What does Jeremiah 5:7 mean?
"¶ 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." - Jeremiah 5:7

The bible verse Jeremiah 5:7 in the King James Version (KJV) reads, "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."
This verse is part of the prophecies of Jeremiah, who was called by God to be a prophet to the nations and to deliver God's messages to the people of Judah. In this particular verse, God is expressing his frustration and disappointment with the actions of the people of Judah. The verse highlights a few key themes, including faithfulness, idolatry, and the consequences of sin.
The theme of faithfulness is central to this verse. God laments the fact that the children of Judah have forsaken him. In the biblical context, forsaking God means turning away from him and abandoning his commandments. This represents a profound betrayal of the covenant relationship between God and his people. God had provided for their needs, nourishing them to the full, and yet they turned to false gods and committed adultery. This betrayal of God's faithfulness highlights the unfaithfulness of the people of Judah.
The theme of idolatry is also evident in this verse. The people of Judah have sworn by gods that are not real, indicating that they have placed their trust and allegiance in false idols. Throughout the Old Testament, idolatry is consistently condemned as a grave sin. The people of Judah have turned away from the true God and have sought fulfillment and protection from false deities. This idolatry represents a rejection of the true and living God and is a direct violation of the first commandment. The consequences of idolatry are severe, and this verse emphasizes the destructive nature of placing trust in anything other than God.
The verse also speaks to the consequences of sin. The people of Judah have committed adultery and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses. This behavior goes against God's commandments and demonstrates a lack of moral and spiritual integrity. The consequences of such sin will not be overlooked by God. The imagery of assembling in the harlots' houses conveys a sense of widespread and unrepentant sin, further emphasizing the severity of the people's actions.
Symbolism plays a significant role in this verse as well. The image of God feeding the people to the full suggests his abundant provision and care for his people. This imagery serves to highlight the ungratefulness and betrayal of the people in turning away from God despite his abundant blessings. The use of adultery and harlotry as metaphors for unfaithfulness and idolatry underscores the depth of the people's betrayal and the severity of their sin.
In the broader context of the book of Jeremiah, this verse is part of a series of prophecies and warnings directed towards the people of Judah. The prophet Jeremiah is called to confront the people with their sin and to call them to repentance. The consequences of their unfaithfulness and idolatry are made clear, and the impending judgment of God is pronounced.
In conclusion, Jeremiah 5:7 in the KJV conveys a powerful message about the unfaithfulness and idolatry of the people of Judah and the consequences of their sin. The verse is a sobering reminder of the importance of faithfulness to God and the destructive nature of turning to false idols. It serves as a call to repentance and a warning of the judgment that awaits those who reject God's commandments.
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Jeremiah 5:7 Artwork
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 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." - Jeremiah 5:7
Jeremiah 7:5 - "For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour;"
Jeremiah 7:1 - "The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,"
Jeremiah 42:7 - "¶ And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah."
Jeremiah 10:5
Jeremiah 26:7 - "So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD."
Jeremiah 7:5-6 - "For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly execute justice one with another, if you do not oppress the stranger, the orphan, or the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own harm."
"For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour;" - Jeremiah 7:5
Jeremiah 36:5 - "And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up; I cannot go into the house of the LORD:"
Prophet Jeremiah 1:5
Jeremiah 17:7-8
Jeremiah 28:5 - "Then the prophet Jeremiah said unto the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests, and in the presence of all the people that stood in the house of the LORD,"
Jeremiah 17:7-8
Jeremiah 17:7-8
Jeremiah 17:7-8
"The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying," - Jeremiah 7:1
Jeremiah 7:7 - "Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever."
Jeremiah 18:5 - "Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,"
Jeremiah 5:30 - "¶ A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land;"
Jeremiah 42:7 And it happened after ten days that the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 42:7 And it happened after ten days that the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 5:20 - "Declare this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying,"
Jeremiah 5:16 - "Their quiver is as an open sepulchre, they are all mighty men."
Jeremiah 5:23 - "But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone."
Jeremiah 5:2 - "And though they say, The LORD liveth; surely they swear falsely."
Jeremiah 17:7 - "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is."
Jeremiah 7:8 - "¶ Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit."
Jeremiah 38:7 - "¶ Now when Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin;"
Jeremiah 14:5 - "Yea, the hind also calved in the field, and forsook it, because there was no grass."