Jeremiah 7:10

KJV

And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?

KJV (with Strong's)

And come {H935} and stand {H5975} before {H6440} me in this house {H1004}, which is called {H7121} by my name {H8034}, and say {H559}, We are delivered {H5337} to do {H6213} all these abominations {H8441}?

Complete Jewish Bible

Then you come and stand before me in this house that bears my name and say, 'We are saved' - so that you can go on doing these abominations!

Berean Standard Bible

and then come and stand before Me in this house, which bears My Name, and say, ‘We are delivered, so we can continue with all these abominations’?

American Standard Version

and come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered; that ye may do all these abominations?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 7:10 powerfully exposes the profound spiritual hypocrisy and self-deception of the people of Judah, who presumed upon God's presence in His sacred Temple while actively engaging in a multitude of detestable sins. This pivotal verse, delivered as part of Jeremiah's scathing Temple Sermon, reveals their blasphemous presumption: they believed that merely presenting themselves in the house identified by God's name somehow granted them immunity from judgment or even permission to continue in their abominable practices, fundamentally misinterpreting divine deliverance as a license for unrighteousness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 7:10 is a critical component of Jeremiah's "Temple Sermon" (found in [Jeremiah 7:1-15](/jeremiah/7-1-15 "Jeremiah 7:1-15 - The Temple Sermon")), a prophetic address delivered at the gate of the Lord's house. The verses immediately preceding it ([Jeremiah 7:1-7](/jeremiah/7-1-7 "Jeremiah 7:1-7 - Call to Repentance")) issue an urgent call for genuine repentance and a radical amendment of their ways, sternly warning against their misplaced trust in the "deceptive words" that declared the Temple's inviolability. [Jeremiah 7:9](/jeremiah/7-9 "Jeremiah 7:9 - The Abominations of Judah") explicitly enumerates the very "abominations" (theft, murder, adultery, false swearing, idolatry) that the people were committing, thereby setting the stage for the rhetorical question of verse 10, which becomes all the more poignant and damning in light of their overt disobedience. The sermon culminates in God's solemn threat to utterly destroy the Temple, mirroring His past judgment on Shiloh, and to cast Judah out of His sight, unequivocally demonstrating that physical proximity to sacred space did not negate the stringent requirements of covenant faithfulness.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** This prophetic oracle was most likely delivered during the turbulent reign of King Jehoiakim (609-598 BC), a period characterized by pervasive idolatry, rampant social injustice, and a superficial, ritualistic religiosity. The people of Judah had developed a dangerously flawed theological presumption, rooted in what is often termed "Zion theology." This belief system held that the very presence of God's Temple in Jerusalem, serving as His designated dwelling place, guaranteed the city's and its inhabitants' immunity from destruction. This doctrine had been seemingly reinforced by past miraculous deliverances, such as God's defense of Jerusalem against the Assyrian King Sennacherib in [Isaiah 37](/isaiah/37 "Isaiah 37 - Sennacherib's Defeat"). However, they had tragically divorced this belief from the ethical and moral demands of the Mosaic Covenant, leading to a casual and presumptuous attitude toward sin. They engaged openly in pagan worship and oppressive social practices, yet felt secure in their religious identity, presuming that their Temple attendance and ritualistic performances would somehow shield them from divine judgment.

* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 7:10 contributes profoundly to several major theological and narrative themes prevalent in Jeremiah and the broader prophetic corpus. **Hypocrisy and False Piety** are central, starkly exposing the vast chasm between outward religious observance and inward spiritual corruption. The people's actions vividly illustrate a dangerous **Presumption of Deliverance**, where they mistakenly believed God's grace was an unconditional shield for their disobedience, rather than a call to holiness and transformed living. This directly challenges the **Conditional Nature of God's Covenant** with Israel, as meticulously articulated in passages like [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses of the Covenant"), where divine blessings were explicitly contingent upon obedience and curses upon rebellion. Finally, the verse powerfully underscores **God's Holiness and Justice**, revealing His absolute intolerance for sin and His steadfast refusal to be mocked or to have His name used as an excuse for unrighteousness. The rhetorical question highlights the absolute incompatibility of their detestable actions with the holy character of the God whose name was invoked upon the Temple.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **house (Hebrew, _bayith'_):** This term specifically refers to the Temple in Jerusalem, which served as the physical dwelling place where God's presence was uniquely manifested among His covenant people. Its profound significance is highlighted by its designation as "called by my name," indicating God's sovereign ownership and intimate identification with it. The people's actions within this sacred "house" directly contradicted and desecrated its holy purpose.
* **delivered (Hebrew, _nâtsal'_):** This word conveys the idea of rescue, being snatched away from danger, or saving. In this context, the people presumed they had been "delivered" from past dangers, or from the consequences of their ongoing sins, simply by virtue of their association with the Temple and their ritualistic presence within it. The devastating rhetorical question in the verse exposes the utter absurdity of believing that this deliverance was *for the express purpose* of continuing in sin, rather than for a life of genuine obedience and covenant faithfulness.
* **abominations (Hebrew, _tôwʻêbah'_):** This is an exceptionally strong term in Hebrew, denoting something utterly detestable, abhorrent, or disgusting in the sight of God. It frequently refers to severe violations of God's law and covenant, including idolatrous practices, sexual perversions, and grave moral evils. Its forceful use here emphasizes the extreme gravity and repugnance of the sins the people were committing, rendering their claim of being "delivered to do all these" profoundly blasphemous and an insult to God's holy character.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name,"**: This initial clause describes the outward, ritualistic religious action of the people. They physically presented themselves in the Temple, the sacred space consecrated to Yahweh and uniquely identified with His divine presence. This act, while outwardly an expression of worship and covenant relationship, was tragically devoid of true heart-obedience and genuine devotion.
* **"and say, We are delivered"**: Here, the prophet incisively exposes the false security and deep-seated self-deception of the people. Their declaration of being "delivered" implies a mistaken belief that their past experiences of divine rescue, or their very presence within the Temple, somehow guaranteed their safety and provided automatic absolution from sin, irrespective of their ongoing conduct. It reveals a profound and dangerous misunderstanding of the nature of God's grace and His unwavering justice.
* **"to do all these abominations?"**: This is the devastating, rhetorical question that lays bare the depth of their spiritual perversion and moral depravity. The phrase "all these abominations" directly references the severe sins enumerated by Jeremiah in [Jeremiah 7:9](/jeremiah/7-9 "Jeremiah 7:9 - The Abominations of Judah"). The question powerfully highlights the blasphemous absurdity of their mindset: they effectively believed that God had saved them *so that they could continue* in practices utterly detestable to Him, thereby perverting His grace into a license for unbridled sin.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 7:10 is masterfully crafted with several literary devices that powerfully amplify its message of condemnation. The most prominent is the **Rhetorical Question**, "We are delivered to do all these abominations?", which is not posed to elicit an answer but rather to expose the utter absurdity, self-contradiction, and profound blasphemy inherent in the people's mindset. This question is saturated with biting **Irony**, as the people's actions directly contradict the very purpose of the Temple and the holy character of God. They are seeking deliverance and security in the very place consecrated to God's name, while simultaneously committing acts that profoundly defile that name. There is also potent **Symbolism** in the "house which is called by my name," which represents God's sacred presence and covenant relationship, but which the people had tragically reduced to a mere talisman or an empty charm. The prophet's direct recounting of the people's presumptuous words also employs a form of **Direct Discourse** to heighten the dramatic confrontation and underscore the gravity of their self-deception.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 7:10 stands as a stark and timeless reminder that outward religious observance, when divorced from inward transformation and genuine obedience, is not only meaningless but an outright affront to God. It powerfully challenges the dangerous theological notion that divine grace or past deliverances grant a license to persist in sin. True covenant relationship demands genuine repentance, ethical living that reflects God's character, and a heart wholly devoted to Him, not merely ritualistic participation or a superficial adherence to religious forms. The passage underscores God's unwavering holiness and His uncompromising demand for justice, revealing that He cannot be manipulated or contained by human structures, even those bearing His sacred name, when His people's lives fundamentally contradict His righteous character.

This passage resonates deeply with other biblical condemnations of empty ritualism and false security:
* [Isaiah 1:11-15](/isaiah/1-11-15 "Isaiah 1:11-15 - God's Rejection of Empty Rituals")
* [1 Samuel 15:22](/1_samuel/15-22 "1 Samuel 15:22 - Obedience Over Sacrifice")
* [Romans 6:1-2](/romans/6-1-2 "Romans 6:1-2 - Shall We Go On Sinning?")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 7:10 serves as a timeless and piercing challenge to all who claim faith in God. It compels us to confront the sincerity of our own worship and the authenticity of our spiritual lives. Do we, like the ancient Israelites, rely on external religious acts—such as church attendance, public declarations of faith, or participation in rituals—while inwardly tolerating unconfessed sin, nurturing unrighteous attitudes, or engaging in unholy practices in our private lives? This verse powerfully reminds us that God desires genuine repentance, a transformed heart, and an obedience that flows from a deep, abiding love for Him, not merely outward conformity or a dangerous presumption upon His grace. True deliverance from the power and penalty of sin, graciously provided through Jesus Christ, leads to a life of increasing holiness and conformity to His character, never a license to continue in "abominations." We are called to live lives that are consistently aligned with the holy name of God by which we are called, reflecting His character and holiness in every sphere of our existence.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be relying on outward religious practices while inwardly tolerating sin, hypocrisy, or spiritual complacency?**
* **How might I be presuming upon God's grace, mistakenly believing that His past deliverance or present blessings give me a license to live carelessly or without genuine repentance?**
* **What specific "abominations" (whether they be attitudes, actions, or hidden idols) in my life need to be confessed and repented of for my worship to be truly acceptable and pleasing to God?**
* **How can I ensure that my understanding of God's deliverance through Christ leads me to greater holiness and joyful obedience, rather than spiritual apathy or presumption?**

### FAQ
**What were the "abominations" referred to in Jeremiah 7:10?**

Answer: The "abominations" (Hebrew: _tôwʻêbah_) refer to a range of practices that were utterly detestable to God and a direct violation of His covenant laws. While the term broadly signifies anything abhorrent to God, in the immediate context of [Jeremiah 7:9](/jeremiah/7-9 "Jeremiah 7:9 - The Abominations of Judah"), Jeremiah explicitly lists them: "Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not?" This comprehensive list encompasses both severe moral transgressions (theft, murder, adultery, false swearing) and, critically, idolatry—the worship of pagan deities like Baal. These actions represented a fundamental betrayal of their covenant relationship with Yahweh, the one true God, and a profound defilement of His holy name.

**Why did the people believe they were "delivered" to do these abominations?**

Answer: The people's belief stemmed from a profound misinterpretation of God's past faithfulness and the profound significance of the Temple. They had developed a false sense of security, often referred to as "Temple theology" or "Zion theology," which held that because God's Temple was physically located in Jerusalem, He would never allow the city or its inhabitants to be destroyed. They interpreted God's past deliverances (for example, from the Assyrians in [Isaiah 37](/isaiah/37 "Isaiah 37 - Sennacherib's Defeat")) as an unconditional guarantee of protection, regardless of their moral and spiritual conduct. They believed their mere physical presence in the Temple, and their performance of religious rituals, somehow "delivered" them from the consequences of their sins, effectively turning God's grace into a license for continued disobedience. This was a dangerous perversion of the conditional nature of the Mosaic Covenant, which explicitly promised blessings for obedience and severe curses for disobedience, as detailed in [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses of the Covenant").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 7:10, with its searing indictment of superficial worship and false security, finds its ultimate fulfillment and profound resolution in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The people of Judah tragically trusted in a physical temple and ritualistic acts, mistakenly believing these external forms would grant them deliverance while they shamelessly continued in sin. However, Jesus Himself declared that He was the true Temple, stating, "[Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up](/john/2-19 "John 2:19 - Jesus, the True Temple")". He was speaking of the temple of His own body, which would be destroyed through crucifixion and gloriously resurrected, thereby becoming the ultimate and perfect dwelling place of God among humanity. Through His perfect, sinless life, His atoning death on the cross, and His triumphant resurrection, Christ offers a deliverance infinitely superior to any physical proximity to a building or mere adherence to ritualistic practices. He delivers us not *to* continue in sin, but decisively *from* the power and penalty of sin, "[that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness](/1_peter/2-24 "1 Peter 2:24 - Living Unto Righteousness")" and "[that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit](/romans/8-4 "Romans 8:4 - Walking in the Spirit")". He is the Lamb of God who truly "[takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")", not by excusing it, but by conquering it and transforming hearts to live in genuine obedience and holiness, establishing a new covenant where God's law is written on the heart, leading to true worship "[in spirit and truth](/john/4-24 "John 4:24 - Worship in Spirit and Truth")".

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 32:34

But they set their abominations in the house, which is called by my name, to defile it.

Ezekiel 23:39

For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and, lo, thus have they done in the midst of mine house.

Jeremiah 7:30

For the children of Judah have done evil in my sight, saith the LORD: they have set their abominations in the house which is called by my name, to pollute it.

Jeremiah 7:11

Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen [it], saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 7:14

Therefore will I do unto [this] house, which is called by my name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh.

Jeremiah 34:15

And ye were now turned, and had done right in my sight, in proclaiming liberty every man to his neighbour; and ye had made a covenant before me in the house which is called by my name:

Ezekiel 23:37

That they have committed adultery, and blood [is] in their hands, and with their idols have they committed adultery, and have also caused their sons, whom they bare unto me, to pass for them through [the fire], to devour [them].