Jeremiah 2:2

1 Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

“Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says: ‘I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.

3 Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of His harvest. All who devoured her found themselves guilty; disaster came upon them,’” declares the LORD.

4 Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all you families of the house of Israel.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
“Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says: ‘I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.
KJV
Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
WEB
“Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘The LORD says, “I remember for you the kindness of your youth, your love as a bride, how you went after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
ASV
Go, and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, I remember for thee the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals; how thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
DARBY
Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith Jehovah: I remember for thee the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.
BLB
“Go and call out in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says YHWH, “I remember you, the loving devotion of your youth, the love of your betrothal, of your going after Me in the wilderness in a land not sown.
ÅB
Gå avsted og rop ut for Jerusalems ører og si: Så sier Herren: Jeg kommer i hu din ungdoms hullskap, dine trolovelsesdagers kjærlighet, hvordan du fulgte meg i ørkenen, i et land hvor ingen sår.
OTB
"Gå og forkynn i Jerusalems ører: 'Dette sier Herren: "Jeg husker din ungdoms hengivenhet, din kjærlighet som en brud, hvordan du fulgte meg gjennom ørkenen, gjennom et land som ikke var sådd.
B1930
Gå avsted og rop ut for Jerusalems ører og si: Så sier Herren: Jeg kommer i hu din ungdoms hullskap, dine trolovelsesdagers kjærlighet, hvorledes du fulgte mig i ørkenen, i et land hvor ingen sår.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Ezekiel 16:60

    But I will remember the covenant I made with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 16:8

    Then I passed by and saw you, and you were indeed old enough for love. So I spread My cloak over you and covered your nakedness. I pledged Myself to you, entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine, declares the Lord GOD.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 11:6

    Then the LORD said to me, “Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying: Hear the words of this covenant and carry them out.

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 2:7

    Indeed, the LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. The LORD your God has been with you these forty years, and you have lacked nothing.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 63:7–14

    I will make known the LORD’s loving devotion and His praiseworthy acts, because of all that the LORD has done for us— the many good things for the house of Israel according to His great compassion and loving devotion.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 7:2

    “Stand in the gate of the house of the LORD and proclaim this message: Hear the word of the LORD, all you people of Judah who enter through these gates to worship the LORD.

    Read in context
  • Hosea 2:15

    There I will give back her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor into a gateway of hope. There she will respond as she did in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 2:6

    They did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and pits, a land of drought and darkness, a land where no one travels and no one lives?’

    Read in context