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.

For the children {H1121} of Judah {H3063} have done {H6213} evil {H7451} in my sight {H5869}, saith {H5002} the LORD {H3068}: they have set {H7760} their abominations {H8251} in the house {H1004} which is called {H7121} by my name {H8034}, to pollute {H2930} it.

"For the people of Y'hudah have done what is evil from my perspective," says ADONAI; "they have set up their detestable things in the house which bears my name, to defile it.

For the people of Judah have done evil in My sight, declares the LORD. They have set up their abominations in the house that bears My Name, and so have defiled it.

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

Commentary

Commentary on Jeremiah 7:30 (KJV)

Jeremiah 7:30 is a powerful declaration from the LORD, exposing the deep-seated rebellion and spiritual defilement of the people of Judah during the time of the prophet Jeremiah. This verse comes within the context of Jeremiah's famous "Temple Sermon" (Jeremiah 7:1-15), where he confronts the people's false security in the presence of the Temple, while their lives were filled with sin and idolatry.

Context

At this point in history, Judah was experiencing a period of spiritual decline, despite outward religious observances. King Josiah's reforms had brought about a temporary revival, but after his death, the people quickly reverted to their old ways. Jeremiah, commissioned by God, delivered stern warnings about impending judgment if they did not truly repent. The people believed that merely possessing the Temple in Jerusalem guaranteed their safety, a false assurance that Jeremiah vehemently challenged. This particular verse highlights one of their most egregious sins: the direct desecration of God's holy dwelling place.

Key Themes

  • Idolatry and Rebellion: The phrase "done evil in my sight" underscores Judah's deliberate and open defiance of God's commandments. Their actions were not mere mistakes but a willful turning away from the one true God.
  • Defilement of the Sacred: The core accusation is that they "have set their abominations in the house which is called by my name, to pollute it." This refers to introducing pagan idols, symbols, or even practices like child sacrifice (mentioned elsewhere in Jeremiah 7) directly into the Temple precincts. This was the ultimate insult, turning a place consecrated for the worship of the holy God into a site of idolatry and corruption. The prophet Ezekiel later describes similar abominations being practiced within the Temple courts.
  • God's Holiness and Judgment: The LORD's statement "saith the LORD" emphasizes the divine authority behind this accusation. God, being holy, cannot tolerate such blatant defilement of His presence and His house. This verse foreshadows the severe judgment that would eventually come upon Judah, including the destruction of the very Temple they wrongly trusted in, as hinted at in Jeremiah 7:11.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "abominations" (ืชึผื•ึนืขึตื‘ึธื” - to'evah) frequently appears in the Old Testament to describe things utterly detestable to God, particularly idolatrous practices, sexual perversions, and unjust dealings. Its use here emphasizes the profound spiritual offense of Judah's actions. The word for "pollute" (ื—ึธืœึทืœ - chalal) means to profane, defile, or make common, directly contrasting with the sacredness and holiness God intended for His Temple.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 7:30 serves as a timeless warning against spiritual complacency and hypocrisy. For believers today, while there is no physical Temple in Jerusalem in the same way, the principle remains relevant:

  • Purity of Worship: We are called to worship God in spirit and truth, ensuring our reverence is not superficial but genuine.
  • The Church as God's House: The New Testament teaches that the church (the community of believers) is God's spiritual house (1 Timothy 3:15). This verse reminds us to keep the church pure from worldly influences, false teachings, and anything that defiles its witness.
  • Our Bodies as Temples: Individually, believers are also called temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). This implies a responsibility to maintain personal holiness and not allow "abominations"โ€”whether sinful desires, worldly values, or spiritual idolatryโ€”to profane our lives.

The verse urges us to examine our hearts and ensure that our worship and lives are truly dedicated to the LORD, free from anything that would pollute His presence within us or among us.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 7:20 (5 votes)

    As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty: but they made the images of their abominations [and] of their detestable things therein: therefore have I set it far from them.

  • Jeremiah 32:34 (5 votes)

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

  • Daniel 9:27 (4 votes)

    And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make [it] desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

  • 2 Kings 21:7 (3 votes)

    And he set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house, of which the LORD said to David, and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:

  • 2 Kings 21:4 (3 votes)

    And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD said, In Jerusalem will I put my name.

  • 2 Chronicles 33:7 (3 votes)

    And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:

  • 2 Chronicles 33:4 (3 votes)

    Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.