:3-6](/exodus/20-3 "Exodus 20:3-6 - The First Commandments")).
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 5:7 powerfully articulates several key themes prevalent throughout the book of Jeremiah and the broader prophetic literature. The most prominent is **Covenant Infidelity**, portrayed vividly through the imagery of "forsaking me" and "committed adultery," which symbolizes Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness to Yahweh, their divine husband. This unfaithfulness is inextricably linked to **Idolatry**, as they "sworn by them that are no gods," demonstrating a complete abandonment of the one true God for worthless idols. Another crucial theme is **Ingratitude and Rebellion in Prosperity**, highlighted by the phrase "when I had fed them to the full." This underscores that their sin was not born of hardship but of spiritual complacency and outright defiance despite abundant divine provision, a theme echoed in [Deuteronomy 32:15](/deuteronomy/32-15 "Deuteronomy 32:15 - Jeshurun Grew Fat and Kicked"). Finally, the verse underscores **Divine Justice and Lament**, as God's rhetorical question, "How shall I pardon thee for this?", reveals His just indignation and the impossibility of overlooking such pervasive and unrepentant sin, leading to the inevitable **Impending Judgment**.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Pardon (Hebrew, _çâlach'_):** This word (H5545) means "to forgive, pardon, spare." In this context, God's rhetorical question, "How shall I pardon thee for this?", signifies that the depth and persistence of Judah's sin have made forgiveness, in the sense of averting judgment, impossible. It's not that God is unwilling to forgive in principle, but that their unrepentant actions have created a moral barrier to the immediate withholding of consequences. The question emphasizes the severity of their rebellion and the just necessity of divine retribution.
* **Forsaken (Hebrew, _ʻâzab'_):** The verb (H5800) means "to loosen, relinquish, permit, fail, forsake." Here, "thy children have forsaken me" denotes a deliberate and active abandonment of their covenant relationship with Yahweh. It implies a conscious turning away from the God who delivered them and sustained them, choosing instead to pursue other allegiances. This is a profound act of betrayal, breaking the foundational commitment of the covenant.
* **Adultery (Hebrew, _nâʼaph'_):** This term (H5003) literally means "to commit adultery" and figuratively "to apostatize." In prophetic literature, adultery is a powerful metaphor for spiritual unfaithfulness, particularly idolatry, where Israel is seen as the bride of Yahweh. The phrase "they then committed adultery" thus carries a dual meaning: widespread literal sexual immorality and, more significantly, the spiritual harlotry of breaking their covenant vows by worshipping false gods and engaging in their associated immoral practices.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"How shall I pardon thee for this?"**: This is a rhetorical question from God, expressing His deep anguish and righteous indignation. It's not a question of inability, but of justice and moral integrity. Given the magnitude of their offenses, a pardon that would negate the consequences of their actions would be unjust and would undermine the very nature of God's holiness and covenant faithfulness. It underscores the severity of their unrepentant sin.
* **"thy children have forsaken me"**: This clause highlights the direct and deliberate nature of Judah's rebellion. "Children" refers to the people of Judah, the descendants of those with whom God made a covenant. "Forsaken me" means they have abandoned their covenant relationship with Yahweh, turning away from Him as their rightful Lord and Husband. This is the root of their spiritual infidelity.
* **"and sworn by them that are no gods"**: This specifies the nature of their forsaking: they pledged allegiance and worshipped idols, which are utterly powerless and non-existent deities. This is a direct violation of the first commandment, demonstrating a complete rejection of Yahweh's exclusive claim on their worship and loyalty. Their oaths to false gods underscore the depth of their spiritual apostasy.
* **"when I had fed them to the full"**: This emphasizes the profound ingratitude of Judah's sin. God had abundantly provided for them, satisfying their needs and granting them prosperity. Their rebellion was not born of hardship or neglect, but of spiritual complacency and wantonness in the midst of divine blessing. This makes their sin even more egregious.
* **"they then committed adultery"**: This refers to both literal sexual immorality, which was rampant in Judah, and, more significantly in prophetic discourse, spiritual adultery. As God's covenant people, their pursuit of other gods was tantamount to a wife's infidelity to her husband. This spiritual harlotry was a direct breach of their covenant vows.
* **"and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses."**: This vivid imagery depicts the public, organized, and widespread nature of their immorality and idolatry. "Harlots' houses" likely refers to places of prostitution, often associated with pagan temples where ritual prostitution was practiced. The phrase "assembled themselves by troops" suggests a collective, unashamed participation in these sinful acts, indicating a societal collapse of moral and spiritual standards.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 5:7 is rich in **Imagery** and **Metaphor**, particularly the pervasive use of **Adultery** to describe Judah's spiritual unfaithfulness to God. This metaphor vividly portrays the covenant relationship between Yahweh and Israel as a marriage, making their idolatry and immorality a profound act of betrayal and infidelity. The phrase "sworn by them that are no gods" employs **Irony**, highlighting the absurdity and futility of worshipping non-entities while forsaking the true, living God who had blessed them. The opening, "How shall I pardon thee for this?", is a powerful **Rhetorical Question**, not seeking an answer but emphasizing the insurmountable barrier their unrepentant sin has created to the immediate exercise of divine mercy. The juxtaposition of God's abundant provision ("when I had fed them to the full") with their subsequent rebellion and immorality creates a stark **Contrast**, underscoring the depth of their ingratitude and making their sin all the more reprehensible. The description of them assembling "by troops in the harlots' houses" uses **Hyperbole** and vivid imagery to convey the widespread and brazen nature of their sin, suggesting a collective and organized embrace of depravity.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 5:7 profoundly articulates the theological principles of divine justice, covenant faithfulness, and the consequences of human depravity. It reveals a God who, while merciful and long-suffering, is also righteous and holy, unable to simply overlook persistent and unrepentant sin that violates the very foundation of His covenant relationship with His people. The verse emphasizes that divine blessings, when met with ingratitude and rebellion, do not lead to further grace but to a just reckoning. The spiritual adultery described here is not merely a moral failing but a cosmic betrayal, a rejection of the one true God in favor of worthless idols, leading to societal breakdown and the necessity of divine judgment to uphold God's character and the integrity of the covenant.

* [Deuteronomy 32:15](/deuteronomy/32-15 "Deuteronomy 32:15 - Jeshurun Grew Fat and Kicked Against God")
* [Hosea 4:1-2](/hosea/4-1 "Hosea 4:1-2 - Lack of Faithfulness and Adultery")
* [Ezekiel 16:32](/zekiel/16-32 "Ezekiel 16:32 - Israel's Spiritual Adultery")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 5:7 serves as a sobering mirror for believers today, challenging us to examine the true nature of our allegiance and gratitude towards God. It warns against the insidious danger of spiritual complacency that can arise amidst prosperity and comfort. When God provides abundantly, do we draw closer to Him in worship and obedience, or do we, like Judah, become "fed to the full" and turn to "no gods" – modern idols such as wealth, status, pleasure, or self-sufficiency? This passage compels us to scrutinize our hearts for any form of spiritual adultery, recognizing that anything that takes God's rightful place in our lives constitutes a betrayal of our covenant relationship with Him. It calls for radical self-examination, genuine repentance, and a renewed commitment to singular devotion to the Lord, lest we, too, face the just consequences of unfaithfulness.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be taking God's provision for granted, leading to spiritual complacency or ingratitude?**
* **What "no gods" (modern idols like career, comfort, or entertainment) might I be swearing allegiance to, subtly or overtly, instead of the one true God?**
* **How does the concept of "spiritual adultery" challenge my understanding of faithfulness in my relationship with God?**
* **Am I actively participating in or condoning practices that betray my covenant with God, either personally or within my community?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate a deeper sense of gratitude and singular devotion to God in my daily life?**

### FAQ
**What does "sworn by them that are no gods" mean?**

Answer: This phrase refers to the practice of making oaths or pledges of allegiance to false deities, or idols. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, swearing by a god invoked that god's power and authority. By swearing by "no gods," the people of Judah were not only worshipping false deities (a violation of the first commandment, [Exodus 20:3](/exodus/20-3 "Exodus 20:3 - No Other Gods")), but they were also acknowledging and empowering entities that, from God's perspective, had no real existence or power. It highlights the utter futility and spiritual blindness of their idolatry, as they exchanged the worship of the living God for that of worthless, powerless creations.

**Is the "adultery" mentioned in Jeremiah 5:7 literal or spiritual?**

Answer: In Jeremiah 5:7, the "adultery" (Hebrew _nâʼaph_) carries both a literal and a spiritual meaning, which is common in prophetic literature. Literally, it refers to the widespread sexual immorality and prostitution prevalent in Judahite society, often associated with pagan worship practices that included ritual prostitution in "harlots' houses." Spiritually, and more profoundly, it functions as a powerful metaphor for Israel's covenant unfaithfulness to Yahweh. God had entered into a covenant relationship with Israel, akin to a marriage (as seen in [Ezekiel 16](/ezekiel/16 "Ezekiel 16 - Israel as an Unfaithful Wife")), and their pursuit of other gods was seen as an act of spiritual infidelity or harlotry. Thus, the verse condemns both the moral decay and the deep theological apostasy of the people.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 5:7, with its stark portrayal of Judah's unpardonable sin and God's righteous inability to overlook their rebellion, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate solution found in Jesus Christ. The rhetorical question, "How shall I pardon thee for this?", highlights humanity's desperate need for a mediator and a perfect sacrifice. Judah's covenant infidelity, spiritual adultery, and ingratitude represent the universal human condition of sin, where all have "forsaken" God and pursued "no gods" of their own making ([Romans 3:23](/romans/3-23 "Romans 3:23 - All Have Sinned")). Because God is just, sin cannot simply be ignored; it demands a righteous response. This is where Christ enters the narrative. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), the one through whom God *can* justly pardon. Through His atoning death on the cross, Jesus fully satisfied the demands of God's justice, bearing the penalty for humanity's spiritual adultery and rebellion. He inaugurated a new covenant, not written on stone tablets but on hearts, where true forgiveness and a renewed, faithful relationship with God are made possible ([Hebrews 8:6-13](/hebrews/8-6 "Hebrews 8:6-13 - A Superior Covenant")). Thus, what was impossible for Judah due to their persistent sin in Jeremiah's day—a just pardon—became gloriously possible for all who believe in Christ, demonstrating God's ultimate love and provision ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God's Love While We Were Sinners")).

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

Galatians 4:8

¶ Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.

Joshua 23:7

That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear [by them], neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:

Deuteronomy 32:21

They have moved me to jealousy with [that which is] not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with [those which are] not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.

Jeremiah 2:11

Hath a nation changed [their] gods, which [are] yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for [that which] doth not profit.

Zephaniah 1:5

And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship [and] that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;

Deuteronomy 32:15

¶ But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered [with fatness]; then he forsook God [which] made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.

1 Corinthians 8:4

¶ As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol [is] nothing in the world, and that [there is] none other God but one.