Jeremiah 2:30

Verse

“I have struck your sons in vain; they accepted no discipline. Your own sword has devoured your prophets like a voracious lion.”

American Standard Version (1901)

In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

Bible in Basic English

I gave your children blows to no purpose; they got no good from training: your sword has been the destruction of your prophets, like a death-giving lion.

Douay-Rheims 1899

In vain have I struck your children, they have not received correction: your sword hath devoured your prophets, your generation is like a ravaging lion.

Free Bible Version

It was pointless of me to punish your children because they refused to accept any discipline. You used your own swords to kill your prophets, destroying them like a ferocious lion.

Geneva Bible 1599

I haue smitten your children in vaine, they receiued no correction: your owne sworde hath deuoured your Prophets like a destroying lyon.

King James (Authorized) Version

In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

Translation for Translators

I punished some of you, but you did not learn anything from my doing that. You have killed many of the prophets that I sent to you, like [SIM] fierce lions kill other animals.

Unlocked Literal Bible

I have punished your people in vain. They would not accept discipline. Your sword has devoured your prophets like a destructive lion!

Noah Webster Bible

In vain have I smitten your children; they have received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

World English Bible

“I have struck your children in vain. They received no correction. Your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

Young's Literal Translation

In vain I have smitten your sons, Instruction they have not accepted, Devoured hath your sword your prophets, As a destroying lion.

Context

Israel’s Unfaithfulness

²⁹Why do you bring a case against Me? You have all rebelled against Me,” declares the LORD. ³⁰“I have struck your sons in vain; they accepted no discipline. Your own sword has devoured your prophets like a voracious lion.”

Summary

This verse expresses God's disappointment with His people, comparing them to rebellious children who have turned away from Him. It highlights the ingratitude and lack of reverence shown by the Israelites towards their Creator, who had blessed and cared for them. The imagery of a generation that has forsaken the Lord emphasizes the severity of their spiritual decline and the consequences of their unfaithfulness. Despite their waywardness, God's love and desire for reconciliation are evident in His plea for them to return to Him.

Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

(Jer 5:3; Jer 6:29; Isa 1:5; Isa 9:13). your children--that is, your people, you. your . . . sword . . . devoured . . . prophets-- (Ch2 36:16; Neh 9:26; Mat 23:29, Mat 23:31).

John Gill Bible Commentary

O generation, see ye the word of the Lord,.... Take notice of it, consider it; or, hear it, as the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions. Jarchi and Kimchi think (i) the pot of manna was brought out, and shown them, to be looked at by them, for the conviction of them, and confirmation of what follows: have I been a wilderness unto Israel? no: the Israelites were plentifully supplied by him when in the wilderness, and since they were brought into a land flowing with milk and honey; so that they stood in need of nothing; they had a constant supply of all good things: or a land of darkness? of misery, distress, and poverty; where no light of joy, comfort, and prosperity, is; a land that never sees the light, or enjoys the benefit of the sun, and so is barren and unfruitful; "a land of thorns", as the Septuagint version; or, "a desert and uncultivated land", as the Targum, and Syriac and Arabic versions. It may be rendered, "a land of the darkness of God" (k); that is, of the greatest darkness, of thick and gross darkness, alluding to that in Egypt; as the flame of God, and mountains of God, Sol 8:6, as Ben Melech and Kimchi observe: wherefore say my people, we are lords; and can reign without thee; or we have kings and princes, and have no need of thee, so Kimchi; but the word used seems to have another meaning, and to require another sense. The Targum is, "we are removed"; and the Vulgate Latin version, "we have gone back"; to which agrees the Jewish Midrash (l), mentioned by Jarchi, and confirmed with a passage out of the Misna (m), "we are separated from thee"; we have departed from thee, turned our backs on thee, have forsaken thee, and left thy ways and worship; and to do so was very ungrateful, when the Lord had so richly supplied them, that they had not lacked any good thing; and this sense agrees with what follows: we will come no more unto thee? some render it, "we have determined" (n); as having the same sense with the Arabic word, which signifies to "will" or determine anything; and then the meaning is, we are determined, we are resolved to come no more to thee, to attend thy worship and service any more; and so the Targum, "we will not return any more to thy worship.'' (i) So Mechilta apud Yalkut in loc. (k) "terra caliginis Dei", Gataker, Gussetius; "caliginis Jah", Montanus. (l) Midrash R. Tanchuma, apud Jarchi in loc. Vid. Yalkut Simeoni, in Ioc. (m) Misn. Trumot, c. 10. sect. 3. & Machshirin, c. 3. sect. 3. (n) "voluimus non veniemus", &c, De Dieu; "decrevimus non veniemus", Cocceius.

Jeremiah 2:30

Israel’s Unfaithfulness

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

“I have struck your sons in vain; they accepted no discipline. Your own sword has devoured your prophets like a voracious lion.”

American Standard Version (1901)

In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

Bible in Basic English

I gave your children blows to no purpose; they got no good from training: your sword has been the destruction of your prophets, like a death-giving lion.

Douay-Rheims 1899

In vain have I struck your children, they have not received correction: your sword hath devoured your prophets, your generation is like a ravaging lion.

Free Bible Version

It was pointless of me to punish your children because they refused to accept any discipline. You used your own swords to kill your prophets, destroying them like a ferocious lion.

Geneva Bible 1599

I haue smitten your children in vaine, they receiued no correction: your owne sworde hath deuoured your Prophets like a destroying lyon.

King James (Authorized) Version

In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

Translation for Translators

I punished some of you, but you did not learn anything from my doing that. You have killed many of the prophets that I sent to you, like [SIM] fierce lions kill other animals.

Unlocked Literal Bible

I have punished your people in vain. They would not accept discipline. Your sword has devoured your prophets like a destructive lion!

Noah Webster Bible

In vain have I smitten your children; they have received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

World English Bible

“I have struck your children in vain. They received no correction. Your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

Young's Literal Translation

In vain I have smitten your sons, Instruction they have not accepted, Devoured hath your sword your prophets, As a destroying lion.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

(Jer 5:3; Jer 6:29; Isa 1:5; Isa 9:13). your children--that is, your people, you. your . . . sword . . . devoured . . . prophets-- (Ch2 36:16; Neh 9:26; Mat 23:29, Mat 23:31).

John Gill Bible Commentary

Jeremiah 2:30

Verse

Context

Israel’s Unfaithfulness

Summary

Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes

Jeremiah 2:30

Israel’s Unfaithfulness

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes