Jeremiah 2:13

2:12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.

For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

KJV

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“For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the spring of living waters, and cut them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. ¶

2:14 Is Israel a servant? is he a homeborn slave? why is he spoiled? spoiled: Heb. become a spoil?

What does Jeremiah 2:13 mean?

Jeremiah 2:13 is a verse in the book of Jeremiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include עַם (ʻam), עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh), שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim). It connects to 4 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

For

peopleעַםʻam/am/H5971a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

have

committedעָשָׂהʻâsâh/aw-saw'/H6213to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

twoשְׁנַיִםshᵉnayim/shen-ah'-yim/H8147two; also (as ordinal) twofold

evils;רַעraʻ/rah/H7451bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

they

have

forsakenעָזַבʻâzab/aw-zab'/H5800to loosen, i.e. relinquish, permit, etc.

the

fountainמָקוֹרmâqôwr/maw-kore'/H4726properly, something dug, i.e. a (general) source (of water, even when naturally flowing; also of tears, blood (by euphemism, of the female pudenda); figuratively, of happiness, wisdom, progeny)

livingחַיchay/khah'-ee/H2416alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively

waters,מַיִםmayim/mah'-yim/H4325water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen

and

hewed

them

outחָצַבchâtsab/khaw-tsab'/H2672to cut or carve (wood, stone or other material); by implication, to hew, split, square, quarry, engrave

cisterns,בֹּארbôʼr/bore/H877a cistern

brokenשָׁבַרshâbar/shaw-bar'/H7665to burst (literally or figuratively)

cisterns,בֹּארbôʼr/bore/H877a cistern

that

can

holdכּוּלkûwl/kool/H3557properly, to keep in; hence, to measure; figuratively, to maintain (in various senses)

water.מַיִםmayim/mah'-yim/H4325water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen

Commentary on Jeremiah 2:13

HENRY_FULL · Jeremiah 2:13

him: If a wise man contend with a wise man, he may hope to be understood, and, as far as he has reason and equity on his side, to carry his point, at least to bring the controversy to a head and make it issue amicably; but, if he contend with a foolish man, there is no rest; he will see no end of it, nor will he have any satisfaction in it, but must expect to be always uneasy. 1. Whether the foolish man he contends with rage or laugh, whether he take angrily or scornfully what is said to him, whether he rail at it or mock at it, one of the two he will do, and so there will be no rest. However it is given, it will be ill-taken, and the wisest man must expect to be either scolded or ridiculed if he contend with a fool. He that fights with a dunghill, whether he be conqueror or conquered, is sure to be defiled. 2. Whether the wise man himself rage or laugh, whether he take the serious or the jocular way of dealing with the fool, whether he be severe or pleasant with him, whether he come with a rod or with the spirit of meekness ( 1 Cor. iv. 21 ), it is all alike, no good is done. We have piped unto you, and you have not danced, mourned unto you, and you have not lamented. 10 The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul. Note, 1. Bad men hate their best friends: The blood-thirsty, all the seed of the old serpent, who was a murderer from the beginning, all that inherit his enmity against the seed of the woman,

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Judges 16:17

That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother's womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.

Jeremiah 12:16

And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, The LORD liveth; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people.

Amos 5:13

Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.

Micah 7:5

Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.

Topics

Idolatry Ingratitude to God Jews, the Self-Righteousness

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Jeremiah 2:13.

Genesis 8:21

And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. a sweet: Heb. a savour of rest or, satisfaction for the imagination: or, through the imagination

Genesis 1:16

And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. to rule the day: Heb. for the rule of the day, etc.

Genesis 1:20

And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. moving: or, creeping life: Heb. soul fowl: Heb. let fowl fly open: Heb. face of the firmament of heaven

Genesis 1:21

And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:25

And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:7

And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.

Genesis 11:6

And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

Genesis 2:9

And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Frequently asked questions

What does Jeremiah 2:13 say?

Jeremiah 2:13 (King James Version) reads: "For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water."

Is Jeremiah 2:13 in the Old or New Testament?

Jeremiah 2:13 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Jeremiah.

Reflect

As you read Jeremiah 2:13, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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