Jeremiah 2:28

Sin

²⁶ As the thief is ashamed when he is caught, so the house of Israel is disgraced. They, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets

²⁷ say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’ For they have turned their backs to Me and not their faces, yet in the time of trouble they beg, ‘Rise up and save us!’

But where are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them rise up in your time of trouble and save you if they can; for your gods are as numerous as your cities, O Judah.

²⁹ Why 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.”

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: But where are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them rise up in your time of trouble and save you if they can; for your gods are as numerous as your cities, O Judah.
KJV: But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.
WEB: “But where are your gods that you have made for yourselves? Let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble, for you have as many gods as you have towns, O Judah.
ASV: But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.
DARBY: Where then are thy gods that thou hast made for thyself? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for as the number of thy cities, are thy gods, O Judah.
BLB: “And where [are] your gods that you made for yourselves? Let them stand up, if they can save you in the time of your trouble! For [as] the number of your cities, are your gods, O Judah.

ÅB: Hvor er da dine guder som du gjorde deg? La dem reise seg, om de kan hjelpe deg i din ulykkes tid! For så mange som dine byer er, så mange er dine guder blitt, Juda!
OTB: Hvor er da de gudene du laget for deg selv? La dem reise seg hvis de kan redde deg i din trengselstid! For deg, Juda, har like mange guder som du har byer.
B1930: Hvor er da dine guder som du gjorde dig? La dem reise sig, om de kan hjelpe dig i din ulykkes tid! For så mange som dine byer er, så mange er dine guder blitt, Juda!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Deuteronomy 32:37
He will say: “Where are their gods, the rock in which they took refuge,
Read in context
Jeremiah 11:13
Your gods are indeed as numerous as your cities, O Judah; the altars of shame you have set up—the altars to burn incense to Baal—are as many as the streets of Jerusalem.’
Read in context
Isaiah 45:20
Come, gather together, and draw near, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry idols of wood and pray to a god that cannot save.
Read in context
Judges 10:14
Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you in your time of trouble.”
Read in context
2 Kings 17:30–31
The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima,
Read in context
Isaiah 46:7
They lift it to their shoulder and carry it along; they set it in its place, and there it stands, not budging from that spot. They cry out to it, but it does not answer; it saves no one from his troubles.
Read in context
Hosea 10:1
Israel was a luxuriant vine, yielding fruit for himself. The more his fruit increased, the more he increased the altars. The better his land produced, the better he made the sacred pillars.
Read in context
2 Kings 3:13
Elisha, however, said to the king of Israel, “What have we to do with each other? Go to the prophets of your father and of your mother!” “No,” replied the king of Israel, “for it is the LORD who has summoned these three kings to deliver them into the hand of Moab.”
Read in context