Jeremiah 5:7

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.

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}.

"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.

“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.

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;

Jeremiah 5:7 (KJV) presents a stark picture of God's righteous indignation and justification for impending judgment upon Judah. The verse reveals the depth of the people's sin and ingratitude, highlighting why divine pardon is withheld despite God's past blessings.

Context

This verse is part of Jeremiah's prophecy delivered during the final decades of the Kingdom of Judah, before the Babylonian exile. Chapters 4-6 describe the impending judgment and the reasons for it. Jeremiah has been tasked with finding just one righteous person in Jerusalem (Jeremiah 5:1), but fails. This verse is God's own lament and explanation of why He cannot overlook their actions. It follows descriptions of widespread corruption, lies, and refusal to repent among all levels of society.

Key Themes

  • Divine Justice and Lack of Pardon: The opening question, "How shall I pardon thee for this?", emphasizes the severity of the sin and the justice of God's decision not to forgive at this point due to unrepentant rebellion.
  • Idolatry and Forsaking God: The people had abandoned the true God ("forsaken me") and were worshipping and swearing by idols ("sworn by them that are no gods"), which are utterly powerless and non-existent divinities. See Exodus 20:3 for the first commandment against this.
  • Ingratitude Despite Blessing: God highlights that their unfaithfulness occurred "when I had fed them to the full," meaning He had abundantly provided for them. Their sin was not born of need or hardship, but of spiritual complacency and rebellion in the midst of prosperity, a theme echoed in Deuteronomy 8:12-14.
  • Spiritual and Literal Adultery: The phrase "committed adultery" carries both a literal sense of sexual immorality prevalent in society and, more profoundly in prophetic language, the spiritual adultery of breaking their covenant vows to God by pursuing other gods and sinful ways. This unfaithfulness is vividly portrayed by their assembly "in the harlots' houses," indicating deep moral and spiritual corruption tied to idolatrous practices often involving ritual prostitution. Compare this imagery with Ezekiel 16:32.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "no gods" translates the Hebrew lo elohim (לא אלהים), powerfully stressing the emptiness and non-divinity of the idols they worshipped. "Fed them to the full" comes from the Hebrew hisbia (השביע), meaning to satisfy or satiate completely, underscoring the abundance of God's provision. "Committed adultery" is from niaf (נאף), the standard word for adultery, used here in its double meaning of literal sin and covenant unfaithfulness to God.

Reflection and Application

Jeremiah 5:7 serves as a powerful warning against taking God's grace and provision for granted. It reminds us that receiving blessings does not guarantee faithfulness; in fact, prosperity can sometimes lead to spiritual decline if not grounded in gratitude and devotion to God. The verse challenges us to examine our own lives: Are we truly faithful to God alone, or are there "other gods" (idols like money, power, comfort, or pleasure) that we pursue? Do we remember and thank God for His provision, or does satisfaction lead to complacency and sin? The passage underscores that persistent, unrepentant unfaithfulness will ultimately lead to God's just judgment.

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.

  • 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.

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